Adonis.
The sound of hooves hitting the earth as we marched through the forest was deafening, the earth trembling under the assault. But despite the exhaustion crawling through our veins like a slow-moving fog, we couldn’t afford to give up. Not when we were so close.
It had taken us weeks to finally uncover Oberon’s location, weeks of scouring the countryside, gathering information from people, listening to rumors, and following faint trails. And now, we were on our way to assess the stronghold, to gauge the scope of his operation and the threat he posed.
Bitter determination ran through me like a river of fire, fueling my every breath. My jaw clenched, I leaned forward on my horse, my grip on the reins so tight my knuckles stood out like white peaks.
To think this was what Oberon had been up to all this while. The betrayal stung, a wound that still lingered even after so many years.
We should have killed him when we had the chance, instead of banishing him to exile. We thought he would show remorse, apologize, and return to the fold, seeking forgiveness. After all, the four of us had been really close, close enough to be brothers. Close enough to be rulers.
But that was a lifetime ago. Now, his actions demanded justice. I gazed out at the forest, the trees blurring together as my mind replayed the past. Oberon has taken his path and it was our duty to show him where he would end up.
“How much farther are we?” Hermes asked, his voice laced with boredom, his eyes scanning the endless expanse of trees.
I glanced at him, letting out a sigh. “Not that far anymore.” Hermes groaned, his face pursed in displeasure, but we continued onward.
The initial enthusiasm that was in Hermes when we began the had long since waned. Weeks of false leads, dead ends, and diversions had taken their toll. I hoped he wasn’t underestimating Oberon. It had been years since we’d last seen him, and I knew better than to underestimate our former brother.
“Stop!” I called out, raising my hands and reining in my horse. The sudden halt sent the animal’s front hooves rising in protest before it settled, snorting loudly. The others followed suit, their horses stamping impatiently.
I took a deep breath, inhaling the forest’s scent. A faint tang of death lingered, and my heart pounded in my chest. It could only mean one thing: we were close.
“Scour the area!” I commanded, my voice echoing through the forest. A few soldiers dismounted, weapons at the ready, and dispersed into the trees. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by the rustle of leaves and snapping twigs.
Minutes ticked by before they returned, their faces etched with surprise. “We found dead bodies, Your Majesty,” one announced, approaching me.
“But they were unlike any dead bodies I’ve seen. Drained of all blood, dried out… it’s as if they’re rotting from the inside out.” My grip on the reins tightened, a cold feeling running down my spine.
“Really? That’s impossible.” Hermes said, his covered in disbelief.
“How many did you find?” I asked, my mind racing.
“Quite a few, but not enough,” he replied, his eyes locked on mine. I nodded. “It means we’re getting close. Let’s keep moving.” Hermes shot me a skeptical glance, but I ignored it.
We pressed on for what felt like hours, the sun beating down on us through the canopy above. I called out again, halting our procession.
The stench of rotting bodies was overpowering now, mixed with faint traces of dark magic that sent a shiver down my spine.
My wolf stirred, pacing restlessly inside me, urging me to let it out. “We need to split into two groups,” I announced, surveying my men.
“One group will scout ahead while the rest follows at a distance. That way, we’ll be prepared if Oberon plans to ambush us.” I said, my gaze sweeping across my men, watching as they listened intently.
I’ll take point,” Hermes volunteered, guiding his horse forward.
“Good, then I’ll bring up the rear,” I replied. We swiftly divided our troops into two equal groups. Hermes led the first group, disappearing into the trees. I watched them go before turning to my remaining men.
“Let’s give them some distance,” I ordered. We waited, our senses on high alert. Every snap of a twig or chirp of a bird made us tense, our gazes sweeping around like a hawk in search of prey. Finally, I gave the signal, and we moved out.
Our ears stayed glued to the ground, listening for any unusual sound or movement. The more we moved, the worse my agitation grew, my body tensing as I teetered on the edge of a full shift. I was that restless. Forcing myself to stay calm, I led the march, ever cautious about my surroundings.
As we rode, the silence was shattered by the distant thunder of explosions and screams. Confusion etched on our faces, we exchanged wary glances. Then, realization dawned Hermes’ group was under attack.
