The large domed chamber the guards led Nyx and Molly into should’ve transfixed Nyx with its beauty. The natural formations in this room gave it a cathedral-like appearance. Instead, the space reminded Nyx of a tomb. Of course, the dead body lying on a raised platform in the center conjured images of a horror movie. This scene didn’t belong in one, though.
Bianca’s body was prepped for a death rite.
Strips of cloth soaked in some fragrant oil had been draped over her tartan-covered body, and a large bundle that likely contained her most precious belongings rested on top of her chest. Underneath the wooden slab she’d been laid on, bricks of blackened peat formed a pyre. Longer, log-shaped pieces of wood had been propped against her body to form a tepee. When ignited, the pyre would be engulfed in flames.
Few modern shifters carried out the ancient ritual. Constructing a funeral pyre was frowned upon by humans. Today’s shifters embraced cremation as an alternative or a simple burial. After death, nobody would be able to tell they’d been a shifter anyway. The body left behind was simply a body with all the same parts as a human.
Apparently, the Yuran brothers didn’t care what was socially acceptable or not. They also didn’t seem to care that setting a body on fire in an underground cave was dangerous. Why would they? Royals were immortal. A little lack of oxygen wouldn’t kill them. Nyx, on the other hand, could die. And Molly? Even if she didn’t die, she’d suffer. That was more than Nyx could allow.
Nyx looked from Bianca’s body to Zaheer. “You don’t actually plan on lighting this funeral pyre in here, do you?”
Zaheer crouched and set Molly on her feet, angling her away from the other guard, then moved his hand to the death collar. He gingerly squeezed the metal linked around her neck. Molly closed her eyes but didn’t react otherwise. “Bianca was mated to the grandson of a goddess. Tsar says she deserves this sendoff. So we’re giving it to her.”
Nyx glanced from Zaheer’s fingers hooked around the death collar to his eyes. The expression in them warned her not to say anything. He’d given her a warning look last night when she’d dropped off the first Alexander’s book. She should’ve paid attention to him then.
The other guard walked to a flattened rock a few feet away. “And burning Bianca’s body will have the added benefit of eliminating the problem she caused by betraying our species.”
“What problem was that?” Nyx asked.
The other guard didn’t answer. He approached the pyre and opened a chest sitting on the floor. He pulled out a modern lighter and what looked to be blocks of fire starters.
The sound of roars and grunts carried through the chamber. Nyx didn’t see who was fighting, but they were close. The guard at the pyre didn’t react. He lit the fire starters and the wooden logs around the pyre, then walked away once the flames crawled up the wood.
“The first Alexander’s book is on her chest.”
Nyx gasped at Zaheer’s words. She yanked her attention from the burning body to him. He wasn’t holding Molly. She stood next to him. The death collar lay in a twisted mess at her feet. He’d freed her.
Zaheer grabbed Nyx’s chin, forcing her to focus on him. “My brother’s coming. You need to save the book while I get Molly out of here.”
Nyx whipped her head. The shifter who’d lit the fire snarled, his gaze locked on them.
“Betrayer.” Zaheer’s brother spat the word. He shifted into a huge tiger and charged them.
Zaheer knocked Molly behind him, and Nyx did the only thing she could. She ran. If she didn’t save that book, Molly wouldn’t have the right to live her dream.
The scents of moonflower and fire reached Anton. He latched on to both and ran past the guard in his way, dodging the blow to his head. Killing his opponent would have to wait. Nyx was close. Shifting into his human form, he charged into the large domed chamber. The scene before him tore an animalistic sound from his chest.
A funeral pyre had been lit in the middle. Molly stood behind Zaheer, who was fighting with one of his brothers. But Nyx…
Nyx was running toward the burning body.
Why? Anton couldn’t come up with a reason, but the sight of Tsar on a raised platform with an arrow notched in his bow directed Anton. He drew on his felines’ strength and ran, faster than he’d ever run as human.
Tsar drew the string and aimed at Nyx.
Anton screamed her name. “Nyx!”
His true mate didn’t look at him. She ducked. The flaming arrow missed her. She kept running. Her skirt billowed around her. Another flaming arrow flew at her.
Anton yelled her name a second time. She dropped and rolled. The arrow missed her. She scrambled toward the pyre and kicked at the burning logs, knocking them away from the body.
