Land of Monsters (Savage Lands #8)

Chapter 20

Raven

Nails dug into my palms, my nose twitching and spine burning as blades prickled inside the bones. It wasn’t only the need to pull the white-blonde girl away from Ash, my dweller growling with protectiveness. It was the other darker blonde woman standing towards the back who had my dweller ready to attack.

Her scent was wrong. Unnatural. Not fae or human. She smelled like Joska and Samu.

Her eyes shifted to me as if she sensed my predatory thoughts, her pupils slivering. Wild cat-like features shifted over her pretty face, her teeth showing as a low hiss pushed through her lips, drawing the attention of the gorgeous, heavily tattooed man next to her. His gaze bounced between us as another snarl showed off her pointed teeth.

I stepped forward, bearing mine. Ash’s arm was instantly tugging me back as she lurched.

“Whoa, little viper.” The tattooed man pulled her into his arms, whispering something in her ear. She instantly quietened, but her glare stayed on me.

“Calm down, mroczny, ” Ash muttered into mine, tugging me further into his warm body.

“She’s one of them,” I snarled.

“I am not one of them .” Her lips curled, spitting out them as an insult, forcing the man to hold her tighter.

“Istvan gave Hanna drugs, which changed her without her knowledge,” Ash spoke in my ear. “She is family. One of us. So back down.”

Grief flickered so quickly over the woman’s face I almost missed it, but it was enough to make me realize what she had become was painful to her. It was not her choice. Taking a breath, I eased into Ash, the dweller subsiding, which was not easy for me to do normally. No one else seemed to fire up and subdue the beast like him.

With the threat of a fight abating, the room’s silence altered, growing increasingly thicker, eyes no longer going between Hanna and me, but between me and Ash.

Surprise. Curiosity. Then shock.

“Holy shit.” The tiny blonde he called Birdie slapped a hand over her mouth. Dressed in all black, her eyes heavily lined, her lips red, she was a cross between an angel and some badass ninja. She stood in front of a tall, well-built man with brown hair and eyes. He looked nothing like Warwick visually, but there was something about them which made them seem related. “I’m in utter shock. And that never happens to me.”

Ash shifted on his feet under their scrutiny, his grip dropping from me, stepping away. Hurt instantly rose to my cheeks, like he might be embarrassed or ashamed of me. I understood this was probably hard for him. He left his friends, mourning his lovers. Devastated over their deaths, full of revenge and hate, and now only a month later…

There was me.

Struggling to swallow, I drew up my walls, my chin rising, used to being aloof and composed under all circumstances.

Ash stepped to my side, his fingers lancing with mine, jerking my head to him.

“This is Raven.” He squeezed my hand, his green eyes catching mine for a moment. “My mate.”

I inhaled sharply along with the room, their eyes widening, eyebrows lifting.

“Raven, this is my family.” He nodded to them. “Birdie, Caden, Scorpion, Hanna, Wesley, and you’ve already met Warwick and Brexley.”

“Hi,” I greeted, my gaze shifting over all of them.

“Ummm… hello? Didn’t you forget someone?” Opie protested from the table where he had been busy pretending not to organize everything.

“Oh, right.” Ash dipped his head. “I can’t forget Kitty, Rosie, and Killian.”

Chirpchirpchirpchirp! Bitzy waved her middle finger in the air. Chirrrrp! She added the other, sticking it high up.

Brexley snorted. “I’m not sure how deep you should sleep tonight.”

A name on his list finally triggered in my mind.

“Wait. Killian?” I repeated the name. “You mean former fae leader, now President Killian?”

Ash coyly grinned. “I have friends in high places.”

“So do I, fairy boy.” I grinned back at him, getting lost in his heated gaze.

“Yeah, you probably win.”

“You’re fucking kidding me.” Caden peered around, wondering why no one else was freaking out. “Do you not know who she is?”

“No. Am I supposed to?” Wesley’s gaze went over me, trying to figure it out.

“Caden,” Ash warned.

“She’s the princess of the Unified Nations!” Caden’s hand wiggled at me, and he glanced over at Brexley for backup.

“What?” Hanna stopped, her head snapping to me, really taking me in. “Oh my gods, you are.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Birdie scanned the faces of everyone, realizing it was not a joke. “Wait. You’re really the princess?” She paused, seeing my head bow and my cheeks redden. “ Megbasz … should I bow or curtsy or some shit?”

“No.” A small laugh sprouted from me.

