Page 164 of Faeling
Gods, when he got hold of her…
The scene below was chaotic, bands of fae clashing with his berserkers and…what looked to be other fae. One group held a position at the doors of the citadel, barring any from leaving to call for reinforcements. More fae formed a loose circle around a small herd of unicorns, all bravely swinging their horns to keep the soldiers back.
And some…they were wrong. Vallek wasn’t sure if he could believe his tired eyes or if exhaustion played tricks upon him—a fae went down with mortal wounds only to pick themself up again. His stomach revolted watching his warriors fight undead opponents, felling them only for another wave to attack.
The berserkers launched a grisly strategy—hacking limbs. Even undead soldiers couldn’t get back up without legs. Axes slashed and hammers crushed undead legs out from under the unnatural fae, creating a mire of blood and gore mixed with the thick coating of dust on the floor.
It was an awful scene that turned the stomach of even the most hardened warrior. More than one leapt away from smashing an opponent to broken bits, retching up their guts at the sight of mangled flesh.
Still the fae fought on, both alive and undead.
Vallek hated their queen for it.
To do this to her own kind, to make a mockery of their lives and deaths…
It couldn’t be borne.
Movement caught his eye, and Vallek inhaled sharply as he watched his mate jump onto Oberon’s back—and then leap off again right into the fray.
His beast, subdued to the point of silence until then, began to rouse.
Gods, their plans had gone so wrong. Perhaps they had both been arrogant to think they could fool a being as cunning and ancient as Amaranthe.
But he could berate himself—and her—later. Now, what mattered was getting to Ravenna, throwing her over his shoulder, and gettingthe fuckout of the faelands.
Vallek grimaced when the piece of iron Mattias tried working beneath the left manacle dug into the back of his hand. Blood oozed from the raw skin, dribbling between Vallek’s fingers.
Mattias cursed. “Hardly anything will scratch them, let alone release them.”
Vallek nodded at the iron loop set into the wall. “That part may not be spelled.”
His captain threw himself into breaking the loop from the wall. More warriors joined him, pulling with all their might on the chain. The metal whined and the stone cracked. Fissureserupted across the face of the wall, then with a final mighty heave, the orcs pulled the loop from the wall. Dust and shards of stone rained down on them, but Vallek was free. Somewhat.
Dragging in a breath, Vallek forced himself upright on his own feet. “Get me to Ravenna,” he ordered Mattias.
The captain’s lips set in a thin line. “I cannot do that, my king.”
Vallek bared his tusks. “That’s an order, captain.”
“You’re the one we must protect.” Mattias clapped Vallek’s shoulder, leaning close to say more quietly, “We promised her.”
A growl reverberated in his chest. His foolish, damnable, selfless mate.
Gods, he was going to throttle her and then kiss her—and maybe throttle her again.
“Wewillsecure—”
Vallek’s words were lost as the room began to shake. The stones beneath their feet trembled, the mortar crumbling away. A moment of horrible silence followed, then the loudest, most horriblecrackhe’d ever heard.
The center of the citadel split apart, a great chasm opening up like the maw of some hungry beast. The stone gave way, the shattering of marble echoing up the walls. One by one, columns began to shake, and then to topple.
Vallek grabbed Mattias by the collar. “Get me. To her,” he bit out desperately.
Face carved in stark lines, Mattias only murmured, “No.”
The citadel began to collapse around them. Columns swayed before tumbling down, crushing whatever lay beneath. The dark, cobwebbed chandelier creaked on its last chain before that snapped, sending the mass of crystal and iron down to shatter on the floor below in a cascade of shards and fractals.
Ravenna worked with Leita up the dais steps, trying to corner Amaranthe. The Queen was a vicious opponent, content to send soldiers into battle again and again until they were hacked apart. Her magic sent Ravenna then Leita then Ravenna again backwards, never allowing them close.