A chill coursed down my spine like icy fingers, prompting me to urge my horse forward. “Come on, quickly!” I yelled, my voice carrying across the clearing.
My men responded instinctively, spurring their mounts into a frantic gallop. We devoured the distance, our horses’ hooves pounding the earth in unison.
But we’d barely covered any ground when the earth began to shudder beneath us. The sound of approaching hooves grew louder, a clear indicator that someone was coming our way.
Whoever had attacked Hermes was now closing in on us. “Everyone, at alert!” I screamed, my voice piercing the area.
My soldiers formed a tight circle, shields at the ready, eyes scanning the treeline for signs of danger. We burst into a small clearing, and in an instant, we realized our mistake. Arrows and spears rained down from the foliage above, their sharp tips glinting in the dim light filtering through the canopy.
“Take cover!” I screeched, raising my shield above my head. The arrows barreled down, their pointy heads aimed directly at us. Most of my soldiers managed to dodge or block the initial barrage, but others weren’t so lucky.
Their cries echoed through the clearing, mingling with the panicked whinnies of our horses. The smell of blood and sweat hung heavy, and I twisted my nose in disgust. Our horses took hits as well and majority of us had to dismount from them to avoid getting stomped to death.
We had barely recovered from the surprise attack when shifters emerged from the woods and attacked as well. The sudden onslaught caught us off guard, but I swiftly regained my composure, my battle instincts kicking in. The fight was gruesome, a chaotic clash of snarls, claws, and steel.
I tore through the intruders like a hot knife through butter, my sword slicing through flesh and bone with deadly precision. My rage dulled all sense of reasoning; I was driven solely by the need to reach Hermes.
Hours of rigorous fighting ensued, but we managed to end all our attackers and continue with our journey. We found Hermes’ group a while later, or rather what was left of it. The scene before us was grim, a sore for the eyes. Most of his men had been killed, their bodies sprawled on the ground, blood still trickling from their wounds.
“Hermes!” I cried out, my gaze darting around the clearing.
“Over here…” came the muffled sound of Hermes.
I followed the sound to a nearby tree, my heart racing with concern and anger. Hermes leaned against the trunk, his armor coated with blood and dents. He clutched his shoulder, his breath ragged. Cursing under my breath, I rushed to his side.
“How did you manage to allow yourself to get hurt like this?” I thundered as I knelt beside him, my gaze raking all over him. Hermes winced as I assessed his body for further injuries.
“Well, the attack was completely unexpected… Ow!” he groaned as I removed his breastplate, revealing the gnarly wound in his abdomen. The gash was deep, already turning black around the edges and it showed no signs of healing.
“What in hell happened here? How did you get this wound, and why does it look like this?” I demanded, glaring at him. Hermes’ eyes locked onto mine, something dark flickering in them
“I was going to say Veronica was with them,” he gritted through clenched teeth. I froze, slowly turning toward him.
“What did you just say?” I growled.
“Veronica was with them. She was part of the people who ambushed us, and she delivered this blow.” Hermes his voice barely above a whisper. “Her powers have grown.” He added.
My mind reeled, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of Veronica’s betrayal. In such a short time, she had grown to such level and was now with Oberon? Dammit! Hermes’ labored breathing snapped me back to reality.
He coughed, blood trickling from his mouth, his eyes sunken and his skin growing pale. “This isn’t good,” I said, my voice low and urgent. “You can’t go on like this. Forget chasing Oberon; we need to get you back to the fortress, now.”
Hermes didn’t refute my words and that only confirmed how much of a terrible state he was in. Calling on the healers that were with us, I had them administer a quick aid to Hermes to allow for safe travels. The healers swiftly tended to Hermes, securing him in a makeshift carriage.
“Take him back to the fortress and have him treated,” I ordered the soldiers who would be accompanying him, my voice stern. “We’ll hold guard here until reinforcements arrive. Oberon cannot be allowed to reach the shifter settlement.” The soldiers nodded, their faces set with determination.
“Yes, Your Majesty!” they chorused. With a sharp crack of the reins, they departed, the carriage bearing Hermes away. An entourage surrounded them, shields at the ready. I watched them vanish into the trees, my jaw clenched.
Oberon, that bastard. You’ll pay heavily for this. That, I assure you.