Page 148 of A Crown Without Mercy

“Someone took her this evening,” Riordan replied.

Mordeci saw the look crossing Kadric’s face. “If you want us to find your bairn, do not yell out.”

Kadric dropped onto one knee and the dirt spewed from beneath his fist. “Ranan is a fucking traitor. I know for sure now he took her. If Vispera had her, they would have made it known to me without question.”

“Then we know she’s not beyond the veil, which means she is out here somewhere,” Riordan replied. “Mordeci, forget about searching the veil, move forward and converge with us on the North side of the battle and have Kadric escorted back to the castle and secured.”

“Milord.” He motioned to a few of the Mordeci and they grabbed a hold of Kadric.

“Milord, I beg of you to let me accompany you in your search. She is my bairn.”

“I will show you a snippet of mercy for Sylvana’s sake. I will give you one opportunity to explain your involvement when you stand before the Guild at which time they will render a judgement,” Riordan replied

“Yes, milord,” Kadric replied, having no other option.

Chapter 21

Rananwalkedamongstthebodies of the fallen, his chest expanding and contracting with each heavy, panting breath. His yellowish eyes stood out against his thick, dark fur which was matted with blood and debris. He stepped on a body with one foot, dug his curved claws into the flesh, and swayed his head from side to side, scanning the battlefield.It seems as if no one is winning this battle, but I will be damned if I fall. I have that Nosferatu scant and they need her, which means they need me.

The hackles along his back rose and as he spun around, the Lycan’s feet landed squarely in the center of his chest and his back hit the ground with a solid thud. He rolled over, curled his blackened lips, bared his enormous canines, and let out a guttural roar. “Have you gone mad?”

The Lycan landed in a half crouched position and as it stood, it shook its large body and morphed into another form. “I now face thy enemy I look most forward to killing,” Vispera seethed.

“You lit the fucking flame of war,” Ranan snarled.

“You murdered Dronve! You are a traitor to all Faye, and I shall walk across your corpse when it lies with thy rest of your dead!”

“Dronve? I had nothing to do with his death!”

“My warriors brought his body to me. He was murdered by one of your ferals!”

“It was a fucking setup,” he replied as he cautiously took one step after the other, following Vispera’s movements.

“The one who is about to perish would say anything to save his life.” She made a whistling sound, and a dozen of her warriors surrounded Ranan.

“It seems we are at an impasse. You should know I have the Ascelin. Kill me and she will fucking die.”

“All thy more proof I need. Dronve has been watching you for some time, and now he is dead, and you have thy Ascelin female. Quite thy coincidence, don’t you think?”

“It is quitethy coincidence, isn’t it?”

Riordan, Nicolai, and Kieran pulled their amulets from beneath their tunics after feeling the

heat against their chests, and when they held them together, the crimson light of each amulet pulsed. They kneeled down and placed their palms on the moist ground and felt a subtle vibration.

“She’s close,” Riordan said.

Nicolai closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nostrils. “The scent of her blood,” he snarled.

“She’s hurt,” Kieran replied.

Riordan stepped between them and walked forward. And it was not long before they were following her scent.

“Scan the entire fucking area for the slightest of nuances,” Riordan said.

Nicolai stepped between Riordan and Kieran. “She should be right fucking here.”

Riordan walked through an entanglement of shrubs and noticed the fresh pile of dirt, a wood lid someone had tossed to the side, and a partially buried box. “Oh, fuck!”

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