The Morrigan ran at her with the tip of the blade ready. Ella swerved and twisted, dancing around, light-footed as she wove around the woman who propelled herself forward. She stabbed the sword and lunged at her. Ella dodged the pointed blade and swung hers, deflecting the sharp edge away. The woman stepped and thrust as Ella ducked and twisted in a graceful circle.
Steel, where the hell are you? Wake up.
You’re here for the human? How strange that you are concerned about a mere mortal. Why?
Because he’s a good man, and I won’t let you destroy him or anyone else. I’m warning you. I’m a sleep-deprived hormonal woman who is beyond pissed off right now. You took my baby, and you’re going to regret that for the rest of your days. You’re going down bitch.
As Ella whirled around and lost her footing, the sting of the woman’s blade penetrated her shoulder and she dropped low. She threw her hand out to regain her balance. Tilting her torso upright, she pushed, and righted her footing to stand tall again. Not stopping to examine the wound, she didn’t have time as the steel blade waved right in front, barely missing her chest. She shifted to the side and stepped back to avoid the tip of the sword as the Morrigan thrust it at her. She missed, and at that exact moment, Ella surged forward and stabbed the Morrigan in her chest. The blade sliced through the material. Bright-red blood dripped on her white skin. The goddess whirled around and swung her sword in a complete arc. Ella deflected the sword as it clashed with hers and pushed back, thrusting all her weight into her assault on the Morrigan.
Steel, wake up. Boss, this isn’t real. Wake up. We need you. Raine needs you.
The Morrigan pushed at her and revealed another smaller blade in her left hand, which she used to slash at Ella’s side. She screamed as the knife cut her and she dropped to her knees. The air knocked from her as the woman kicked her side. The Morrigan stood over her with the sword aimed right at her heart as she lay sprawled on the ground.
Dagda cursed your bastards, Ariana, and he died because in the end, despite everything you did, he still loved you. But I forgive him his weakness. I will wipe out all your kin and restore life to my beloved using that handsome warrior of yours, little soul-shifter. I will give him pleasure and power beyond his wildest dreams, and he will never want to return to you. Love is a weakness, and I will destroy yours.
Steel, where the hell are you? Ariana, you said I couldn’t die!
The sharp blade pointed through her thin shirt and pressed into her breast, but a rustle in the distance made the Morrigan glance over her shoulder. Taking that moment of distraction, Ella plunged her sword deep into the Morrigan’s chest. A scream rent the air, and the woman vanished. Left in the vacant space stood Steel. She pushed up off the ground and grabbed his hand.
You’ve rested long enough, Steel. This shit is about to get real.
The monitor beeped fast and frantically. Yells sounded out as the fuzzy room sharpened and came into clear view. Standing there next to Elizabeth was Raine. The alarms buzzed and Ella opened her eyes. She pushed to sit up but flopped back, light-headed.
“Steel—is he awake?”
Footsteps tapped around and try as she might to remain conscious, the faces in front of her blurred.
“Ella—Ella. Yes, Steel is fine, but you’re…”
A smile broke across her mouth and she collapsed.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Entering the portal that led to the Veil of Shadows seemed effortless. Marcus and his team stepped through the opening Huron created at the boundary of Steel’s property. One minute, they stood on the cliff and the next, a doorway appeared and foliage peered at them from the other side. Reaching the Veil took seconds. Marcus stepped through first into a dense and humid forest that buzzed and chirped with exotic life. Birds flew around, screeching and swooping low to investigate the arrivals. Perspiration trickled down his back.
“We’re a couple of days from the city, and we need to move before we lose light to find camp,” Huron instructed.
Marcus nodded and dropped his backpack on the ground to remove his outer layer to cool down. Jake followed suit. Lucius and the two vampires who accompanied him weren’t affected by the rise in temperature, but they studied the surroundings, on guard and anxious.
“We will need to feed later,” Lucius said.
“Lady Tenille agreed you could hunt the animals, but be careful—some woodland creatures might bite back.”
Jake laughed but the vampires didn’t. Lucius was less demonstrative than Roman, and his communication skills contemptuous at best. Before they had left the command center for the Veil, he had questioned the vampire regarding Isabella. His guarded response annoyed him.
“The team is desperate for news of Isabella,” Marcus asked before the vampire stepped into the dining room with Jake.
The vampire studied him with a glacial face devoid of emotion. “The prince is attending to her needs, and she is adjusting as well as can be expected, but this is a private matter and no longer your concern as she is a vampire.”
Marcus wanted to deck Lucius there and then, but forced himself to remain calm.
Huron led the way, using a machete to slice through thick bushes and dense shrubbery that grew as tall as
