I could tell when he was close because his pace changed, and he stroked my clit, which felt just as swollen as his cock. When he touched me, my lips parted on a silent scream, and he used the opportunity to thrust his tongue into my mouth once more. As he pulled away, he gripped my jaw, fingers splayed down the column of my neck, thrusting harder and faster—and as he erupted inside me, he bit into my neck.
This scream was not silent. It tore from my throat, a heady mix of pleasure and pain, soothed only when Adrian pushed his wrist to my mouth. We fed from each other until our bodies and eyes grew heavy and sleep drowned us in darkness.
***
Lightning lit the sky and rain fell in heavy sheets, but I could see through the curtain, between each drop of crystal rain, to the tree line where in the darkness, soldiers lay in wait for my army.
An arrow shot through the night, straight for my heart, and I caught it, but not before the tip could draw blood.
It was the start of the battle, and I raced forward, my legs carrying me at an unnatural speed—my bones broke and shifted, and my screams turned to howls as I transformed into my aufhocker form, my clawed feet tearing into the earth as I raced across the field toward the dark forest of trees.
My eyes were hazed in red, honed upon the dark between the trees where I saw men moving—I was so focused upon them, the shock of fire erupting around me did not register until it was too late. My hair caught fire and my howls turned to wails and then to screams as I faded into my human form only to wilt and die upon the ground.
***
I opened my eyes.
There was no transition from sleep to wakefulness—my body was alive, and I sat up, taking a moment to live within this energy which was so electric, it was magic.
The answer had come from my dream, a manifestation of what was to come and what I was called to do now.
I looked at Adrian, who lay sleeping beside me, and I bent to kiss him. When my lips touched his, all the heat in my body pooled between my thighs again. Insatiable. I straddled him and he woke beneath me, his erection pressing hard against me.
He groaned, his hands resting on my thighs, fingers gripping me I slid onto him.
“Fucking queen,” he said as I rode him hard and fast, desperate to come as this storm built inside me. When it released, I would harness a different kind of strength that came with the confidence in knowing I could call to my magic and it would come.
As tremors shook my body, I slowly rose from Adrian and started to leave the tent.
“Where are you going?” he asked, a note of alarm in his voice.
I turned and looked at him over my shoulder, and something in my gaze must have told him to stay because he did not move from his place on the bed.
“I am going to summon an army,” I said. “I will meet you at the border of Lara.”
I stepped into the twilight, naked, drawn to the woods by an invisible force—a call from some deep place inside me. It was familiar but still distant, a part of my power I had not used in a very long time, and yet as I raced through camp, feet hitting the cold, soft earth, I knew this was right—I was on the path laid out for me.
I had seen it.
I shifted, the pain acute and biting as I took my aufhocker form and raced into the surrounding woods, a howl tearing from my throat—a call to others like me. As I sped along, I sensed I was not alone, and when I glanced to my left and right, the silhouettes of other aufhockers raced alongside me.
Their presence only made me run harder and howl louder, their wails joining mine. It was a haunting song that would terrify any human.
But I was no longer terrified of this form or what I might do with it.
I continued until I came to a rocky cliff that rose above me, walling off my flight, but at the very height of it, more aufhockers approached, baring their teeth. The sky above them was filled with flashes of blue-white lightning. It blazed behind them, only adding to their ferociousness.
I slowed and turned, surrounded by the same red-eyed monsters. My muscles rippled, my stride predatory, as I paced, waiting for my challenger. The pack was filled with tension, bodies vibrating with anticipation as their leader emerged from the dark wood. She was no bigger than me, but much older and tired. I did not know how I knew—but the knowledge existed in the air between us.
We circled one another, surrounded by a host of growls and keen howling, encouraging the fight. She snapped her teeth, nipping at my feet, and I snarled, instinct taking over as she tried to provoke me into an attack before I was ready. Our circle grew tighter, and she snapped, attempting to bite down upon my neck, but I moved and our mouths locked, sharp teeth clanking. It hurt, but only cut my mouth. We shoved away from each other and leapt together again. Our bodies slammed, and we fell to the ground, teeth locked, claws sinking into each other. Neither one of us moved, growls deepening.
Finally, she shifted her mouth so that she bit into my shoulder.
I howled and sank my claws deeper. We pushed away from each other, rolling in the mud, only to rise on our feet and circle one another again.
This time, I pounced, locking my jaw around her neck. She twisted and I fell onto my back. Suddenly her teeth sank into my throat. I screamed, though the sound came out more like a yelp, and I dug my claws into her ribs. She whined, and I was able to push her away with my feet.
The aufhocker flew and hit the stone wall, her head snapping back. She landed with a thud and did not move. I approached, nudging her with my nose, and I felt a pang of guilt having gone so far.
She was dead.
As I lowered to the ground beside her, it began to rain. I rested my head upon hers—it was a request for forgiveness and the only apology I could muster given the time I had and what was to come.
A chorus of howls erupted around me, growing louder and louder. They were mourning, but also welcoming me as part of their pack.
I was now their queen.
Twenty-Seven
Isolde
My army was within sight of the border of Lara when I found them. I had heard them first, or more accurately, I’d heard the rain beating down upon their armor first, but now I saw them, assembled in perfect rows, armed and ready for the coming battle.
Even in this form, I felt dread.
The howls of my pack drew their attention, and many of them stiffened at the sound, raising arms, but as they turned toward me, I shifted, and an audible gasp left the crowd as I walked naked down the center of their ranks, straight to Adrian who had turned to watch me approach. His eyes glittered darkly, and when I was near enough, he dragged me to him, kissing me with a desperation I felt in my soul.
When he pulled away, he dragged a set of clothes from his saddle, and I dressed quickly.
“My blades?” I asked.
He arched a brow. “Can you carry those when you shift?”
In truth, I had no idea.
“Keep them, then,” I said, knowing the priority for me would be to remain in my aufhocker form. As I turned to face the kingdom of Lara and the dark curtain of trees in which soldiers hid, I felt a mix of emotions. What Killian had said was true—it did not seem real that we were marching against my homeland.
I cast a glance to my left and right—the front line included Daroc, Killian, Miha, Isac, and Solaris.
“Their bows are ready,” Adrian said. “And shadows move between the trees.”
As he spoke, a row of infantry soldiers stepped from beneath the canopy. I could not tell how many, but they crowded together, their shields aligned to create a long, metal wall. Once they were in place, everything went silent, save for the sound of rain as it fell in lashing sheets upon metal.