CHAPTER 35
The full moon’s light filtered between the trees, casting shadows onto the path. A rich, earthy scent burned Mauree’s nostrils. She scrunched her nose. In the middle of the path was a large pile of bear scat. Perfect, just perfect. With careful precision, she lifted her foot, stepped over the mound, and continued down the trail. The last thing she wanted was to add bear crap to her already dirt-covered pumps.
“I’m amazed you can walk in those things.” Eldon’s attention drew from her foot to her face. His dark eyes glistened and when he smiled, his white serrated teeth sparkled.
Mauree huffed. “You’d be surprised what I can do. How much longer?”
“Another minute or two.” He motioned with his fingers, and a couple of Gossum sped down the path. “Scouts.”
She nodded. “Once the army is in place, we wait. I suspect Gaetan won’t come alone. He’ll bring plenty of warriors with him. Well, the ones left anyway.” A slow warmth eased into her chest, but didn’t quite chase away the chill.
There was always a chance she and her brood wouldn’t succeed. She fisted her hand. No, failure wasn’t an option. Now that Noeh was dead, it wouldn’t take much to bring down the rest of his troops. She just had to keep Gaetan and the three females away from Roan’s Rock.
“Put me down!” a female’s voice shouted beyond the trees.
A moment later, a Gossum slid from the forest and onto the path, a female hunched over his shoulders. She squirmed against him, pounding her fists along his back. With a grunt, he pitched forward, flinging her off his shoulder.
She landed on the dirt with a hard thud. A whoosh of air escaped her lips. With her blonde hair, green eyes, and dark mark that extended down her arm and over her hand, Nikki, Gaetan’s mate, wasn’t hard to recognize.
Mauree’s chest expanded, giddiness filling her lungs. “My, my, look what we have here.”
The female’s attention riveted on Mauree. Her eyes widened. She scrambled to her feet and bolted down the path.
Mauree tsked. “Eldon. Detain her, would you, please?”
Eldon leapt in front of Nikki, wrapped his clawed fingers in her shirt, and yanked her to him. Securing her arm behind her back, he pushed her toward Mauree. “Would you like me to kill her now or later?”
Nikki struggled against him, her breaths short and fast.
Mauree tapped her finger below her bottom lip and studied the small female. “Where’s Gaetan?”
Nikki raised her chin. “Far away.”
“Somehow, I don’t believe you. If I know anything about Gaetan, he’d never let his,” Mauree glanced at the marking on Nikki’s hand, “mate be out here all alone.”
Nikki’s mouth thinned, anger flashing in her eyes.
With a flick of her wrist, Mauree motioned to Eldon. “Take her to Roan’s Rock. We’ll execute her in front of her kind and take away any hope they may have of winning this war.”
“No!” Nikki renewed her struggles, straining against Eldon’s grasp.
He pushed her forward, forcing her down the path.
As the trees gave way to a meadow, the giant rock stood along the edge. The stream that ran around its base gurgled as it trailed into the grassy field.
Mauree studied Roan’s Rock, noting the wide base and narrow tip then let her gaze drift over the meadow and the surrounding forest. Tonight, she’d defeat her enemy, win this war for Zedron, and become the ruler over the humans. She thought she’d be happy, yet the exhilaration she’d expected didn’t materialize. Instead, only bitterness coated her throat.
One of the earlier scouts emerged from the trees at the edge of the clearing. He bowed low before Mauree and glanced at Eldon. “The troops, both Gossum and Ursus, are in place. We expect the enemy to arrive from the south and left them an opening. We await your orders.”
“Good work. Now, about that female, little Miss Nikki.” Mauree ran her hand down her short skirt until her fingers rested on the hilt of her dagger. With a quick tug, she unsheathed her weapon and studied the glinting blade in the beam of the cold moonlight.
Nikki’s chest tightened, squeezing her lungs. “What are you doing?”
Mauree winked at her, and a small, wicked smile curled her lip. The dark patch over her eye matched her evil personality. “Using you as an example.”
A jolt of energy rippled along Nikki’s veins. She struggled against Eldon, kicking and scratching him, but she couldn’t escape from his iron-tight grip.
“Eldon, bring her to Roan’s Rock.” Mauree strode toward the large boulder, her hips swaying to and fro with exaggerated flare.
