IN FULL COLOUR - Dark Fantasy
Chapter 78

Axel

My canines were still buried in Gabrielle’s neck as she began thrashing in my arms again, believing me to be someone else and thinking that her mate, that I had just died in front of her very eyes. I could feel her sorrow shoot through our bond, sending waves and waves of absolute heartache and terror into me.

The poison in her system was too strong. Too potent. Her mind was convinced she saw me die. I couldn’t bear her pain, and I didn’t know what else to do, so I bit down again in the exact same place as a few seconds ago, in the crook of her neck, right in the dent where her neck and shoulder met. The location where my mark should have been all along.

A ripple of recollection pulsed through our bond. The tiniest glimmer of hope.

I held my breath waiting. Willing my love to flow into her. Wished her to recognize me for who I was.

Her movement slowed, the hitting and crying faded until her body stilled against mine. Her thrashing stopped.

I closed my eyes and blew gentle puffs of life into our bond.

Fingers moved against my chest. In answer, I sent love and comfort into her. I eased my grip on her arms a bit so she would feel less threatened, less constricted.

Other than that, I didn’t dare move. My teeth were still embedded in her neck, claiming her once again as mine. I breathed. Once. Twice.

Dirty, delicate fingers trailed the stitching on my vest. Blood dribbled into my mouth as I slowly retracted my canines from her flesh and lapped at the puncture wounds to help with healing. She shuddered under my touch, and I smiled against her skin as tiny goosebumps danced in the wake of the electric tingles buzzing between us.

Taking note of our surroundings for the first time, I realized that the yelling and battle noises in the distance had died down.

Pulling away slightly, I gazed down at my beautiful mate, savouring her smell, her taste on my tongue and the warmth of her body pressed into mine.

“Axel?” Her words were rasp, nothing more than a mere whisper.

“I’m here,” my voice cracked in relief.

She sobbed and buried her face in my chest, clutching a piece of shredded fabric from my clothes in her hand, holding onto me for dear life. I bent down and pressed my brow to the top of her head. A tear slid down my cheek as my arms snaked around her back, and I stretched my aching leg out beside her.

“Don’t leave me,” she spoke into our link.

“Never,” I promised.

We sat like that for minutes before I finally gathered enough strength to cradle her to me and lift her off the ground.

With my arms under her knees and around her back, I carried her home, to Dire Mountain. Limping, but determined.

I didn’t know what the result of the battle had been, but I wouldn’t risk taking my mate back there and replaceing our enemies waiting for us.

Halfway to the village, Locke met up with us, looking like he had been through hell. He was covered in a dark sticky substance, smelled horrible and had a pale, sickly complexion. I didn’t comment on his state as we fell into step.

He had scanned Gabrielle in my arms once and nodded. That was about as far as our communication went for the time being. We were exhausted, hurt, and haunted by fresh battle images. Conversation would have to wait.

Jarryd found us at the edge of the village border. By the looks of things, he had already informed Alpha Blake and King Gaute on the outcome of the battle since a medical station had been erected for warriors returning from the forest and stretchers awaited injured men.

Alpha Blake himself came running towards us when he noticed me limping and carrying his daughter in my arms. Lighthaven fae followed him with a stretcher and they helped to lay Gabby down on it and thankfully carried her the rest of the way. My leg was throbbing violently, and blood had begun oozing out again. I stayed by her side the entire time, holding her hand and limping beside the stretcher.

When we passed the iron gate, deep in the narrow rocky passage, my eyes noticed a large stain of old blood that had been hastily washed away. My heart clenched. It was in the exact spot we had left Beast, and it smelled of him.

I glanced over my shoulder to where Alpha Blake was walking a few steps behind us. He caught my eye and lowered his head, nodding once in confirmation. Fresh tears stung my eyes and I gripped Gabby’s hand tighter in mine.

How lucky I was to be able to still have her near me. To touch her and feel a beating heart within.

Beast couldn’t bear the agony of his mate’s death. I didn’t blame him. Losing a mate was like losing the other half of your soul. Once, I had tried to avoid the mate bond. Had fought it with everything inside of me and it almost ruined my life. Tore me to shreds from the inside and that was without having a physical claim on her, without being fully mated and without looking into the same familiar face for years.

I closed my eyes, breathing deeply. Beast had decided to end his own life so that he could be reunited with her again in the next.

The cost of this battle had been great, but it was only the beginning.

The Serpent Queen had declared war and she would get it.