Page 82 of Mated to the Kings
Unless… Unless I’m small enough to maneuver around them. I never considered shifting, but if I’m supposed to be utilizing everything I can to survive, shifting into that tiny arctic fox would allow me the chance to get away. But where would I go? If I ran, they would eventually catch me… but if I went towards the other shifters, would they protect me? Of course, they would. They are still here. If this is a training exercise for me, then it very well could be for them also. This could give me a chance to see what they would do if I was in a crisis and needed to run to them and that I can’t defend myself.
I’m expecting it to be Kael to lunge first. He’s the most impatient. That would be too obvious, though. Daemon would be too obvious as well because he’s directly in front of me. But Callum is quiet. He is off to the side just enough in my peripheral vision that I know he is there, but if I wasn’t looking for him, I would miss him.
As soon as I predict that Callum will be the one to move first, his growl startles me as he takes a large step forward. Right as he is about to wrap his claws around my arm, I let out a yip as I shift. Once I am shifted into my tiny arctic fox, I turn and dart towards the other shifters. Daemon, Kael, and Callum are hot on my heels, so when I’m close enough, I leap into the air, and Vash catches me. Suddenly everyone around me shifts and creates a physical barrier between me and my mates. They have a bit of a standoff to see if anyone will stand down against them, but no one does. When the guys shift back, Vash sets me down, and I shift back, laughing.
Dad laughs as he comes over to hug me. “Good job, Lilith,” he says softly.
“I don’t know if that counts considering I just ran away,” I say.
“The point is to survive. You trusted your people, and they protected you, and they did. A leader is nothing without their followers. It is your job to lead them in the right direction. You have to trust them to follow, and they have to trust you not to walk them into their own death,” Dad says.
“You are a quick little thing,” Callum says as he wraps his arms around me from behind. I turn to face him, and he kisses me deeply.
“It took me a second to realize that you were going to be the one coming after me,” I say.
“I won’t lie, I expected you to try and put up a barrier,” Kael says, hugging me.
“You were too close. I would’ve just trapped you in it with me,” I say.
“So, what now?” Daemon asks.
“Now you three back the hell off and we leave in the morning,” I say.
“Yes, ma’am,” he chuckles. I turn to everyone who is patiently waiting. “We will be leaving at first light. Get some rest.”
Chapter Twenty Two
Volis
Thewaterhasrecededenough that we are able to take small boats to cross into the mainland. It could take several days or weeks to fully dry up, and I can not afford to wait that long. It makes me nervous to be this far away from Lilith. I haven’t known her personally for long, but I’ve known about her for my entire life. I remember when Mom was pregnant with her. Striker and I were so excited to have another little sister. I remember how devastated Dad was when that portal closed. I don’t think I saw him smile much after that. He was always there for us, and he was an amazing father, but it broke something in him to lose Mom and Lilith.
When she stepped off that plane and ran to him, it was the first time in a long time I saw true joy in him. He has always questioned if he should just go to Grimitara and find her himself, but Grandma Ari had to remind him often that he would be killed before he could even find out what city she was in. He knew going himself wasn’t an option because he couldn’t blend in, and neither could myself or Striker.
I am glad that Leli has Lilith now also. Having another girl around will be good for her. She bottles everything up but then tries to act tough so that we don’t see that she’s hurting. She probably would have kept her assault tucked away if Lilith hadn’t made her comfortable enough to open up. The fact that she found her mate after all of this makes it even better. I’ve been hoping that she would. She needs that positivity in her life. She has done her best to take care of us and take charge. It is time she lets someone take care of her.
Once we’ve reached land, I double-check the map to make sure we are going in the right direction. We aren’t going too far from where we landed. My plan is to get in as quietly as we can and just wait in the shadows. The last thing we need to do is end up in a fight that gets Lilith killed. All of the witches and the few demons coming with me are oddly excited to have a chance at killing Zypher. He did severely abuse their High Witch. She’s essentially their Queen and they’d follow her through hell and back.
We walk through the next couple of nights until we get about a mile from the warehouse. I have the ability to project an orb into an area that allows my vision to freely roam as I explore ahead. It is called Animus Ocular. The spell puts me in an extremely vulnerable position because I don’t know what’s going on around my body, so I require the assistance of witches around me to protect me as I send myself out to check the area.
It’s a large warehouse, and it seems abandoned on the outside, but when I look in one of the windows, I can see hundreds of men and women chained to the walls. Some of the women are naked and lying on the ground unmoving, whereas some are actively being assaulted by various men. Some by more than one. There are a few that appear to be unconscious, but everyone seems to be alive.
In the center, watching the chaos unfold, are two men. One is older, maybe in his mid-fifties. The other is in his thirties. The older one looks like a creep, and based on pictures that Dad had sent to me, that would be Morwen. This means the younger one has to be Zypher. If I didn’t know what he had done to my sister, I would think he looks like an innocent guy. He looks like he is trustworthy, but don’t all psychopaths? They make you believe that you are making a choice, but in all reality, you are being lured into their dark fantasies.
I pull myself back to my body and get my phone out.
We are in place. Foxes are here as expected. I will keep you updated.
Lilith
Thanks. Be careful, please.
I always am!
Chapter Twenty Three
Lilith
Islipmyphoneback into my pocket before laying my head back on the seat. I could hardly sleep last night because of the anxiety. I was going to leave and just sit in the living room, but Kael refused to let go of me so I could. I think he knew I was trying to ditch them instead of sleep. It’s nice to just lie in bed and listen to the silence of the house, though.
