Chapter 126

Chapter 126

Skylar

“Arachne?” I echo as I study the large spider. She is unrealistically huge, and I shudder. “Do you think

we stand a chance against her?”

“We? Lucas snorts. “I’m not bringing you with me-what kind of mate would I be if I risked your life

fighting that thing?!”

Abruptly. Lucas veers off course, trying to take us away from the impending battle. But I’m not having

any of that. My fingers clutch tighter at his scales.

“You don’t get to make that choice for me,” I snap, my eyes never leaving the grotesque form of

Arachne. “Besides, my abilities are needed here!”

‘Not anymore. Lucas argues, and I groan when he begins to land in a clearing in the woods.

“No, get back up there!” I spank him on the scales, but I doubt he can even feel it.

shake

Instead, Lucas lands and tries to me off his back like a dog that has just taken a bath.

“Lucas!” I yell, gripping his scales tighter. “I’m no damsel in distress! I can fight my own battles.”

He is unyielding, relentlessly shaking his body, trying to dislodge me. But my grip is stronger than he

anticipates, and though I’m thrown about wildly, I remain on his back.

Suddenly, the flapping of demon wings echoes from above us, and a torrent of fire rains down. Lucas

jumps away just time, but the burning flames melt the edges of one of his wings.

“We are sitting ducks down here!” I shout over the howls of the battling demons above us. “We need to

get back up there!”

But Lucas is stubborn. He continues trying to shake me off, whipping his tail around and arching his

back, but I refuse to let go. I know that if we stay on the ground, we’re doomed. And our only chance

for survival is fighting together.

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, Lucas turns his head to glare at me. ‘Why are you so

stubborn? Why won’t you let me protect you?!’

“Because we are mates and should protect each other!” I shout back at him, my gaze never wavering

from his. “We’re partners and we’re in this together, remember?”

Lucas snorts, smoke curling into the air from his nostrils. I can tell he’s not happy with my decision, but

he has no choice but to respect

it.

‘Fine,’ he concedes finally, his voice a resigned sigh in my mind. But if you get hurt…”

“I won’t,” I boldly interrupt, injecting as much confidence into my voice as I can muster.

With a huff, Lucas flexes his wings and takes off again, soaring higher and higher until we’re back

amongst the chaos in the sky.

e, I prepare myself for the battle ahead My heart pounds against my chest like a drum as I take in

. She’s even bigger than I imagined up close, and her laughter shakes me to the core.

e can beat her?” I repeat my earlier question, causing Lucas to sigh.

11:29 Fri, May

Chapter 126

“I don’t know, Skylar. That’s why I didn’t want you on the battlefield.”

“I will be a bigger help here than at home,” I mutter.

“Really?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And which one of your abilities would help us defeat a gigantic man-eating spider lady?”

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I shrug one I feel his eye on me. “I mean, I could open a portal to let our pack members be transported

here quickly, but I don’t know…you acted as if my abilities might not be needed,” I add, knowing it will

piss him off.

Lucas bristles at my words, a growl rumbling in his chest. ‘Skylar I’m just worried about you, he says,

exasperation clear in

his voice.

“I know,” I say gently, trying to soothe him despite my own nervousness. “But this is where I need to be,

Lucas. As your mate and as a member of the pack. I have a role to play.”

A heavy silence settles between us before he finally sighs. ‘Alright, Skylar. What’s the plan?”

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The sound of defeat in his voice makes me smile; he knows he can’t do this without me. I feel more

confident than ever.

I start explaining quickly, trying to cover all bases. “First, I will open the portal for our pack members to

join us Second, while

you

distract Arachne, some of us will attack her from behind. You can inform the pack of our brilliant plan

through the mind-link.

As I relay my plan to Lucas, he listens quietly without interrupting me. His eyes remain fixed on

Arachne, calculating the dangerous situation we are in.

And if anything goes wrong? Lucas questions, his voice low and tense in

my mind.

“Then we improvise,” I answer firmly. “That’s all we can do.”

Lucas snorts at my response, but I can feel a sense of respect emanating from him. “Alright, he

responds simply, readying himself for the battle ahead.

Gathering my strength, I begin to form a large portal beside us. A swirling vortex appears, and I can tell

Lucas is speaking to his back through the mind-link

It doesn’t take long until werewolves begin pouring through the portal, ready to fight alongside us.

There is just one problem.

“She’s seen us,” Lucas warns.

Arachne’s head swivels, eight soulless eyes locking onto the portal and the flood of werewolves

emerging from it. Her ous form casts an imposing shadow over us, making the impending battle feel all

the more terrifying.

ange of plans,” I say quickly, my mind racing to adapt. We attack now!

a growl that echoes through the skies, Lucas surges forward, a beam of fire bursting forth from his

jaws. It sears wards Arachne, illuminating her grotesque features in its harsh light.

Distracted by Luc*s’s fiery onslaught, Arachne fails to notice as a group of our bravest warriors breaks

away from the pack

Fri, May