KASH.
Iâm behind her within a split second and we both leave the motel. I make sure to shut the door behind us as I rush after her. We donât need someone seeing that body or b***d right now, that will only add to everything that is already going on.
Her heart is pounding violently as I try to ask her what happened.
âWhat happened?!â I ask again.
âGray! He tried to connect with me!â
Somethingâs happenedâ¦
She keeps running. Weâre on the road now and I have no f*****g clue as to where sheâs going. But itâs clear she knows.
âHe! One of the princes!â
She isnât making sense but before I can ask Tears of Doom
her, she suddenly stops, as she stares at the ground.
I look down, the smell of b***d reaching my nose, and then I see it.
The trails of b***d cover the stone ground.
What the f**kâ¦.
I try to mind link Zerachiel, but Iâm met with a block. The same goes for Ragnar and Jeremiah which leaves me one option.
Adonis.
Taking a deep breath, I mind link Adonis.
âCheck on Zerachiel and Evelyn right now.â
âIâll check now, is everything ok?â He replies.
âNot sure, get Ragnar and Jeremiah to stay on alert, too. I couldnât link them.â
âGot it but Ragnar hasnât been here for a while. He snuck out saying he had something to do.â
âAnd you didnât think you should tell me that?â I snap back harshly.
Thereâs a momentâs silence.
âHe is a prince⦠and you may not have realised, but youâve had me blocked out⦠even when Iâve tried linking you over the last few days.â I can hear the regret in his voice and I stay silent.
I hadnât even noticed I had been doing thatâ¦
âSorry⦠I didnât realise. Just do as I say.â
âEvelyn is here, sheâs fine. I canât find Zerachiel.â
âJust take care of Evelyn and get out of the motel. I feel like something isnât right. Keep hidden.â I command as a cold, sharp wind blows through the fields.
The night is making me uneasyâ¦
I end the link as I scan the surroundings when I pick up on Zerachiel, Ragnarâs and Jeremiahâs scent.
What theâ¦
I wave to capture Ziahraâs attention before motioning to the right.
She nods, clearly having picked up on something as well. We break into a run, rushing through the field of crops that reach as high as our heads.
The sound of scuffling and the smell of b***d get stronger, and I come to a stop when I see the scene in front of me.
What on earthâ¦
Ragnar and Jeremiah are fighting, b***d covers them, and I can see the rage on Ragnarâs face whilst Jeremiah looks troubled as he tries to defend himself. Clearly supporting far more injuries than Ragnar.
âGray!â Ziahra runs to the body that I didnât even notice off to the left.
And my stomach drops when I realise that heâs dead.
âWhat the hell is going on!â I growl, looking at the two princes.
âRagnar tried to kill Zedkiel!â Jeremiah says as he backs away from his brother, wiping his mouth.
Ragnar growls. âI didnât! He was the one trying to kill him!â He snarls, âHeâs the one who was in the woods that night! When I confronted him, I knew something wasnât right, so Iâve been watching him!â 2
I glance between them, and both of them look angry, but I canât deny that I donât know who is in the wrong.
âRagnar⦠Adonis said you have been out for a while. Where did you go?â I ask.
âIâve been keeping tabs on him. How else do you think I found him before he did something?â Ragnar growls. âDonât fall for his pretences, Donovan!â
His face is twisted with rage, and Jeremiah is shaking his head.
âYou should have told me if that was the case.â I say quietly.
âYouâve always wanted to best him, Ragnar. Why would I kill Zed? I didnât even enter the tournament to try for the position of king. I have no interest in these games of power. Everyone knows that.â Jeremiah counters, and he has a point.
Heâs never been one for power and was the calmest alongside that d**k-face Chasyn.
âJeremiah is right.â I turn sharply to see Zerachiel standing there frowning deeply as he clutches his waist, b***d covers his hand and waist and in his other hand, heâs holding a bloody dagger.
One that I know contains poison.
âI saw you, Ragnar.â He snarls.
Ragnar frowns, âWhat?â
âYou tried to kill me with poison!â Zerachiel snarls, advancing on him.
Whoa, what the f**kâ¦
I look between the three men, Zerachiel looks angry, Jeremiah is frowning and Ragnarâs face, despite the anger, seems to be holding some level of confusion.
I know him. Heâs arrogant and cocky, but why do I feel thereâs more to this story?
Iâm about to say something when Ziahra speaks up.
âWhat happened to Gray?â She asks, her voice trembling as she tries to control herself.
Jeremiah sighs, sadness and regret in his eyes.
âIâm sorry, I came when he was trying to get Ragnar to return to his room and-â
âF*****g Liar!â Ragnar roars, and a menacing growl rips from his chest before heâs on top of Jeremiah, slashing down his chest.
His anger is raging off him as he tries to attack Jeremiah again, but I stop him, trying to get him away from him.
âI wonât fight you, Ragnar,â Jeremiah says quietly as he simply moves back.
âF**k you!â Ragnar hisses.
âStop it!â I snarl âWeâre in a human town if someone hears us, shits going to go down fast!â
I shove Ragnar away from Jeremiah as Ziahra turns to me.
âWe must act now⦠With two of my men dead, the rest will not stand by me⦠Take your people and leave.â She whispers.
I can see the silent tears of pain that run down her cheeks, but she refuses to let her voice break or even a sob escape her.
Iâm about to speak, when she turns sharply.
An eerie silence seems to still the very air around us and her chest begins heaving, the look of fear washing over her face.
âTheyâre coming, go, Kash, save Evelyn.
Now!â
âWho?â Jeremiah asks.
âTheâ¦â Ziahra trails off, her eyes falling to the body of her dead comrade before she scans the field around us.
âWe need to move! Get the traitor and gag him.â Zerachiel snarls, as Jeremiah nods before both grab hold of Ragnar and tie something around his mouth.
Ragnarâs anger is at its limit, and one of the boys knocks him unconscious.
And then I hear it, the distant sound of heavy calculated footfallsâ¦
âThe Dark Crowsâ¦â she whispers so quietly, yet I can sense the fear that sheâs trying to mask.
I need to get Evelyn away from here!
âAdonis, leave. Where are you guys?!â
âWeâre beside the dumpsters near the warehouse we passed earlier.â
âStay hidden. Weâre on our way! The enemy is here.â I say.
Iâm about to turn away when I pause and look over my shoulder at my mate.
Sheâs standing there, her hands visibly shaking as tries to calm herself.
I canât leave her.
âGo.â She mouths.
Not without you.
The footsteps are approaching, but she shakes her head.
âItâll be worse if you stay.â Her voice comes into my head.
Iâm pulled from my thoughts and from her when Jeremiah yanks me away. I look over my shoulder, seeing her standing thereâ¦
Will I see her again?
Our eyes meet for the final time and I have never felt more like a coward.
Thereâs a pain in my chest, Iâve not experienced before and it feels as if there is no oxygen.
Iâm leaving my mate to the wrath of Vadam Exodus, knowing it could cost her her life.
I wish there were a few more minutes⦠I need a few more minutesâ¦
The sound of a scream fills the sky and Iâm snapped from my thoughts, my heart and mind torn as I turn towards the sound Evelyn!
Iâm coming.
Iâm about to turn back when Jeremiah shakes his head regretfully.
âThereâs no time, Kash⦠We need to go.â He whispers, and Iâm forced to turn away from her.
Iâm sorry princess⦠so damn sorryâ¦
If anything happens to her⦠I wonât be able to forgive myself.
Ever.