“Good, because there is only one I go that low for.” She elbowed Caden. He shook his head with a sigh, but a smile hinted at his lips.

I instantly liked Birdie. She was so angelic looking but gave off “I will fuck you up and not give a fuck” vibes. All my life I was treated with kid gloves, being so formal, afraid to step out of line. It’s why I kept my friend circle close, only letting a few in. It was nice just being treated like an ordinary girl.

“ Te geci ,” Scorpion scoffed, stepping up to Ash first, holding out his hand. The man was intimidating, covered in tattoos and piercings, but had a sexy bad-boy thing about him. He dipped his head between us, like he approved. “They’d be happy for you,” he said quietly. Ash took his hand, bobbing his head, his throat swallowing.

“And welcome to the club.” Scorpion snickered, his gaze sliding back to Hanna. “Expect to never win an argument again.”

“Yeah, Warwick already warned me.” Ash’s shoulders eased, letting go of Scorpion’s palm.

“Sorry, this is exciting and all, but we have bigger issues to deal with.” Brexley took hold of the room, all attention going to her. She held a power I had never felt before, something you couldn’t help but be drawn to, a magic that overflowed the room.

“Bigger than the missing UFN princess being here mated to Ash? Do you know the power of her mother and uncle?” Caden stressed. “What they’d do to us if anything happened to her?”

“Yes, but they’ll be even more pissed if we let anything happen to her and the prince of the UFN.”

“What?” Wesley sputtered.

“Kalaraja captured him earlier today. Well, the Russian mafia took him first, but traded him to Kalaraja,” Ash explained.

“Kalaraja is still alive?” Hanna gaped.

“Yes, and working for Sonya.”

“What?” Scorpion’s gaze went to Brexley. “You didn’t share that little nugget with me?”

“We found out a little before you guys walked in, and you were blocking me,” Brexley shot back.

“I had to concentrate.” Scorpion frowned. “This place is crawling with military. And I have a history here.”

“Like we don’t?” Birdie motioned between her and Wesley. “Remember, I was the one you sent in to infiltrate the army and steal the general’s top-secret codes. After I fucked him and his son… in the wife’s bed.” Birdie laughed, looking wistfully in the distance. “Good times.”

“Excuse me?” Caden folded his arms.

“What? Oh, don’t worry, babe. I didn’t fuck them together in her bed.” She coughed. “That night.”

Caden placed his head in his hand, breathing slowly, like he was trying to regain his patience.

“Can we focus?” My own impatience snapped in the air. “Time is ticking. Every moment we stand here, she could be hurting my brother.” I tucked my hair behind my ear, the room turning to me. I was used to leading, having all eyes on me, giving grand speeches and boxed quotes to reporters, but this was different.

This was for life and death.

“And it’s not just the prince,” Ash said. “Sonya has villagers, human, fae… innocent people who only want a safe life for themselves and their children.” He stood strong next to me. “She is using them as test subjects and vessels. What she has down there—”

“You will never get past them.” A monotone voice came from the doorway, jolting us with a crack. We all reacted instantly to the three hooded figures. Most grabbed for their weapons while blades shot from my back, a growl on my lips, my legs ready to spring into an attack.

“Stop.” One of them lowered his hood, his blank face having no reaction to the forces that bounced in the room.

“Dzsinn,” Ash huffed out, shoulders sagging, realizing why none of us heard him creep up on us and enter the room. “Fuck. You want to get shot?”

“None of you are fast enough,” he responded blandly.

“Fuckin’ genies,” Scorpion muttered, lowering his gun, though my spine still prickled with warning. There was a smell I recognized, a warning tugging in my gut.

“Sonya’s army, the monsters she has hidden in the depths of that castle. You cannot win against them,” Dzsinn stated.

“So you brought us here to tell us we have no chance?” Scorpion’s forehead lined with irritation.

“She also has ten times the soldiers you have here.”

“I’ll take those odds,” Warwick growled, his chest puffing up.

“Me too.” Caden’s tone almost mimicked Warwick’s, their mannerisms so alike.

“Then you’ll all die,” the genie replied with no emotion. “Unless you have help.”

“Help from who?” Brexley stood beside Warwick, her arms crossed over her chest. “Killian can’t assist us, or it’s a declaration of war.”

“But I can.” A familiar accented voice came from behind Dzsinn, the two other covered figures veiled in Dzsinn’s energy. They stepped forward, lowering their hoods.

