Arher 00

Arher 00
She was amazing.
I could feel her terror, but I knew without a doubt she would do what she had to for the future. To make sure the people she protected were safe from the clutches of the council. We all knew there would come a time we’d have to do something about the council members and had hoped it wouldn’t be for a while, but fate had stepped up our timeline.
Looking to Nate, I saw the resolve in his eyes. When the time did come, we would do everything to make sure our mate would live on for a happier time within the supernatural world.
“For now, and until Alex and Thorn are back, maybe we should get back on the subject of Grace,” I suggested.
“Ah, yes, Grace,” Alma murmured.
An explosion erupted outside.
I flashed to the window and peered out, sensing Nate at my side. We both took in the chaos. People were scattered below, running away from the huge hole in the gate.
“I knew there was something else I forgot to tell you,” Alma said.
“What?” Paige demanded.
Alma sighed. I glanced back to see her studying her nails. “It seems Grace has taken to the dark side, Obi-Wan. She’s come to kill you using blood magic.” Another explosion rocked the castle. “Better get out there before she takes her anger out on innocent bystanders.”
Nate tugged his shirt from his body, and Paige yelled harshly, “Look away, Aggie.”
“I’ve got it,” Felnick said, crossing the room quickly to cover Aggie’s eyes.
Nate snorted and removed his pants. “Open the door for me, Paige, and stay here.”
The queen called for her power. Her eyes changed, her claws extending along with her teeth. “You are not leaving me behind. Neither of you are,” she snarled, looking from Nate to me, and when I nodded, she then glanced back to Nate.
He cursed yet didn’t fight with her any longer. The shift came over him. His body morphed, bones popped, and in seconds, he landed on all fours as his huge wolf form.
“Felnick, stay here with them,” Paige ordered, her hand on the door handle.
“But—”
“Felnick. Alma and Aggie are important to me. Actually, take them to my family’s suite and guard all of them.”
Felnick tipped his chin down. “Yes, my queen.”
She swung the door open, and Nate bounded out before Paige ran into the hall. I quickly followed, the air surrounding me fluttering papers from the desk around the room. I caught Alma’s laugh. Together, we raced down the busy hall of people scattering for safety. However, some stopped to watch in awe to see the queen herself running into the threat.
It wasn’t that long ago her fear had control. Looking at her now, I would have thought nothing could scare her. Her people, our people, should be proud of the type of queen Paige was.
Along the trek, twenty or so guards joined our line of defense, but already I could hear the fighting had started outside. I locked my emotions away from my mate. She glanced at me and nodded, then did the same. We couldn’t be distracted.
Just as we reached the front door that led into the market area, we heard, “Come out, little queen. It’s time to test your strength.”
Guards pushed the doors open. We stepped out together. Grace had brought demons along with her. It was those the guards had been fighting while Grace stood just inside the gate and stared on smiling.
Any time someone approached her, they sank to their knees and cried out in pain. She’d protected herself with a spell.
“Ah, there she is. Welcome to the party, little queen.” The fighting around us stopped. Everyone, even the demons, watched as Paige walked on slowly, taking in everything.
“I’m just happy you’re calling me queen at all, Grace. It means you do see me as one.”
Grace’s upper lip rose. “You may be queen for now, but I’ll rip your powers from your body when I take your heart.”
The wolf gnashed his teeth and snarled at Grace even as demons roared and stamped their hooves or feet into the ground.
Paige threw her head back and laughed.
I saw the way Grace’s features blanked, her confidence lessened all for a second before a scowl marred her face. “I wouldn’t laugh, little queen. My army and I have you outnumbered.”
“Take out the main player and the army will fall,” I said.
Grace’s gaze flicked to me. “You don’t stand a chance, vampire.”
I shrugged. “We shall see.”
She cackled and looked back to Paige. Grace’s confidence had her pulling her shoulders back, had a smirk lifting her lips, and an evil glint shining in her eyes. “Tell me something, little queen. Where are your two other men?”
Paige’s steps faltered until she stopped completely. “What are you saying, Grace?”
“I heard they went on a mission. I heard they were ambushed. I heard they were taken out.” Her smirk grew into a smile.
“What did you do?” Paige demanded, her voice deeper, darker. Her ghoul side would be after vengeance. Fury leaked through her block, but before she could act, we needed answers first. When I took her hand in mine, she gripped me hard, but I knew she’d understand I was just trying to help her. Like the wolf was by stepping in front of her and pressing his body against her legs.
“They’re dead.”
“You lie,” Paige bellowed. She managed a step forward even with the wolf and me holding her.
Grace leaned forward a little. “I don’t.”
“Do you forget bonded mates can feel when the other has passed?” I question.
Grace’s lips thinned. Then she threw her hands out as if to say it didn’t matter. “I’m unsure if she’d feel it when they’re in Hell.”
Fuck.
Even I wasn’t sure of the consequences, and when Paige glanced at me, she saw it on my face. Her jaw clenched, her body tensing.
In a low, hard voice, she asked, “And you were a part of their ambush?”