I want to reach out to my mates but Anshar throws up the purple barrier, blocking the doorway. Hale pounds his fists, screaming for me, his knuckles dripping with blood as he rages. The twins appear on either side of him, staring in horror at me, lying broken on the floor, blood around my lips, coating my chin, and to Anshar, casually sitting on the edge of the bed watching them.
Fuuuck! My mind screams at the distressed look on the guys' faces as they watch their mate being abused by what looks to be their brother.
Anshar leers at the men. "Oh, how I will enjoy bleeding your bodies out again." He motions me over with his hand, like he's summoning a dog. "I will slaughter these boys by my hands for us, Oslana. For our future."
I have no choice. I have to stop him.
"Wait…" I wheeze out, struggling to my feet, clutching my broken ribs. "I will come with you willingly if you leave them."
My mates scream my name as I make my way to the psychopath, throwing their powers at the barricade, trying to force their way into the room.
It's no use. Their powers are nothing compared to his.
He holds his hand out for me and I willingly grab it, playing the submissive queen he can mold to his desires but he's not so easily tricked again. He squeezes my fingers and I groan, falling to my knees from the pain.
He clicks his tongue at me, a maniacal glint in his eyes. "Now, now, Oslana. If you think this is pain, you have clearly had a soft life."
Biting my lower lip to keep from crying out, I try to twist my hand from his crushing grip. Blood trickles down my bottom lip and I'm reminded of the forest with my men, seeking shelter from the tornado what seems like a lifetime ago. Did this man hide inside my mate then?
He tightens his grip and I yell out at the sound of a bone breaking, falling to my knees as he stands from the bed, towering over me.
"That's right, Oslana. Remember your place. You are my chosen queen, to rule by my side but never my equal," he spits. "I was holding back earlier to not reveal the full extent of my powers. No longer."
Rage simmers in me, dulling the roar of the pain in my hand and my side. I glance over at my mates who still scream for me, throwing obscenities at their brother. Luke kneels on the floor, his hands over his mouth, as he stares with tears rolling down his face, unrestrained. Leo pushes his brother into action, yelling at his brother frozen stiff. There's an animalistic insanity in Hale's eyes that terrifies me. And Zedd, lying on the couch downstairs, unconscious…
Resolve steels my back.
At the heat of the fire that rushes into the palm of my crushed hand, Anshar jerks his hand back with a hiss. In the same beat, I take as many steps away from him as I can, throwing up my protective fire and wind barrier around me, unable to call on the teal that's been bled dry.
I narrow my eyes at him, the heat of the fire acting like a mild anesthetic against the pain. "You're right. I am not your equal. I am better than you. I will never be your Queen. I will find a way to burn every trace of you from my mate's body and I will revel in the knowledge that you will cease to exist. A pathetic blip in our incredible history."
He roars, shooting black flames at me, causing me to stagger at the force as I fight to keep my powers flowing.
I need to unhinge him enough to falter in his attacks.
"You mean nothing to me, you vile piece of shit!"
His flames rage over his body. "Have you ever heard of the dark Fae, Oslana?"
The memory of Gaia warning me about a dark Fae on the human realm itches at the back of my mind.
No. The dark Fae was Ash, this entire time? And she didn’t tell me…
She claimed to love me and yet, she stood by and put us all in danger.
She let me give my body to this man, knowing my past.
Bolts of electricity flow through my barrier like a lightning storm, roaring with my outrage.
He tilts his head at me. "I'll take that as a yes. Know that I am more powerful than you and always have been. You can never match my strength unless you turn dark." He smirks. "And wouldn't you know? You're so deliciously close to it. I sense your broken and damaged soul. It calls to me, wanting to make the world burn for what has happened to you."
He doesn't fucking know me.
"Lana!" A soft cry comes from the doorway.
“Silence, vermin!” Anshar yells, spittle flying from his mouth.
I glance at the door where Zedd now stands with the rest of my men, tears streaking down his face, a pink, almost faded, scar marring his face. The twins have a hand on either of his shoulders, holding him up, as Hale kneels on the ground, his forehead slumped against the barrier, as he looks on, defeated.
Taking a deep, steadying breath in, I drop the barrier from around me, gathering my power deep in my core, as I face the man who took my mate from me. Despite everything that has happened to me, despite all that he has said, I feel no call to the darkness.
I have too much to fight for. My mates. My realm. My purpose.
Anshar advances towards me, pure black orbs of energy in his hands, and I let the love that overwhelms me flow through me. It's like a key turns inside my soul, opening the door to a well of power that crashes through me.
Energy dances along my fingertips. Even before I look at it, I know it's no longer going to be teal. It feels different. It feels like unrestrained power. No longer confined and finally at peace with my body and mind. My hair whips around me wildly as a gleaming silver barricade rises up, blocking his power. I raise my hands, letting the silver crackle into a shimmering orb in front of me. It whispers to be released, tempting me to let it destroy him.
Anshar’s eyes widen at the sight. Before I can give in to the destructive call of my magic, a magenta portal opens behind him.
He shakes his head. "I will find you, Oslana. I will make you submit to me. I will have you."
He walks backwards through the portal, disappearing, taking my mate with him. I will bring you back, Ash.
My remaining mates rush to my side, keeping a safe distance from me as my fingers continue to crackle with silver energy. "Little One, you can let your powers go," Hale quietly directs.
"My Queen, we're here for you," Luke placates, his hands out in surrender. "He's gone."
Zedd steps in my line of vision, forcing me to stare into his eyes. "Lana … you're safe."
My chest caves in as I pull the energy back into me. Sobs wrack my body as I fall into a pit of despair so deep, it suffocates me. My mates surround me, embracing me and reassuring me, but I don't feel their touch, don't hear their words. All I can think about is Ash, locked away in his body, so helpless and alone. What if he's lost to us forever?
Hale whispers into my ear. "We will get Ash back. I promise you."
Don't make promises you can't keep.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Anshar
The luscious redhead caresses me softly, trying to draw out my lust but only eliciting anger and disgust. Shoving her to the black stone floor, I yell, “Get out!”
She pleads from beneath my throne, wide-eyed and trembling. “My king, you always used me in your past life.”
Oslana would never lower herself to me like this.
Annoyed with the whore before me, I crack my neck and shoot a bolt of my dark energy straight into her heart, killing her instantly.