Terror cut through the room and daggered into my lungs. Fear burned fire into my veins, springing the dweller’s defense. A growl rose from my throat, my teeth snapping at the man standing only feet from me.

The man whose vengeance was to bury me in pieces—like his son.

Dimitri Kozlov. The leader of Russia.

Everyone responded to the threat, pointing their guns at the new additions, their confusion and surprise filling the air after realizing who he was.

And next to him was… Eve.

The turncoat I thought we left dead back in the museum. But here she stood, next to her Vozhd . Healed, healthy, and the reason my brother was in Sonya’s hands.

“Bitch.” My dweller pitched forward, Latin spilling from my lips.

“Raven!” Ash grabbed for me, my body flinging toward her.

“Stop!” Dzsinn held up his hand. “That is not necessary.”

“That’s where you are wrong,” I growled. “It’s a necessity.” I tried to push out of Ash’s arms.

“ Mroczny, ” he snapped in my ear, turning to Dzsinn. “Why the fuck did you bring them here?” None of us bothered to ask how he knew Kozlov; Dzsinn had connections everywhere in the world. But to have the actual leader and not his proxy was jarring.

“He is not here to hurt you.” He looked between me and the two behind him. “Nor will she.”

“Bullshit,” Ash spat, still holding me tight. “He’s been after Raven from the start. He’s the reason she had to go on the run. He wants her dead. And Eve is why Sonya has Rook. She may be his proxy, but it’s personal to her.”

Eve lifted her chin, glowering back, but stayed silent.

“True,” Kozlov’s cool voice replied. “I do want vengeance for my son.” He narrowed his gaze at me. “Alexsei was my only son. My heir.” His dark brown eyes pierced mine with deep hatred. It swirled inside his pupils, coating his skin, but his expression stayed impassive. “And she took him from me. Brutally. And what did the queen and king do? Sent her off to university.” His teeth clenched. “So yes, I wanted her dead. Wanted Queen Kennedy to feel the pain like I did.”

Images of Alexsei’s face sprang to mind, bits and pieces of that hazy night before I woke up covered in blood, bone, and flesh. His glossed-over eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, his throat torn out.

Could I blame him for hating me? Wanting me to pay the price of his pain?

My dweller faded back, the grief and guilt of what I did making my molars clench together. Holding a sob in my chest, I stayed on guard, my disdain narrowing on the woman behind him.

“But for my country and my people, my son’s revenge will have to wait.” Dimitri returned his attention to the room. “My country has always come first.”

“What are you talking about?” Ash demanded. “You’re in bed with Sonya. We’re the ones who need to protect our country from you.”

Kozlov shifted on his feet. “Sonya has gotten some of my government officials to turn on me.”

“That is a you problem.” Warwick held his clawed war hammer in his hand, the only one who didn’t bother with a gun.

“She’s promised them money and higher positions under her.”

“Ah…” Scorpion huffed. “They start going against you and you lose your position as leader.”

“I lose my country.” He held his chin up high.

“I’ve been to your country. That might not be a bad thing.” Warwick tucked his weapon back into its halter, clearly not worried about Kozlov.

“Didn’t you see what she tried to do to our country not too long ago?” Ash nodded to his fellow family. “Don’t you realize the snake you worked with to get more power would eventually turn on you? Isn’t there a name for that game? Oh, right… Russian Roulette. You lost at your own game.” Ash still hadn’t lowered his weapon, his glare steady on Dimitri and Eve. “Not sure why you thought coming to us was a good idea. We will gladly let you drown.”

Kozlov raised his chin. “Our common interest is that we all need Sonya dead, including the UFN and Hungary. Working together is the only way to do that. I have the troops, the numbers with which to fight her.” His attention drifted to me again. “And you owe me. You owe me everything.”

“The hell she doe—”

“Yes.” I cut Ash off.

“What?” His head swung to me, the middle of his forehead lined. “No. He’ll kill you the first chance he gets. He’s no better than Sonya.”

“Ash.” I touched his arm, lowering it. My feelings were right there for him to experience, to understand why I had to do this. It would never take away what happened that night. I stole his son’s life. I could never be forgiven, nor could I bring him back, but at least this was in my power.

“ Dziubu?, ” he murmured, agony crossing his expression, yet he lowered his gun with an exhale. “Fine, but if he or she touches you.” He pointed from Kozlov to Eve, flipping his attention to them. “You make any move toward her, and I will gut you where you stand. Not even Brexley will be able to bring your ghost back from the dead. Do you both understand me?”