“As you command, my lady.” Eldon gave her a brief nod. His grip tightened on Nikki’s arms.
She twisted in his grasp, screaming at him. As he dragged her across the meadow, her heels kicked up bits of grass and small pebbles from her tirade. None of it mattered. The evil creature wouldn’t let her go.
With a hard jab, he shoved her against Roan’s Rock. The rough surface scraped the skin on her arm. Blood pooled along the cut. She shoved away from the giant stone and stepped into the small creek that ran around the base. The cold water chilled her ankle, but couldn’t douse the fear, anger, and hatred churning inside.
“Mauree, you bitch!” The words echoed against the trees. At her feet, the water bubbled, swirling from her outburst.
Before Nikki could react, Mauree grabbed her wrist. She yanked Nikki against her back to front and placed the knife’s blade to her throat. “You’re not the first one to call me that, but you will be the last. Tonight, this war ends.”
In the distance, battle cries and the sound of blades clashing filtered through the trees.
Mauree tensed, tightening her grip around Nikki. “Ah, so it starts. Eldon, go battle the enemy. I can handle this little Dren.”
“As you command, my lady.” Eldon nodded once then raced across the clearing where a stream of warriors flooded the meadow.
Mauree breathed in Nikki’s ear. “It’s just you and me now, my dear.”
“Don’t, Mauree.” As if from a dream, Gaetan stepped from the clearing. The sunstone in his cane reflected the moon’s rays, casting an odd luminescence around him.
The muscles in Nikki’s legs shook with relief. “Gaetan.”
“Take this.” Gaetan dug into his pocket and pulled out his satchel.
Mauree tittered. “You’re offering me your medication? Really, Gaetan. I had higher expectations.”
A tic started in his jaw, gold flecks flashing in his eyes. “This, this is nothing to me.” He threw the pouch on the ground.
Nikki’s heart fluttered. He’d thrown away his pain meds. Love for him filled her chest, warming her on the inside.
Mauree tightened her grip. The tip of the blade pierced Nikki’s skin.
Blood, warm and wet, slid down Nikki’s throat. “Gaetan…”
“Wait! This is what I have for you, Mauree.” He plunged his hand into his pocket once again and yanked out the sacred blue sunstone. Light emanated from the gem, casting the entire meadow and the fighting warriors in a muted blue glow.
Mauree’s grip on the knife loosened. Nikki gulped in air, blessed and sweet.
“I offer you an exchange. The blue sunstone for,” his gaze swept to Nikki, the lines around his eyes softening before he returned his attention to Mauree, “my mate.”
“No, Gaetan, don’t.” Nikki pleaded with her eyes. If Mauree got her hands on the sunstone, she could defeat them all.
“My sweet Nicole, I would do anything to protect you.” Gaetan took a step forward, the sunstone cradled in his palm.
Still holding the knife to Nikki’s throat, Mauree stiffened.
Nikki’s entire body shook, fear and love for Gaetan mixing with her frustration and anger. The water around Roan’s Rock frothed.
“Hand it to me. Now!” Mauree held out her hand, her fingers curling with impatience.
Gaetan shook his head. “Send me my mate, then I’ll toss you the stone.”
“How do I know you’ll do that?” Mauree hissed.
His gaze narrowed. “As long as you’ve known me, Mauree, have I ever lied to you?”
The blade at Nikki’s throat tightened for a brief moment then resumed its resting spot under her chin. Mauree growled. “Fine. On the count of three. One. Two. Three.”
Mauree shoved Nikki toward Gaetan. He tossed the blue sunstone in the air. It flipped over, again and again, as it arced over Nikki’s head.
Gaetan wrapped his strong arms around her, cradling her in his embrace. Warmth filled her chest.
“Nicole, I do this for you.” He dug his heel into his satchel, crushing the pills.
Tears stung her eyes. She’d never felt so loved before, so wanted and needed.
A low, feminine titter eased from Mauree’s lips.
Goosebumps prickled over Nikki’s arms. She turned to face the evil female.
Mauree held the sacred blue sunstone in her palm and trailed a finger over the stone’s smooth edges. “Oh, how I’ve missed you, little gem.” Her gaze rose, and she smiled, a menacing glint in her eyes. “Now, you will all die.”