Chapter 83
MAXIM POV
As soon as I came round from being choked out, I blearily searched the space for her.
My face has been punched into next week, every
Tessa must have got away. She’s safe.
in my body aches but I’m pleased, Relieved even.
During my time at Ravenbow I’d taken some chances. Pissed off a fair few Wardens, slept with the Alpha’s daughter. Last time I waited in this dank little holding area, with nothing to look at but the impending cliff ledge, I got promoted to my black shirt.
Doesn’t appear I will be in luck tonight. It didn’t take Alpha Hale long to fill this dingy, cold place with spectators, unless I’ve been unconscious longer than it feels. My throat might as well be constructed from sandpaper. I clench my jaw as tight as I can manage, if only to try and quell the whimpering fear of my wolf inside.
If I’m going down, it’s not with tears down my face.
Weeks ago, I watched Donlon fall into the black void. Followed by Irene and Isaac. I didn’t realise at the same time I had been witness to the end of Princess Hazel as Ravenbow once knew her.
Her happy, charming innocence is long gone. A weary, off–we woman with a still–raw blonde scalp stands next to her mother. Dark criles around her
blue eyes as she stare at nothing.
Thank fuck Alpha Hale has not me tied me to Tessa. Because then I’m not entirely sure I would be able to handle this situation with just a clenched jaw. I’m pleased she isn’t here. Devastated I won’t see her again before I die but at least she has a shot at happiness somewhere else.
A future. I just hoped it would be with me.
Alpha Hale’s voice booms through my already splitting head. Some nonsense about mate bonds being worthless. They’re not. They’re everything.
My hands are bound. I’m slumped on the stone floor. From here I can see the back of Alpha Hale. Posturing out on his platform, preparing to make an example of me. I shuffle a little, try to see a bit more of the crowd past his huge white–armoured body.
/Remy, where is Tessa?/
Nothing.
/REMY!/
/1 don’t know! I haven’t got a clue! I sent Kai to find her where you said. Not seen them since./
I crane my aching neck a little further. My focus lands on the sad, wan figures of Hazel and Luna Sabrina on the platform. But where is Remy? The link crackles across again with Remy’s strained voice.
/I’m sorry Maxim. You did everything right. You were loyal. You don’t deserve this./
/What happened to you? Are you okay?/ I sit up a little straighter and two black–shirted lumps I don’t recognise point silver–tipped lances at my throat. Heavily scarred, hate clear in their narrowed eyes. Don’t move,” one growls.
They’re Generals. The men Kai and Silas receive their training from before taking squadrons into battle. Skin toughened from the sun and fighting they glare down at me with pure contempt.
“The Alpha told us how you claimed to kill twenty of those rebels.”
“I did.”
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“WE have fought them. Unlike you. Our army barely came away intact, Lost so many and then you return
Chapter 83
You’re a liar.
“I’ll pin a map where you can find the pile of bodies. Describe them ”
I get a warning jab in my side from the spinning your bullshit?”
Where are you?/1 ask Remy again.
/Never left the room you were choked in./
Why?/
The pain in Remy’s voice travels over the mind link.
stop my father from killing you. We fought. (lost. Now I’m the one in a cell!
Fuck.
I glare up at the Generals. “The rebels are drugged. When they fight you they are compensating for their lost connection to their wolves. They have the advantage then.”
“What?”
“The rebels I fought were weaker! When they see Ravenbows army, rriving on your trains, they start chugging whatever drugs they’ve created and raining hellfire. That’s why I said small guerilla groups! Ask Remy – he has samples of the pills! Ask Princess Hazel, she has their coded notebooks!”
The grizzled men stare at each other. “This changes nothing-”
My head tilts back to rest against the stone wall. “I know. But it’s the truth. Maybe it will help save a few men in your next posting…”
“BRING HIM OUT!” Alpha Hale roars. Before I can resist I’m forced onto my feet, a scowling general on each side of my arms. Moving so quick has me groaning in pain. I’m definitely working with a shattered set of ribs here.
The ledge feels miniscule. Way too fragile under my feet. Completely alone yet thousands of eyes study me. All gasping and making assumptions. Alpha Hale holds up his hands and commands his rapt, confused audience.
“MAXIM! Everyone knows who you are! You came from nothing. I’ve checked your records. Pagano isn’t a name anybody has ever cared about. Jumped up Industrial zone urchin. Ravenbow gave you everything!”
Now isn’t the time to start feeling sorry for the start I had in life. Not where there is the tiniest sliver of a chance I might somehow make it out of this alive. Looking up to the moonlight, black sky above I hope the Goddess can somehow see this madness and intervene.
That’s desperation kicking in, my wolf offers sadly, sending a bolt of pride up my spine instead.
“You almost had the con complete. Rising up the ranks, gaining trust. Recommendations.”
