Chapter 28 Runes
❦ Nikolai ❦
I traced behind a charred vehicle, my scent concealed with a few runes. The pair of feral vampires I was tailing marched on, unaware of my presence.
It was fortuitous that feral vampires turned by Maverick Graves were unable to trace, otherwise the hunt would’ve been near impossible.
The mortal injected a combination of his own blood and the blood of late Queen Lyssa, into humans and wolves alike.
That way, he could be their sire and hold absolute control.
Cunning mortal.
But he was destined to meet his end for playing with forces he didn’t understand.
I traced to a tree branch high enough to prevent them from sensing my power. The ferals paused in a clearing, their cloaks swaying in the light wind.
My eyes slitted.
I hoped they wouldn’t discover me, not because I feared them, but because I needed to follow them to their nest. Or turning spots.
I needed to find Graves. Killing his progeny wasn’t enough, he transformed twice as many each day.
My senses roared within, itching for a fight, for release.
My bride’s blood was surprisingly potent, amping my powers to a dangerous degree. So much so I almost felt feral with raw power.
A grin split my lips.
I’d claimed her. Made her mine.
Now all that remained was severance from Drusilla so I could live my life on my own terms.
The ferals separated, each going in opposite directions.
I snarled silently. What was this?
Countless attempts at tailing them to Graves had failed, with the most successful hints leading to offshoot branches of his many labs. Their leader remained out of reach.
Lilith was supposed to be here. If she’d been, I wouldn’t have to choose which feral to follow.
“Damn this.” I muttered, tracing after the one going deeper into District 3.
I stepped out behind a felled house.
The feral had disappeared.
Looking up to the sky, I growled. Sunrise was due soon. I couldn’t lose this lead!
Every moment wasted was a moment I surrendered my bride to the lycan. My claws lengthened, fangs elongating.
The clearing erupted.
Snarls echoed through the night.
A ring of more than thirty ferals materialized, circling me.
Tracking over. Time to kill.
They charged.
I buffed my claws, staying until the circle closed in tight enough I could smell their rancid breaths.
I traced.
Dropping to the outer edge, I drew my sword.
“This, is mercy,” I hissed.
I swung, cleanly decapitating heads—the fastest way to fell an immortal.
There was no fun in this. It was methodical, ruthless, and necessary.
I traced to the opposite edge, felling more ferals with broad sweeps of my sword. Some had been willing to transform, others less so. But all had one thing in common.
They were no different from animals, their sense of self erased due to the method of their turning. They all lived to ceaselessly obey a mortal playing god.
One last one remained. Instead of charging, she turned, fleeing from me.
I traced ahead and held my sword out.
She ran into it, the body moving long after the head had rolled to a stop.
Silence.
I flicked the blood off my sword, sheathing it. I ghosted my gaze around the bloody, gore covered clearing.
Sunrise would burn it all way, blood and flesh, leaving nothing but the fabric on their backs.
Yet another mission failed. Yet another day my bride was surrendered to another male, mate or not.
I scowled, then turned as clapping erupted ahead.
“That was rather beautiful to watch, mon cœur.” Lilith drawled, stepping over the bodies.
The night lightened steadily.
“Where were you?” I demanded.
“Did you miss me? You sound like you did.”
Something snapped.
My fist flew, my mind changing from decapitation to collaring her throat midway.
Drusilla would have my head if I took hers. Always so protective of her progeny.
“Stop fucking around, and obey my orders. I only give so many.” I gritted.
Lilith faked choking, her hands sensually covering mine to choke herself harder. She bit her lip.
“Mmmh… You always know what I like.”
Disgust assailed me, and I snatched my arm back.
“No? You’re no fun. I thought you’d fuck me in the middle of this carnage. It’d be so hot.”
“Why weren't you here?”
She sighed.
“I was summoned.” Her tone steeled. “She was pleased to learn you’ve infiltrated the mutt’s castle.”
“And?”
“You’re to target the amulet as well, weaken the wolves with well placed runes. We’ve never had someone securely on the inside like you are.”
Of course. Drusilla was getting ever desperate for that throne.
I speared my claws through my hair. “It won’t work, I cannot return there.”
“What? What happened?”
I claimed my Bride, who happens to be the Lycan mutt’s mate. Even the Alpha wouldn’t be able to hold him off. As expected.
Staring off into the night, I clenched my fists. “Complications arose.”
“Well. That’s less than pleasant news.”
I couldn’t let Lilith relay the news, Drusilla would rage and make a decision that could rebound and affect my bride.
“Tell her I have a promising lead. If handled properly, the rune plan may work yet.”
I turned to see Lilith had gravitated very close to me. So close I could count her individual lashes.
But then, her seductive expression shifted to disgust.
“You smell like wolf,” she sneered, “Are you rolling in the hay with a mutt? That’s why you’ve been avoiding me?!”
Wolf?
“Of course I smell of wolves, I lived there. However briefly.”
Turning, I walked away, trying to map possible locations where the nests of the ferals lay. I sniffed the air. Nothing but blood. Tainted, unnatural blood, even in a supernatural context.
Lilith purred, “Come back with me then, let me wash that muck off you.”
No thanks, I’d like to smell of my mate for as long as possible.
“Relay my message to Drusilla. And don’t pester me unless you have a a good reason to.”
“Such a fucking bore.” Lilith muttered. Then airily, she sneered—“Enjoy your new pet. You better hope the ferals get her, before I do.”
She dares threaten my bride?
I spun to draw blood, my fangs bared, but she’d traced away.
My skin prickled.
Sunrise was creeping in.
I traced back to my cave lair.
She’d left her soiled dress behind. I lunged for it, half-tracing.
Pressing the fabric against my nose, I inhaled greedily. My pants tightened.
I was insatiable for my bride. Feral for her.
I may not be able to get back into the IronWolf fortress, but she’d all but offered to assist me.
Against her wolf mate. She’d mentioned he disliked her over her status.
I grinned.
The more he repelled her; the better my bond with her.
My grin faded as I brushed my fingers over the fabric.
I’d risked her enough by claiming and sending her right back into the wolf's den.
But this was a necessary risk. The sooner I killed Graves, the faster I ripped that amulet off mordane’s neck, the faster I’d have my bride in my arms.
Never to share with another.
I’d teach my bride to draw runes.
Attack the stronghold, destroy the amulet.
Annihilate graves, and take my bride.
Just so.