Chapter 103
Tom looked up in horror. He couldn’t believe it, but there was no mistaking Osborn even with his missing eye. He was wearing the same armor he’d gone to battle against the vampires in though it bore the signs of battle. Behind him were other werewolves in the same armor, glaring across the clearing.
How could he be alive?
His heart lurched as Arthur got to his feet and shifted into his wolf form at Daphne’s side. He’d been overpowered by a half-vampire woman. Arthur didn’t stand a chance against Osborn! What were they going to do?
Even with the Royal family’s ability to control wolves, Arthur didn’t have the years of combat experience or the deep-seated rage that Osborn did. His legs felt weak as he turned to look at the others who looked confused and had started to engage the turned werewolves.
It was uncanny and deeply disturbing to see Osborn commanding them. What would Dean have thought of his brother now? He knew that Osborn had lusted for power and blamed Dean for his mate’s death, but to go so far as to align with the vampires against them was horrifying.
Nicole would have scoffed at the apparent panic on Tom’s face but there was no time for that as John and the duchess rode up behind him. She scoffed at their appearances. The vampires they’d sent with them had already, mostly, been slaughtered by the werewolves, but they’d brought more forces when they defected.
Cunning and aggravating. She clenched her sword a bit tighter and took a deep calming breath.
“Of course,” she said. “What else could I expect from a spineless loser than to enlist an insane enemy for his plot?”
“What do you mean?” Daphne asked.
“John has wanted power for as long as I can remember. He’s too stupid to ever think that hiring his once enemy is not a good idea. It seems that I was right about him hiring someone from the war to help his little army. Osborn has been training John’s vampire militia and leading the turned werewolves, courtesy of the duchess.”
Daphne shuddered and stumbled as the world swirled in her mind. She heard screaming. Panic filled her and fear followed just after. She heard the forest at night around her as if she were standing in her past for a few moments and shivered.
She saw Mamie’s face in her last moments: snarling with dead eyes. Anger burned in her heart, but she couldn’t place where it had come from. It grew hotter as she looked at John.
Arthur gritted his teeth, “He’s the reason Mamie was turned.”
“More than likely.” Nicole huffed, “You two need to get out of here. We can hold them off long enough.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Daphne said.
“You don’t have a choice,” Nicole said, “I promised to do what was in your best interest. Getting you back to Arthur has always been in your best interest.”
She nudged Daphne back, stepping between her and the oncoming threat, “Now get going, the both of you.”
“Fall back,” Arthur called to the group of werewolves he’d brought with him, including Tom. “Fall in with General Steward’s forces. We take her lead.”
Nicole jerked and looked at him in shock, “What?”
Tom growled, “You want us to work with vampires?! General Steward’s forces—”
“Fall in and fight or die!” Arthur growled, his voice shaking the air.
Nicole watched the werewolves go rigid before starting to fall into her ranks. Her unit looked up at her briefly before looking ahead at the enemy the way they always did and taking a fighting stance and waiting for orders.
She’d seen this power before when she’d stood across the battlefield from Dean years ago. Her lips twitched. What a power couple they’d be if they all got out of this mess.
“What are you thinking, Arthur?” Nicole asked.
“That you’ve fought Osborn before and you know the other two well enough to come up with a plan.” He gave her an embarrassed smile, “I’m not the best strategist…”
She laughed. He had a lot to learn, “You’re good enough to know to ask for help.”
She scanned the field. By her count, they were evenly numbered with Osborn, duchess, and John’s forces between her unit and the werewolves were still alive. She glared across the clearing and John and the duchess. She’d start with them.
“Nicole, what’s going on?” Daphne asked.
“Traitors!” Nicole called across the clearing. “You’ve made it easy for me to take your hands!”
The duchess laughed, “Oh, Nicole. Still just a lapdog to throne… Maybe your blood will do too.”
Nicole sneered, “I’ll kill you first.”
