Masked Fate (Fated Love #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Pandora

After spending a whole day and night in bed, Soren and I meet with Kainan and update him on the problems with Declan and the fact that war is again on our doorstep. Now that we are bonded, I have many decisions to make on running my kingdom. I can make Soren consort or king, or I could step down and follow Soren to Aravelle, leaving Kainan to stand in for me.

But I’ve always known that I wouldn’t take the second option. I won’t leave my people, but I can still visit the Fae Kingdom as I have been, so either way, I think we can make it work.

“You know, I can’t abandon my responsibilities, right?” I ask him as we walk hand-in-hand through the snow, our new golden mating bands rubbing against each other.

“I know,” he replies, stopping under my favorite cherry blossom tree. “I could see our kids growing up here, making snowmen and running through the gardens.”

I arch a dark brow. “Kids?”

His lip twitches. “Yes, I’d like kids. Wouldn’t you?”

“I mean, yes,” I reply, licking my icy lips. “One day.”

I’ve never really thought about it too much because I never thought this would be a reality for me. Bending down, I let go of Soren’s hand to pick up a handful of snow. Shaping it into a ball, I scoot away from him, throwing the snowball at his face, then hide behind the tree.

Soren laughs, a deep sound that brings a smile to my mouth. “I like the chase, little witch. Or have you forgotten?”

“I haven’t forgotten anything,” I reply, preparing another snowball. “I remember what you said. ‘That shit is like foreplay for me.’ ” I imitate his deep tone, and he laughs harder.

The sound is just what this castle needs.

And then I run into the forest, and my tracker chases.

***

“I mean, you really won against the old Witch Queen,” I hear Rave tell Soren as I step into the dining hall, a smirk playing on his lips.

I raise my brows. “This I have to hear.”

Rave laughs. “Your half-fae kids will be next in line for the throne. We’re slowly taking over, one kingdom at a time.”

“Hey, your kids will have succubus and angel blood in them,” Astrid points out, grinning. “Sorry for diluting your line, shadow daddy.”

Rave’s eyes flicker with heat, and Soren and I share a look. I roll my eyes, and his lip twitches. “My beautiful mate,” he murmurs, standing up and holding his hand out to me. Since we’ve been in our own bubble, coming back here has been a dash of cold, hard reality.

Rave killed Declan.

Milana is still in the dungeon.

August is a fucking mess.

And with the warlord’s death, we have brought war upon us.

Soren’s hand intertwines with mine.

I look up at him, taking in his handsome profile.

Not all is lost.

I’m dressed in leather, ready for an impending battle.

Sinda steps into the room, Nico by his side, their shoulders touching. They are dressed for war, armed with swords and daggers. “They are on the move.”

I only have one dagger on me.

I don’t need weapons.

I’m my own weapon.

“How many?” Rave asks, kissing the top of his mate’s head.

“They have about a thousand soldiers,” Nico replies, his jaw tensing. “Maybe more. Sage was right. And we don’t know what magic we are dealing with. We have about six hundred warriors.”

Rave nods, slightly turning to me, and I nod in return.

I can even those odds.

“How much time do we have?” I ask.

“A few hours,” Sinda replies, stretching his neck from side to side. “We will get prepared.”

Three hours later, Declan’s army is on our land. We all head through the forest to an open clearing and wait for them.

My eyes narrow to slits when I see their leader. Astrid frowns as Rion steps forward, his fingers tightening on the hilt of his sword. His curly hair blows across his forehead, his red eyes pinned on Rave. The scar that cuts through his eyebrow and slides down the middle of his cheek gives him an even more ominous appearance. He’s powerful, the air sizzling with the promise of his magic. This is the male who once tried to kidnap Astrid, the one who eventually ended up on our side, or so we thought when we saved his mate from the Vampire King.

But this is also the male who told Astrid that Zython had betrayed her.

Did he truly think that? I now wonder if he was really trying to help or just cause discord among us.

“So we save your mate, and this is how you repay us?” Astrid calls out, shadows swimming around her legs.

“We want Declan and Milana,” Rion replies, ignoring her words. Static flickers from his palms, silently threatening us.

We brought half our soldiers here, and the rest are guarding the castle.

Soren steps in front of me, half-blocking my body in protection. He’s worried, and I can feel it through the bond.

And he’s wondering why Rave isn’t.

“Declan is dead,” Rave calls out, shadows pulsing through the air. “And anyone else who threatens my mate will follow in his stead.”

“Where is Milana?” Rion asks, his posture full of tension.

“Milana stays here,” August states.

Fuck .

“Then you leave us no choice,” Rion replies, flashing his fangs before signaling to his warriors.

Closing my eyes, I summon my dark magic, the one that I try not to touch. Soren gasps, and I know he can feel it all.

“Little witch?” he grumbles, pulling out his sword and standing on guard. “What are you doing?”

“Protecting us all,” I reply, bending down and placing my hands on the grass.

It turns black.

Death.

There will be nothing but death.

Rion’s army surges forward, and our front line does the same. Metal clangs against metal, and magic sizzles through the field.

And then my own army of the undead appears behind me.

Shaded in darkness, they look more like shadowed demons than the undead.

But that’s what they are—fallen warriors coming back to fight at my command.

“You’re a necromancer,” Soren breathes, and I hear Rion scream in fury.

And then Bane, Zython, Axe, Kai, and their army zip in.

Our numbers just tripled.

Bane steps forward, dressed in his usual all-black. His short hair has grown longer, falling across his forehead. His dark eyes scan the area before landing on Astrid, as if checking she’s okay, and then pin on Rion.

Lightning strikes ahead of us, and loud thunder rumbles.

Storm daddy is very, very angry.

“What the fuck did you just call him?” Soren growls, and my eyes widen, not realizing I said that out loud.

“You just learned your mate is a necromancer, and you’re more upset about me calling Bane a storm daddy?” I whisper-yell back at him.

He smirks. “I’m a little more relaxed now, knowing my queen has her own fucking army of the dead. You weren’t going to give me a heads-up on that?”

“I like to keep you guessing.” I grin, raising my arms in the air.

Rion calls all his warriors forward, and I turn to the undead, uttering three words that will change the outcome of this war. “Kill them all.”

This is why I don’t need high gates, lots of guards, or a large army.

I am my own fucking army.

And no one fucks with the people I care about.