Fox came back to himself to the feel of Melisande’s soft hand against his cheek, his animal spirit leaping with joy at her touch, loving her. In another part of his mind, he heard the snarl, but knew it for the darkness it was. He grabbed her against him, kissing her soundly.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
“Another flashback. My animal’s trying to help us. I think I know how to reach Kara.” But he needed to know something first. Releasing Melisande, he shifted back into his animal.
Kara, is there anyone there with you? Any Mage in the vicinity at all?
I’m not sure, Fox, but I don’t think so. My cell door is locked. I don’t know where they keep the key.
We’ll free you, Radiant. Never fear.
Fox . . . I’m not well. I’ve brought two more new Ferals into their animals, and it’s taken so much out of me that I can barely stand.
Have they hurt you? He growled low.
No, not really. It’s just the ritual that drains me so badly. I may need help.
I have strong arms, Kara.
He shifted back to human, then turned to Melisande, reaching for her hand.
She shook her head, as if reading his mind. “Don’t even think about asking me to stay here. We’re safer together, and you know it.”
“Unless we get caught.”
Her eyes flashed. “We’re in this together, Feral.”
He grinned at her suddenly and pulled her close for a quick kiss. “Is that a promise?”
To his surprise, the look she gave him was as deep as the sea and filled with an emotion he hardly dared credit. She reached up, stroking his jaw with her palm. His breath caught as he waited for her words, but all she said was, “Let’s get Kara.”
Carefully, silently, he removed the grill and slipped into the empty corridor, then motioned for her to follow. Replacing the grill, he led the way to the right. If he shifted, he could probably follow Kara’s scent, but he couldn’t risk the darkness in his animal barring him from shifting back, not out in the open like this.
Sweat broke out on his brow. Somewhere above sat Inir, the most dangerous immortal alive. A bastard who, if they couldn’t stop him, would free the most vicious immortal who’d ever lived, Satanan, turning the Earth into a living hell.
Hand in hand, Fox and Melisande made their way through the corridors, following the path his animal spirit had shown him. But as they approached an intersection with a second corridor, the magic swept through him yet again, forcing him into his fox, forcing him onto his belly on the cold stone floor.
Frustration and fury roared through his muscles, the fox spirit crying out inside his head, but he couldn’t move. He’d been shut down. Again.
Melisande fell to her knees beside him, sliding both hands into his fur, calling up the warmth. And while his animal leaped at the healing gift, Fox felt no easing of the invisible chains this time. Just as the darkness had grown stronger in Castin as he’d breached the stronghold’s walls, so, too, had the darkness within himself.
The sound of voices and footsteps heading toward them from the cross corridor had him whimpering with fury, frantic to shift back.
Go, pet! Someone’s coming. Go back to the tunnel, back to Castin, and get out of here!
By the sound of the voices, he guessed he had a minute, maybe two, before the pair—and he was fairly certain there were only two—reached the intersection of the corridors and saw him.
“No,” she whispered, pressing her hands more firmly against his back and head. I’m not leaving you.
Melisande’s warming gift ran through his body, his animal spirit leaping up to accept it, but the darkness refused to let him go.
As the voices grew louder, closer, he became crazed with the need to save her. Mel, go. Please go.
She shook her head, her eyes gleaming with determination. I can take them.
Mel . . .
Her eyes filled with an emotion that could only be love, and she kissed his head. I’d give my life for you, Feral.
He prayed she wasn’t about to do just that.
Melisande rose from beside Fox, pulled her knives, and moved to the corner, pressing her back against the wall where she would stay hidden from the approaching Mage until the last moment. Her heart pounded in her chest, perspiration rolled in rivulets down her back as she eyed Fox, lying on the floor, a giant fox trapped by the darkness that had infected his animal spirit. If she failed, he’d die. Or worse.
She eyed his location, deciding he was far enough out of the line of sight that she could wait until she saw the sentinels out of the corner of her eye before she attacked.
Her gaze met the animal’s, Fox’s, the intensity of emotion in his eyes leaping at her, wrapping around her, filling her with strength.