You’re a good man Remy. Don’t end up like your father. Thank you for being my friend./
I look past the hulking brute and catch Hazel and Sabrina’s gaze. They’re both completely stricken, holding each other’s hands.
“I served you Alpha. Proudly. I serve Prince Remy still-” but I’m forced to dodge a quickly flung punch. Stepping backwards the crowd gasps, some shriek. My feet were millimetres from the edge.
“LIES! You serve your devious, cunning bitch of a mate! You have abandoned all sense. All reason, for a lie!”
“It was never a lie!” I bellow’back. “Tessa did nothing wrong. She deserved better! We didn’t start the same as everyone else but it doesn’t matter!”
“You’re a traitor.”
“No!”
Chapter 83
“You are! Just like them!” pointing at his wife and daughter. “Traitors die. And when I find your fiery haired little slut, she’ll die too.”
“I’ll kill you fi” but my sentence turns into a yell when his oversized paw pushes me. Whirling and reeling my arms spin. The battle to maintain my balance is over in seconds. Nothing can keep me on this thin bit of grey ledge.
I fall.
”
Oh fuck do I fall.
My own cry is swallowed by the crowd’s screams. Thanks to flailing my arms I’m twirling in the air, not a straight, graceful drop like a tear. I’m a flailing, panicked mess tearing through the ir. The orange and gray sides of the inner cylinder blur.
For a few tenths of a second I am on my back, staring back up at the rapidly–shrinking ledge. I see the black of the starlit sky, the white of Alpha Hale, checking on his handiwork. Then I’m so far down the void he’s reduced to nothing.
Momentum flips me and there is nothing but black. This is death. This is the end.
Tessa I’m sorry.
Only to slam into something. It’s not rocks. It gives and bends and I’m somehow breathing. Then I yowl in pain, reaching for my thigh. A fucking arrow has pierced straight into the thick muscle
Only for the scent of oranges to hit me.
I grab at the arrow only to feel the rope tied to it’s shaft. There is the sound of crumbling rock, tumbling down further into the void, echoing upwards.
I’m so fucking confused right now. My adrenalin has accelerated to new heights, I’m fairly sure I’m not dead.
“Quick. Please, please‘ quick!” a little voice beckons and I know exactly who it is. “Follow!” giving the rope piercing my thigh a little tug.
There is only one girl who could possibly fashion her own spider’s web. Who could fire an arrow at her mate with the sweetest intentions in her heart. Trusting in her scent, her voice I get onto all fours. This invisible creation of hers is absolutely not stable.
I cannot see anything but my hands and feet don’t leave the rope for a second. She gently tugs at the arrow on my thigh when I start to head the wrong way. I shuffle into the darkness.
This is no time to celebrate but I’m smiling. The biggest, brightest smile I have. The most insane minute of my life completes itself when I feel her hands reach and find my face. Then grabbily pulling my shoulders, my arms. Wrapping around my chest and helping to haul me over. My shattered ribs cause me no pain. I’m not capable of feeling anything but euphoria right now.
My feet hit solid stone. I’m on the ground. Where is she?
There is no light. I don’t need it. She grabs my face, pulls me downwards and slams her lips to mine. Strong enough to make my breathing cease, my heart skips as she seizes me. My arms wrap around her in return, walking backwards, lifting her off her feet until her back is against a wall, alcove, who gives a shit where.
Just away from the void.
Slowly lowering her back to the ground, my hands search her. Inhaling her scent, the softness of her hair, the surprising hardness of her armoured body against my shirt. My tongue meets hers and when I reach up to cup her face I feel the tears that are continuing to tumble down her cheeks. My heart breaks.
I take her face and softly kiss her cheeks, taking those salty tears. Only to feel her hands on my face, her thumb wiping away mine. Because w you meant to do when you thought you had lost everything?
e are
Her hands are shaking. Fluttering over my chest, shoulders, my heart. Her fingers trace the space where her mark is meant to be. Has always meant to be.
“Do it. Do it,” I urge into her ear, helping as she roughly unbuttons the top of my shirt. I grab her face and kiss her feverishly, feeling her canines extend, brushing against my lips. Then I release her, and let her seal my fate.
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14:51 Tue, 17 Jun
Chapter 83
Her teeth tear into my flesh and lightning strikes my soul. I’m racked by the power of her bite. Every muscle tenses into spasm, my math fading open This is unlike the other times, she is going deeper, Solidifying the bond between our wolves. This bite is not for show. It is for life.
As soon as I can strip the uniform and every piece of clothing from her body, I shall be giving her mine. My mate, my future wife, my soulmate. The soft gentle, brown–eyed wonder who has found her own way to defy an Alpha.
I move her head close to my ear, able to smell the tang of my blood on her lips. “Tessa…I love you.”
“I know you sent those people to keep me safe, but I couldn’t,” her whisper breaking into still–terrified little sobs. “I couldn’t lose you.”
Noises continue up above, but they mean nothing. I joyfully hold my mate in the darkness.