“Fuck you,” Eve snapped, stepping forward, but Dimitri’s arm blocked her. Abhorrence flashed in Kozlov’s eyes, his body vibrating with sheer loathing of me, wanting nothing more than to slay me right here, but he dipped his head in agreement.

“Yes.”

“Does she?” Ash flicked his chin to Eve.

“She will not touch her. I give you my word.”

The room was silent with the palpable paper-thin deal.

“Am I the only one still wanting to know why the fuck the president of Russia is here?” Birdie finally spoke, her long blonde ponytail flipping around as she bluntly asked. “Is this the twilight zone?”

“I have no one I can trust in my government.” Kozlov’s jaw clenched like it was a struggle to admit this.

“And you trust her?” Ash retaliated. “She turned on you and was working with Sonya! Sonya’s men may have killed the rest of them, but she turned against you too. Cut a deal for themselves with her instead.”

Kozlov had no response to the one who betrayed him, his expression perfectly even. But then a glint of something passed over his lips.

“You think Sonya had them killed?” His tone was subtle, but it held a derisiveness. Barely a ghost of a response humored Kozlov lips, so subtle you’d have to know him to see it. It was the exact expression Uncle Lars got when he held all the cards, his opponent having no idea they were the mouse, not the cat.

“Yes. Kalaraja killed them. I saw it happen.” Ash’s conviction started to ebb, his mind probably going the same direction as mine. He watched Kozlov and Eve, how relaxed they were. “Fuck,” he expelled. “Kalaraja works for you.”

“I doubt Kalaraja works for anyone,” he responded.

“He owed me a favor,” Dzsinn said. “I needed him in a position to help us.”

“I sensed Nikolay’s allegiance was waning.” Kozlov clasped his hands. “But Eve confirmed what I already detected. I do not let disloyalty slide.”

“It sounds on par for Russia,” Warwick muttered.

“You’d be a fool to think Kalaraja is on your side,” Brexley snarled, her muscles tense, like she knew this Kalaraja personally. “That he won’t turn on you if he has the chance.”

“Ms. Kovacs,” Kozlov said her name with full authority, knowing exactly who she was, which startled me. “Istvan may have dealt more with the human Russian ambassador than me.” His snotty tone suggested he thought far less of humans. “Nevertheless, I knew everything that went on. I know Kalaraja was employed by your ward. Markos’s greed and hunger for more power were always going to be his downfall.”

“Funny to be saying that while standing here, asking us for help because you are losing hold of your country because of your need for power,” Brexley replied contemptuously, her sharp energy even making me shift on my feet. I was a lethal killer, but I suspected she’d give me a run for my money.

“Putting all our personal issues to the side,” I intervened. The need to reach my brother glittered with a slight hope. “Is this Kalaraja on the inside? Can you trust him?”

“I never trust anyone fully,” Dzsinn answered. “But yes. He owes me.”

“Owes you?” Warwick asked.

“We have a past. And he used a favor from me.”

“Who doesn’t?” Brexley scoffed. “I have a past with him too. Doesn’t mean I trust him or I won’t gut him the first chance I get.”

“Let me ask again. Do you trust him enough to get us in?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Wait.” Brexley jolted, her head already wagging. “You want to align with someone who’s been trying to kill us?”

“To be fair, Kovacs. A lot of people have tried to kill us.” Warwick leaned into her, his eyes glinting with mischief. “And really, he’s been trying to kill you . We just got in the way.”

“Makes it so much better.”

“I don’t like this either.” Ash shook his head, his eyes meeting mine for a moment, understanding how badly I needed this. “But if Raven is willing to overlook these two trying to kill her, I think we can put Kalaraja to the side right now. Not like we have a lot of options. Guaranteed, Sonya has doubled her security since I got in last time.”

“She has doubled the men and spells and has the Primul hunting the forest for intruders.” Dzsinn confirmed Ash’s theory. “There is no way in anymore unless you have someone on the inside.”

“You have the insider now. Why don’t you just go in with your army?” Scorpion frowned.

“Because.” Kozlov leaned back on his heels. “The soldiers might be good in numbers for a battle, but I understand I need more than that. She can’t be killed easily, and the Primul are even harder. Nothing normal soldiers can go up against. I need power like yours.” His focus went around the group, singling Brexley and Warwick out more than others. “Need to get close to her to get her out.”

“Then that makes you the perfect Trojan horse.” Brexley’s mouth curved. “And we are the surprise inside.”