Deep inside, her old self trembled at the thought of killing again, then sighed, giving up the fight . . . no, joining it. Because there was no way in hell that any part of her would let Fox die when she might be able to save him. When she loved him.
She would never kill someone who didn’t need to die. Not now, at least. Her heart clenched at what she’d done to Julianne. She’d acted so coldly, but the danger to the Ilina race if word of their existence had leaked had been extreme. When it did finally leak, thanks to Kougar, the Mage poison master had attacked immediately and nearly killed them all. Their survival had been a near thing, and only due to Kougar’s help. Killing Julianne’s parents had been cold, yes, but not wrong.
The hardest thing to live with had always been the deaths of her ninety-six sisters, and for that she would forever feel the deepest remorse. But as Fox had said, she’d never meant for it to happen. She’d been wrong to go to the Mage for help, but she’d had no reason to think he’d turn on her. She couldn’t possibly have conceived of it.
As the terrible guilt lifted some of its debilitating weight from her shoulders, her world righted itself a little bit more. Deep inside, she felt a sigh as the battle she’d been waging against herself drained away. Ceraph and warrior joined together as one.
As the footsteps drew near, Melisande tensed for battle, her hand tight around the hilt of her sword. Taking a deep, slow breath, she calmed her mind, drawing on millennia of experience. Her mind clear of the fury, her compassion once more in good working order, she saw battle for what it was. A necessity. In this moment, it was the only way to save the man she loved.
Out of the corner of her eye, the Mage came into view and turned her way. There would be no attacking them from behind, as she’d hoped, but for one instant, she had the element of surprise and she took it.
Calling on her warrior’s instincts and experience, she attacked with everything she had. By the time the Mage saw her, she was already swinging. One head rolled and she spun toward the other. The second Mage was strong and skilled and dodged her blows, spinning to catch her in the thigh. But she refused to go down. Fox’s life depended on her winning this fight, and she wasn’t about to lose. Instead, she rolled, chopped off one of his hands, then launched herself on his back, grabbing his forehead, pulling his head back, and slicing her blade across his throat once, twice . . . his head came off in her hands.
As the second sentinel collapsed, she leaped free with a shuddering breath and a surge of triumph. Dropping the head, she ran to Fox.
Nice job, pet. But the eyes that watched her held worry.
She shoved her bloody hands into his fur, determined to free him from the chains of the darkness this time. As Fox watched her, as she pulled on the energy of her gift, she smiled at him.
“I’ve had a little practice,” she murmured, then smiled. “Five thousand years.”
Love shone in his eyes. You’re okay.
“Better than okay. I feel . . . purged. Free. And I’ll feel a hundred times better when I have you on your feet again.”
Me, too.
All of a sudden, her healing gift leaped into her hands, twice as powerful as before. And a moment later, Fox shifted back into a man. Bounding to his feet, he hauled her into his arms and kissed her soundly, tenderly.
“You’re incredible.”
She grinned at him. “You’re not so bad yourself, gorgeous.”
He returned her grin, then grabbed her hand and started down the hallway. Several minutes later, they were standing before a heavy wooden door, banded with iron, a small barred window at the top.
“Kara,” Fox breathed, peering into that window.
“Fox!” the Radiant cried softly.
He turned to Melisande. “We need a key.”
Melisande nodded, then searched, but found no sign of one. Returning to Fox she shook her head.
“Roll close to the wall and cover your face, Kara. I’m going to have to break down the door.”
Which the Mage would surely hear, but there was no help for it.
“Ready?” Fox called softly.
“Yes,” came the muffled reply.
As Melisande moved out of his way, Fox backed up, lifted one powerful leg, and kicked the door in with a monstrous crack of splitting timbers.
They had only minutes, if that, before the Mage swarmed them. Fox leaped through the opening, scooping up Kara.
The Radiant threw her arms around his neck, tears in her eyes. “Thank you, Fox.” Her gaze caught Melisande’s, a sweet smile of thanks lifting Melisande’s heart and bringing tears to her own eyes. “Thank you, both.”