Bianca’s body.
Anton cursed. Hesitation gripped him. Instinct demanded he get Nyx away from the flames. It wouldn’t eliminate the threat to her life. Anton pivoted and launched himself at Tsar.
A different Yuran brother dropped from another ledge, knocking Anton back. His head whacked into the edge of a large rock. Spots danced before his eyes. After throwing the other male off him, Anton hopped to his feet. The Yuran guard pulled a sword from the holder on his back. He swung it at Anton.
Kade lunged at the sword-wielding shifter before Anton could raise his clawed hand. The two males fell to the ground, Kade on the guard’s back.
Anton didn’t bother watching. Kade would kill his prey. Anton turned his attention to Tsar. With a sick grin on his face, Tsar launched himself at Anton. They fell backward.
This time, Anton’s head cracked into the rock floor. He grunted and rolled Tsar beneath him. Warm blood flowed from the gash in Anton’s scalp. The room spun. Tsar’s claws dug into Anton’s sides. He didn’t jerk away even as Tsar’s sharpened nails scraped his rib cage. With Tsar’s hands occupied, he left himself open for the kill. Anton took it.
He fisted the front of Tsar’s throat and yanked. Blood sprayed. Tsar’s grip never wavered. He dug his claws deeper into Anton’s sides, cracking Anton’s ribs.
Tsar was old. Strong. Given the chance, his body would quickly heal the grave wound Anton had caused. Anton couldn’t allow Tsar that chance.
On a grunt, Anton grabbed Tsar’s head and twisted it, cracking his spine, then yanked his head from his body. With blood running down his sides and his body in agony, Anton stood. He tossed Tsar’s head and scanned the room, looking for Nyx.
Holding a book to her chest with one hand, she lurched toward him in awkward shuffling steps. In her other hand, she held the broken end of an arrow. Only one feather remained. Pain twisted her features, but she smiled at him. Then dropped to her knees. She hunched over the book she carried. The rest of the arrow protruded from her shoulder. Her shirt had been burned away. Her skin was reddened. Flames still licked at her hair.
“Nyx!” Anton was at her side in the next instant. He smothered the smoldering strands of her hair. “Oh goddesses, You’re—”
“Fine. I’m fine.” Nyx surveyed the room. “Molly?”
Kade crouched on the ground in front of Molly. Zaheer stood behind him. Anton exhaled in relief, but his inhale hurt. His muscles felt tight. Light-headedness gripped him just as it did when he normally entered the dungeon. He didn’t smell incense, just the scent of peat burning.
“She’s okay.” He held his hand above Nyx’s charred skin. Heat radiated from the intensive burn. “But you’re not.”
“It’s just a flesh wound.” Nyx smiled even as her breathing grew shallower. “And look, I saved the first Alexander’s book.”
The cover was burnt but still intact. Anton forced himself to match Nyx’s smile. While Anton was grateful she’d saved the book Tsar had been intent on destroying, Nyx had suffered. “You just need to hold on until we get upstairs. We’ll find some privacy, and I’ll mate you.”
“No, you won’t. You’re going to let me heal on my own. That’s what you’re going to do.” Her words came out strained.
“Are you okay?” Anton studied her face. She looked paler than she had moments ago.
“I can’t breathe, Anton.” Nyx touched his chest. “The fire. I’m not a Royal.”
Anton met Kade’s eyes. He tipped his head to the door. They had to get out of here. Anton drew Nyx close, the book held between them. He wrapped his arms around his true mate and lifted her with an arm under her thighs and another at her upper back.
She cried out, then buried her face against his chest, muffling the sound.
“I’m sorry.” Anton pressed his lips to her hair and hurried from the room, following Kade, Zaheer, and Molly.
“Just go.” Nyx wheezed. “Don’t want to be here any longer.”
He agreed. A sense of urgency settled over him. His cats compelled him to run. He didn’t need to question why. Instinct directed him. He adjusted his grip on Nyx and fled the chamber. After a moment, a loud crack and bang shook the tunnel. More crashes sounded.
“Anton.” Nyx clutched at his back. “What—”
“The chamber’s collapsing.” The heat of the fire had no doubt unsettled the rocks. They needed to get their treasures out of these underground chambers. The modern world awaited them. And Anton was ready to greet it. With Nyx by his side, he could handle anything.