Page 88 of Secrets of Avalon
Hawke. I shout through our bond. Please.
Suddenly, it snaps between us, like a rubber band pulled taut. Hawke's realization that we've pulled far ahead and that his loss of control has created a dangerous distance between us.
The castle begins to shift and change around us. Walls shimmer and dissolve, the stone melting away like it was nothing more than an illusion. The path before us straightens, the twists and turns of the castle's labyrinthine corridors vanishing, replaced by a direct route leading outside. I can smell the fresh air.
I watch, awestruck. The ground beneath Fen's paws transforms, the cobblestones rearranging themselves, forming a smooth, unobstructed path.
Mere moments later, Hawke appears at Fen's right shoulder, his strides matching the giant wolf's loping pace. His presence fills me with relief, our bond humming with a calming strength.
“Are you doing this?”
Hawke puts a hand on my leg. “Yes. It will go back after we pass through.”
Holy shit. “You can just change–”
“Reality? Yes,” he answers.
I glance over at him and tense. A trickle of blood is running down the side of his face from a cut above his eyebrow. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing.”
Ares takes up the front position in our group. He glances over his shoulder, a flirtatious wink directed at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief despite the split lip that twists his roguish grin. Stupid man, daring Hawke to challenge him again.
Hawke snarls at him, a low, menacing sound that rumbles through his chest. I reach to him through our bond again, reassuring him I’m all his. Hawke squeezes my leg and we continue running through the makeshift passage and out into the fresh air of the courtyard.
CHAPTER 33
And Now We’re At War
Hawke Stormblood
We burst through the shimmering portal, stumbling onto the cobblestones in front of the Camelot’s stables. I spin around, raising my hands toward the escape passage I cut from the tower all the way down to the stables. It pulses with ethereal light, casting eerie shadows in the pre-dawn gloom. Drawing more magic from my core, I seal it shut, cutting off any potential pursuit.
The rich scent of hay and horses fills my nostrils, anchoring me to our present predicament–getting Melinda to safety. Somewhere I can protect her from the prejudice and threats from the council.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine Melinda would be able to see the queen in the tower. Something no one should be able to do by themselves. The way the wall blazed to life. How the sword resonated with her touch... None of it had ever responded to any of us before.
Only Melinda. Only her magick.
The stable yard is eerily quiet, save for the occasional stamp of a hoof or rustle of straw. My eyes frantically scan the line of open-faced stalls, heart pounding. I spot a familiar black stallion I've ridden before. Perfect—he's powerful enough to carry both Melinda and myself to safety.
"You there!" I hiss at a bleary-eyed stable hand. "Grab reins. Now!" The teen startles, scrambling to obey.
Sweat beads on my brow. I throw a blanket over the stallion's back, fingers fumbling to check the placement. No time for mistakes. I hoist the saddle on top next.
The stable boy dashes back, reins in hand. He swiftly buckles them on, coaxing the stallion with an apple slice while I cinch the girth tight.
"Good work," I mutter, already reaching for Melinda. "Now clear out. We were never here."
Ares, Boaz, and Wraith are all getting the last bits on their mounts too, their movements swift and precise. Years of experience and rote memory at work. Ares tightens the girth on his chestnut mare, his strong hands making quick work of the buckles. The mare tosses her head, eager to be off, and Ares runs a soothing hand down her neck, murmuring words of encouragement.
Boaz jogs a dapple-gray gelding out of his stall. He checks the saddle one last time, ensuring that everything is secure and in place after the horse has relaxed and walked a few steps. His eyes meet mine and he gives a hard nod. He's ready to ride.
Wraith is already mounted on his dark brown stallion and waiting just outside the barn. The horse paws at the ground impatiently. Wraith's cloak billows behind him, a shadow against the darkening sky above the castle.
The sky shouldn’t still be that dark. I glance up to take a closer look. Dark clouds are coming out of the windows of the tower we left. Fuck.
Fen's wolf stands a few yards away with Melinda still crouched on his back. I lead the massive black stallion towards them and her eyes widen.