Page 153 of A Crown Without Mercy

Kadric adjusted Sylvana in his arms and reached out to his son telepathically.“Alaric, it’s your father. Where are you and your sisters?”

“Father? Where the hell have you been? It’s fucking mayhem here!”

“Where are you?”

“Inside the castle walls. It wasn’t the Acherons who returned, the Faye and the Lycans shifted, and we are under attack.”

“Get your sisters!”

Alaric grunted and Kadric heard the clang of sword meeting sword.

Alaric?”When he did not get a response he focused on getting Sylvana out of harm’s way for the time being.If something happens to my son, I will never forgive myself for not being there with him.

After warning the warriors about what was happening, Klyn propelled himself forward and attacked another Lycan who fluently leapt over his head; he spun around, brought his sword down, and it crossed the Lycan’s bicep; it let out a deadly roar and lunged. Klyn hit the ground, somersaulted once, and brought his blade up the front of the Lycan’s leg as he jumped to his feet. He felt a spray of moisture cross his face when the Lycan’s neck tore open; except for the sounds of its gurgling breaths, it was silent as it dropped to its knees and fell forward, revealing another warrior who had yielded the deadly blow from behind.

“Where are those things you spoke of?” the warrior asked, as he spun around to face another oncoming Lycan.

Its long arm swiped in Klyn’s direction, and he ducked and stepped to the side and swung. “I have no fucking idea.”

Another warrior looked down when he felt a subtle vibration beneath his boots. He cautiously stepped back and noticed a bubble rise to the surface from beneath a large puddle of water and could not tell if it was caused by the heavy drops of rain or something else. He took a few more steps back; a form emerged, and the water and mud ran down the opaque figure and a set of iridescent green eyes were pinned on his. A burning sensation radiated across his midsection, and he stumbled back. Vispera stepped forward and swung; his sword met hers with a resounding clang, which knocked him to the side. His eyes widened, his head rolled from his shoulders, and his body slumped to the side.

“One of many whom will die this night,” she said aloud. She then ducked and swung at a large, rabid looking creature with leathery wings and fervid, scarlet eyes when it dove for her and slit her cheek with a long curved claw. She looked up and an explosion of the creatures appeared from within the heavy rains.

“Kadric, we are close,”Cadell said telepathically.

“I am headed toward my manor.”

“I think it would be best to take her to mine. It has been secured.”

“Father?” Sylvana mumbled when she woke.

“Yes, darling. I’ve got you,” he replied.

“Where have you been?”

“I’m here now. Nothing else matters,” he replied.

She wept and her body writhed from the pain having been carried in her father’s arms. “Put me down. I can’t take it anymore.”

“I’m sorry, darling, but we can’t stop.”

“Father, please, I—I need a minute.”

Cadell and his warriors appeared, and they scanned her battered body. “She’s not healing?”

“No. She was struck with a caustic Faye blade,” Kadric replied.

“Father,” Sylvana winced.

He looked at Cadell, who nodded. “Give her a moment of relief,” Cadell suggested.

Kadric gently laid her on her side and moved her hair from her face. “When was the last time you fed?”

“I don’t know? Where are my mates?”

“Your mates?” Kadric asked, as he looked at Cadell.

Cadell placed his hand on his shoulder and looked down at him. “The Acherons have taken her as their mate.”

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