Daphne didn’t understand what the duchess could mean. Vampires couldn’t drink from other vampires, could they? What good would that do?
She felt a little dizzy and thirsty. Symptoms of needing to feed that Nicole had warned her about. Though she wasn’t a complete vampire, she still needed blood it seemed.
“Here,” Nicole said, offering her a vial. “Drink it before you lose it.”
She nodded, took the vial, and drank it.
“What is it?”
“A potion that will keep the thirst at bay,” Nicole said, “Hungry vampires can’t follow orders or be trusted to fight with any sense.”
Daphne felt the thirst ease as Arthur looked between them.
“Next time, you can just bite me.”
Daphne looked at him, wide-eyed and shocked. Why would a werewolf ever agree to be bitten? What was his angle?
Nicole laughed, “I’m sure she’ll take you up on it later. After you two get out of here.”
“I can’t leave you to fight Osborn by yourself,” he said, “Besides… I have my score to settle with him.”
Nicole sighed, “Stubborn young people, I swear. Have it your way.”
She looked at John, “And you? Whitcomb? Nothing to say for yourself? Can’t beat them then you join them, eh?”
He flushed, “If Daphne hadn’t gotten pregnant, none of this would have been necessary! There’s more than one way to take a throne.”
Nicole laughed, “I’ll leave him to you and Arthur if you’d like Daphne.”
Daphne lifted her sword, “Let the king deal with his subjects… We will deal with ours.”
Nicole nodded.
“Kill them,” Osborn ordered. A group of werewolves darted forward. Their glowing red eyes weren’t quite right. The scent of rotting, corrupted flesh drifted from them. They moved in stilted, quick jerks, as they rushed forward. More normal werewolves followed just behind them and vampires.
“What…” Daphne gagged, “What is that?”
“You’re getting stronger,” Nicole remarked. “Hell of a time, Your Majesty. They’re turned werewolves, like the wolves that attacked the peace talks.”
“Kill them all,” Daphne said, “Traitors and the cursed alike.”
“Kayley, lead the left unit.” Nicole said, “The wolves will go right. I’ll deal with the duchess.”
Arthur shifted, “Daphne, stay back here.”
She hissed, “I can fight just—”
“Please, just stay with Nicole,” Arthur growled. “I won’t be able to fight him if I’m worried for your safety.”
“Who—”
“I’ll look after her like always,” Nicole said. “Kill him so we can all be done with this. Daphne, stay with me.”
Daphne wanted to argue, but then Kayley was leading Nicole’s unit left. The werewolves charged right and Arthur tore straight through the middle. Nicole followed just after him and daphne followed her into battle.
The turned wolves snarled and leaped before Nicole sent out a wave of fire, catching them all in its grip. The vampires on Osborn’s side, hesitated, allowing Kayley and the rest of the unit to fall on them with full force.
People cried out in agony as they were cut down and fresh blood stained the ground.
The werewolves tore into each other with violent snarls and shredded fur as Arthur cut a straight path to Osborn.
Nicole grew tense as Owen appeared, blocking their path. She glared at him.
“I will look after Daphne,” Owen said. “I can do that much.”
Nicole narrowed her eyes at him, and Daphne placed a hand on her shoulder. Owen wasn’t fully able to fight, but together they had enough strength to deal with John. He was a general, but he wasn’t a good one.
“He’s right. You’re better served dealing with the duchess. We’ll go after John when we can.”
Nicole nodded and glared at Owen, “If she is harmed, I will kill you.”
Owen nodded stiffly and they watched her go. Owen nodded away from the fray.
“We can outflank them and catch John unaware if we go around the battle. “
Daphne glanced ahead and found John engaged in battle, heading up the rear of the vampires on Osborn’s side. Arthur ripped through a werewolf standing between him and Osborn as Osborn shifted into a large grey wolf.
She shuddered as memories surfaced. The grey wolf in her memory looked a great deal more like Owen, but the sight of his single, glowing red eye made her blood go cold.