“Thank us when we’ve got you safely back in Lyon’s arms,” Fox murmured.
Melisande’s hand curved around the hilt of her sword. Together, they would return Kara to her mate. Or die trying.
Melisande led the way, backtracking through the passages as Fox brought up the rear, Kara in his arms. In the distance, Fox heard voices and the sound of footsteps. More than a couple this time. And he did not want them to have to fight their way out. Not with Kara so vulnerable. Not with Melisande at risk if they were badly outnumbered.
“Run, Mel,” he urged. They needed to get back to the tunnel before they were seen. As she took off, he followed. They passed the two dead Mage and kept going.
Just as they reached the passage that led to the tunnel, a shout went up in the distance. They’d either found the bodies or Kara’s open cell. Either way, the Mage knew they had intruders. The good news was, it was clear the Mage had no idea there was any way in or out of the dungeons except by the stairs above, or they’d have had guards posted down here.
Reaching the tunnel, Melisande pulled off the grill and stood back as he ducked in. For one moment, their gazes met, and he saw the steel in her sapphire eyes and knew she was solid.
Melisande replaced the grill and followed him into the tunnel. Behind, he heard the pounding of booted feet and more shouts.
“The Radiant’s gone! Find her!”
Melisande carried the flashlight, leading the way back to Castin, who appeared to be collecting dead Mage, by the stack of bodies piled just inside the cave’s mouth.
Outside, rain slashed, the wind howling. Thunder crashed in the sky.
Castin motioned with his head. “The coast is clear at the moment. Come on.”
Together, they crossed the clearing through the deluge, ducking into the woods without a single shout going up. For the first time, Fox allowed himself a deep breath. If they stayed to this wooded path, straight out from the castle, they might be able to get away without being seen.
When Melisande motioned for Fox to pass her, he shook his head. “You first.” He didn’t want her out of his sight.
But she threw him a grin, loving him with those warrior eyes. “You’re carrying the precious cargo. I’m covering your flank.” She laughed, low. “Move your gorgeous ass, Feral.”
He threw her a grin that promised all kinds of carnal fun . . . if they got out of here alive . . . and let her bring up the rear. It was damned hard not to try to protect her, but she’d been a warrior for more than a dozen times as long as he’d been alive. And apparently she was one once more, though with her heart and conscience and smile fully intact this time.
They traveled quickly and quietly, hidden by the trees. About a mile from the castle, Fox began to think they just might make a clean getaway. But moments later, Melisande’s voice came from behind him.
“We have four Mage on our tail.”
“More in front,” Castin said. And Fox could see them—eight more appearing over the rise not twenty yards ahead.
Mage sentinels on every side.
Chapter Nineteen
They were surrounded by Mage, an even dozen of them as they stood in the blinding rain. They’d taken on this many and won once before, but not with an injured woman in their midst. Fox set Kara on the ground, and the three of them quickly surrounded her.
Fox looked at Melisande, and she met his gaze with that same blue steel in her eyes. He nodded, trying to toss her a grin and failing. There was too damned much at stake. He’d been in tighter spots in his life, but never had a battle meant so much to him personally. Because never had the woman he loved been fighting at his side.
“Anyone have an extra knife?” Kara asked.
Castin handed her one, approval in his eyes, before turning to face their attackers.
“And just where do you think you’re taking our Radiant?” one of the Mage asked, a smirk on his face as the sentinels slowly closed the circle. That Mage would be the first to die.
Fox shifted, upsizing as far as he could, until the Mage sentinels in front of him took several steps back, eyes wide, faces paling. Damn, he was the size of a pony.
“They’re here,” Kara said quietly.
And before he could ask what she meant, he heard the low snarls and growls of large, predatory animals and his pulse leaped with thanksgiving. A quick glance behind and he saw them—a lion, jaguar, wolf, and cougar coming over the rise behind the Mage and slowly circling until the four made up the outer, and by far the most vicious circle.