The Princess's Revenge Chapter 48

Valencia’s POV

I sprinted after the figure, my heart pounding with adrenaline. Who would be running toward a burning building instead of away from it? Dorian!?

"Valencia!" Xander's panicked voice came from behind me. "What's wrong? What happened?"

I followed the running figure into the room. The scene there was just as bad. The wooden doors had been smashed open, the guards lay dead outside the entrance and flames were consuming everything inside.

The man disappeared into the smoke-filled interior.

"He went inside!" I shouted to Xander over the roar of the flames.

We pressed forward through the smoke, covering our faces with our sleeves. The heat was intense, and burning debris fell around us. Through the haze, I saw the man pushing against what looked like a solid stone wall at the back of the room.

Then the wall moved.

A hidden door swung open, revealing a narrow stone passageway beyond. The man bolted through it without looking back.

"There's a back door!" I screamed, pointing through the smoke. "He's escaping through a secret passage!"

"Fucking hell!" Xander cursed. "Come on!"

We burst through the opening and found ourselves on a narrow stone path. The passage was carved directly into the rock, hidden from view by the castle's outer wall.

Two figures stood beside horses at the path. One was the man we had been chasing. His dark skin gleamed with sweat.

The other figure made my blood turn to ice.

Dorian.

He was already mounted on a black horse, his face cold as he watched us approach.

"YOU FUCKING TRAITOR!" I screamed, my voice raw with rage. "I'LL KILL YOU!"

The fury that exploded through me was unlike anything I had ever felt. That burning sensation filled my veins again, the same power that had helped me kill the rogues. My hand moved to my dagger instinctively.

"DORIAN!" Xander shouted. "YOU MOTHERFUCKER!"

Xander was equally furious. "LANDON!" he roared. "You're working with this bastard too?"

Landon's expression remained neutral, but I could see sadness in his dark eyes. "I'm sorry, Xander," he said quietly. "I have to do this. Dorian saved my life."

"Saved your life?" Xander snarled, taking a step forward. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Dorian's lips curved into a cold smile. "My heart died two years ago," he said, his voice flat. "Now I only want revenge."

Revenge? My mind raced with horror. Against Alpha Logan?

"You hate Alpha Logan that much?" Xander shouted, his hands clenching into fists. "What happened two years ago wasn't his fault! You know that!"

Dorian's gray eyes were like winter ice. "I don't hate him," he replied coldly. "I want revenge against Aldermere. Logan can't help me achieve that. So I found someone who can."

"You're a fucking idiot!" Xander screamed. "You've betrayed everyone who trusted you!"

The rage inside me was building to dangerous levels. I could feel that strange power stirring in my chest. My muscles felt stronger, my vision sharper. I drew Dragon Claw from its sheath. "I'm going to cut your throat," I snarled at Dorian.

Xander grabbed my arm, holding me back. "Wait," he said urgently. "You take Landon. I'll handle the traitor."

"No!" I protested. "Dorian is mine!"

"Trust me," Xander said firmly. "Dorian is more dangerous than he looks. Leave him to me."

Before I could argue further, both Dorian and Landon began to shift. A massive brown wolf and a normal gray wolf stood before us. They lunged at us simultaneously.

Xander shifted immediately, his wolf meeting Dorian's in mid-air. The two massive forms collided with a sound like thunder, their jaws snapping as they fell to the stone path in a tangle of fur and teeth.

Landon's wolf came straight for me. I rolled to the side as his claws scraped against the stone where I had been standing. My dagger flashed out, catching him across the shoulder as he passed. Blood sprayed, but the wound wasn't deep enough to slow him down.

He spun around and lunged again. This time I was ready. I ducked under his leap and drove my blade up into his chest. The point found the space between his ribs, and I felt it sink deep into his flesh.

He howled in pain and stumbled backward, blood pouring from the wound. But he wasn't finished. He circled me warily, his eyes filled with bloodshot.

I could hear the sounds of Xander and Dorian fighting behind me. But I couldn't turn to look. Landon’s wolf feinted left, then attacked from the right. His claws raked across my arm, tearing my chemise and leaving burning scratches. I gasped with pain but managed to slash at his throat as he passed. My blade caught him just below the jaw, opening a gash that sprayed blood across the stone.

He staggered, blood flowing freely from multiple wounds. His breathing was labored, and I could see he was weakening.

"Just die already!" I screamed, raising my dagger for a killing blow.

Landon's wolf made one final desperate lunge. He was aiming for my throat, putting everything he had left into this last attack. I sidestepped and brought my blade down with all my strength.

Dragon Claw pierced his skull between the ears. His body went rigid for a moment, then collapsed to the stone path. Blood pooled beneath his head as his eyes went dark.

I yanked my dagger free and spun around to help Xander. What I saw made my heart sink.

Xander's wolf was on the ground, his white fur matted with blood. Deep gashes covered his sides and legs. Dorian's wolf stood over him, preparing to deliver a killing bite to the throat.

"NO!" I screamed, rushing toward them.

But I was too late. Dorian's massive jaws clamped down on Xander's neck. I heard the terrible sound of crushing bone, and Xander's wolf went limp.

Dorian’s wolf looked up at me and Landon, his muzzle dripping with blood. For a moment, we stared at each other across the stone path. Then he shifted back to human form and walked calmly to his horse.

"This isn't over," he said coldly, mounting the black stallion. "Tell Logan that his real enemy was never Aldermere. It was his own arrogance."

He spurred his horse up the cliff path and disappeared into the smoke still pouring from the castle above.

I dropped to my knees beside Xander, who had shifted back to human form. Blood poured from the terrible wound on his neck, and his breathing was shallow and rapid.

"Xander," I whispered, pressing my hands against the wound to try to stop the bleeding. "Hold on."

His eyes focused on me with difficulty. "Va..Valencia," he gasped. "The antidote... get it to the others..."

"You're going to be fine," I lied, though I could see he was dying. "We'll get you to Dr. Vance."

"No," he said weakly. "Too late for me. But the pack... they need the antidote..."

His head fell back against the stone, and his breathing stopped.

I sat there for a long moment, staring at his lifeless body. Around me, smoke continued to pour from the castle. The fires were still burning. The pack members were still poisoned. And somewhere out there, Alpha Logan was walking into a trap.

I was alone.

I looked around at the destruction - Landon's body, Xander's broken form. Despair crashed over me like a black wave.

How can I save everyone by myself? I'm just a wolfless slave.

The despair lingered in my heart. This was too difficult for me. Tears gathered in my eyes, and I didn't know what my next step should be.

I remembered everything that had happened since I came here - the sadness, the anger, being bullied. But I had also gained friendship, and maybe even Alpha Logan's love. These were things I had never experienced before. In my mind, I could see Delphine's smile, Alpha Logan's gentle eyes, Dr. Vance's kind expression, and Gareth's friendliness.

Maybe I couldn't let all of this disappear. All of this was meaningful to me. I had to protect it all by myself. I needed to solve these problems quickly and go find Alpha Logan.

I wiped the tears from my eyes with my hand.