From Slave To Queen (Athena and Michael) novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86

The one holding Elara laughs, ignoring my warning. With a jerk of his head, be sends the rest of his pack to their deaths. The ground trembles beneath us, a narror of my unrestrained fury. They come at me one by one, and one by one. I shred them. One ihanages to sink his teeth into my shoulder from behind. I grab his hair and hurl him over me, relishing the crack of his homes on impact—but it’s not enough. Shapeshifters heal quickly. His eyes widen in panic as my hand mists in his direction. I savor his agony, the way his tendons snap, has skin splits, his organs spill. In seconds, he’s a bloody heap on the ground.

Their numbers dwindle with every precise motion of my hand, I carve my path forward, leaping onto stable patches of earth, crushing enemies beneath me. Each one meets a gruesome end—yet they keep coming. Loyalty, Pathetic.

I toss the last one into a chasm I’ve torn open, watching his body vanish into the abyss. Then I lift my gaze to my final target. The golden–eyed shapeshifter smirks at me, scars twisting his face.

“Impressive” His grin widens. “Bravo. Quite the spertare”

“Let. Her. Go. I won’t ask again”

“Are you sure?”

He grips Elara’s jaw and the crown of her head, applying just enough pressure to make the threat clear. Her eyes flutter open–normally gray, now smoke–Billed. Her gaze drifts until it lands on me. I see the exact moment she realizes something’s wrong. Her eyes drop, her mouth opens in silent scream at the sight of the blood. Her hand flies to her throat

I don’t know what finally snaps my patience, but once I’m sure the ground beneath Elara is stable, I raise my hand toward the shapeshifter–and- clench my tist. I expect his body to explode.

It doesn’t.

“Surprise,” he sing–songs.

Try again. Nothing. His laughter echoes through the forest, shattering the last shred of my control. Elara’s eyes widen in horror, her lips forming two words: “Let go”

She’s insane if she thinks I’ll back down

I don’t waste time wondering why he’s immune. That’s a problem for Inter. Right now, I need to get her out. Manipulating the environment is something he can’t counter easily–but shaking the earth again risks Elara’s safety. No guarantee this bastard won’t drop her

I’m weighing my options when a breeze carries a scent I know. The shapeshifter notices too–but not fast enough. Before he can react, Giro’s fangs are buried in his throat. He releases Elara, and before her knees hit the ground, Teatch her in my arms.

Ciro tears out his throat and spits a chunk of flesh onto the dirt

“Take her, he sparks. “Til handle this”

“We’ll talk about this later?

My toen’t friendly. I can’t ignore that this happened at one of his parties, under his roof. Coincidence? I trust no one, I learned that lesson

onto me,” I murmur.

“Elara, hold onto

1 pull her tight against me until her arms loop around my neck, her bead resting in the curve of my shoulder. Then I move, using my speed to put distance between us and the carnage. When we’re far enough. I sit with Elara in my lap, examining her wounds. She’s unconscious again, ber face troubled even in sleep. I lick her neck–not to feed, but to seal the gashes. I repeat the motion until I’m sure the healing has begun. The journey that took hours by carriage is now a thirty–minute sprint.

The castle is silent. Good. Noise makes it hard to think. I carry her to her chambers, wasting no time in tearing her dress away, inspecting her bare skin for more injuries. The only damage is to her throat. I wet a cloth in the bathroom, wiping the blood from her neck. She stirs as I brush her hair

back

Despite her protests, Elara is strong. That wound should’ve killed her. Instead, she clings to life like a feral thing.

“What happened?

I glance back at Evanora, standing in her usual gray–blue dress, her hair braided, her albino serpent coiled defensively.

“Stupeshifters.” Lanswer.

“How! They’re nearly extinct–the few left were banished beyond the ocean“

ΕΙ

Chapter 561

“Seems they’re good swimmers, I mutter

She approaches the bed where I’ve draped a sheet over Elara. Evanora adjusts the pillows, brushing hair from her forehead. Mage hums in the aur. 1. don’t interfere–whatever she’s doing. I’ll allow it as long as it doesn’t harm Elara. Purple sparks dance at her fingertips, and from the bansher’s frown. I know drawing even this small magic is harder than it seems

Elara sighs in her sleep, and Evanora pauses as if that’s the sign she needed.

“What did you do?”

“Lased her pain. Her skin glows faintly, “You can close wounds, but the pain remains. I can mend that

Inod. “Good”

Luck hasn’t been kind to her. Her lips curve in a sad smile as she strokes Elara’s hair. “It’s tragic–someone so young enduring so much. We’ve had decades to live, suffer, love. Her time is so short. For her to suffer like this feels like a curse. She looks up at me. If she asked you truly from her heart–would you let her go‘ Would you give her life back?”

“What if there’s nothing waiting for her!”

“Her family waits. They always will”

She doesn’t fit with them. She knows it.”

“Then she’ll find her place” She clicks her tongue. That doesn’t answer my question.”

Dan

“The answer is no. My voice is steel. “The Treaties stand. No exceptions”

The banshee’s sad smile deepens, her pale blue eyes sering too much. She sighs, stepping away from the bed. One last glance at Elara, ensuring she’s not in pain, and then she’s gone silent as she came

I watch Elara sleep, mesmerized by the rise and fall of her chest. My enhanced vision lets me see what human eyes never could–her skin knitting itself back together. Without realizing it, I’ve stretched out beside her, studying the shadow of her lashes against her cheeks, the pallor of her lips

She’s lost too much blood.

“Cassian

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