My mouth parted at the understanding of Brexley’s idea.

“She still believes you are an ally, right?” I addressed Kozlov.

“Yes.”

“Then you are the perfect person to get us to the gates.”

Dimitri’s mouth pinched, his head dipping in understanding.

“I will let her know I am visiting.” Kozlov looked around. “What is your plan after that? Her security will check the car I come in for weapons and any threats to her. You won’t be able to hide in the trunk.”

“She’d never expect you to come without personal guards.” Caden folded his arms. “Father didn’t go anywhere without a handful.”

“And if they figure out you are not my normal guards?” Kozlov eyed him. “You don’t exactly blend.”

“We kill them.” Warwick shrugged.

Ash rolled his eyes. “We need a better strategy than that.”

“I will spell them.” I licked my lips. “I can control them.”

“Control them?” Hanna blinked at me. “Like mind control? Can a Druid do that sort of magic?”

“I’m not a normal Druid.” I swallowed, fear bubbling up at exposing what I was. I had been hiding it from people for so long, it felt wrong to tell people who I didn’t really know. I pushed through the terror, straightening my spine. “I am an obscurer.”

The silence clouded the room, reeking of dread and shock.

“What?” Caden’s mouth parted. “Obscurer? I heard you were half dark dweller and half Druid?”

“My brother is.” I swallowed nervously. “I am not normal…” Only three people in this room knew I was not right. And one had lost his son because of me.

Dimitri’s hands balled up, and I could tell it was taking everything in him not to come for me. My eyes lowered, knowing I’d deserve it.

“My brother turned out the typical Druid/dark dweller. I did not.”

“I love that you think it’s normal,” Birdie sputtered.

“Compared to me, he is.” I cleared my throat. “I will handle the soldiers if something happens.” I owed Kozlov that much.

“No.” Ash turned me to him. “Using those powers hurts you.”

“Like you said, we don’t have a lot of options.” I curled my finger around his. “I can do it. I have you to keep me in check.”

I am doing it. You’re either with me or you’re not , I said in my head.

His head bowed, and I knew somehow he heard me.

“ I am fucked,” he muttered under his breath and turned back to his friends. “I want you all to understand what you are getting into. What is truly ahead. This is my fight, my vengeance, that has led you here. I don’t want to see anything happen to any of you because of me. So as much as I appreciate you coming…”

“Who the fuck are you talking to?” Scorpion peered around like there were other people in the room. “Because it certainly can’t be us.”

“Right?” Wesley snorted. “It’s like he doesn’t know us at all.”

“Ash.” Brexley tilted her head. “We’re family. It’s why we were so upset when you left. Your fight is our fight.”

“Plus, I’ll get cranky if I don’t get to hurt someone soon.” Birdie folded her arms.

“By the noises you were making last night, it sure sounded like one of you was being hurt.” Wesley nodded at Caden and Birdie.

“That’s fun pain.” She winked back at Wes.

“I don’t think you realize what you’re getting into.” Ash rubbed the back of his neck. “This is different than last time.”

“You’re not doing this without us,” Brexley stated. “We’re a package deal. Can’t get rid of us.”

“Now we sound like chlamydia,” Hanna snorted.

“Same difference.” Birdie shrugged.

Ash took a breath, pressing his arm into me, a calmness soothing over him with his family around. “First we need to get Kozlov’s troops here without being noticed by border crossing.”

“Leave it to me.” Dzsinn dipped his head. “I know some people. Give me two days.”

“All right, then we need more weapons, and a concept besides a Trojan horse.”

“Why?” Caden muttered. “Like any of our plans don’t go to shit in the first five minutes anyway.”

“He has a point,” Brexley replied dryly.

“I need new friends.” Ash palmed his face, chuckling under his breath.

“Ummm… excuse me, tree trunk.” A huffed voice came from the table. Opie stood with his hands on his hips. Bitzy swayed next to him, her little fingers waving happily into the air, high as a kite. She somehow found the stash of mushrooms Ash was trying to hide from her. “You forgot the most crucial people in the plan!”

“Let me guess, you think that’s you?” Warwick rolled his eyes.

“Of course!” Opie held up his hands. “It’s why we train these so much.” He wiggled his fingers, Bitzy copying him, but then got distracted by the air. “So we can stick them in the tightest, darkest holes and create ecstasy magic!”

“You mean exemplary?” Brex’s brow lifted.

“I said what I said.”