Chapter 178 - 178
Carter snatched the core from Adina's hands, the glowing core reflecting on his face as he grinned, holding it up like it was the solution to his dysfunctional life.
Adina froze, every thought in her head paused, the only thing that mattered in that moment was Carter not getting that core in his hands.
She couldn't watch him use this very same core her mother had buried right beneath her grave fall into the hands of a man like Carter and the witch. It would be over Adina's dead body before she would let such a thing happen.
A snarl ripped from her throat before she even realized it. She lunged at the man before her.
Her nails grazed his wrist roughly, but Carter was faster. He'd seen her coming even before his beasts could react, he drove his boot into her stomach. The force knocked the air from her lungs, sent her crashing back against a gravestone. Adina gasped out in pain, choking on blood.
"Adina!" Kora screamed, biting the claw of the beast holding her and ran from his grasp, but she didn't make it far as Radek caught her, his own claw pinned right against her neck.
Adina's heart lurched at the sight. She looked to her right but there even Mason was being held down by three beasts, to her left was Radek holding Kora.
Carter stepped forward, holding the core tighter, he leaned down towards her, eyes filled with evil.
"Is this what you really want, Lord Carter? To disrupt the peace the realm holds? To bring back a man like Khaos? Why? What do you stand to gain? Is this about revenge? Because the king removed your title and banned you? Is that what this is?" She paused, shaking her head. "I'll talk to him. He'll reinstate you as Head councilman. Your pack will lead other packs. You'll have control of the court like you used to do. I'll convince the king and—"
She didn't get to complete her words as Carter slapped her so hard, his hand was mapped right on her cheek.
Carter's face was inches from hers, eyes filled with deep hatred. "Reinstated?" he sneered. "You think I want scraps of power from your king? No, little sage. When Khaos rises, I won't need a seat at any council. I'll have the realm itself kneeling at my feet."
Adina spat blood at his boots then looked at him, grinning. "You really think Khaos, a man like him would give you even an inch of power? I thought you were much smarter than that, Lord Carter."
Carter's grin dropped into a frown. He grabbed Adina's hair, forcing her face up to his, tearing off some strands off her scalp. "If I didn't need your body even after this. I'll tear off your skin and drain you completely of blood then bury you right here. It befits you, right?"
Adina's blood turned cold at his voice. Carter stepped back, satisfied in seeing the fear in her eyes. "Tie her up and let's go," he ordered to Radek who tossed Kora to another beast.
"The other two, my Lord?" He asked.
"Leave them. We have no use for them. They'll be collateral damage," Carter replied easily.
Adina's heart dropped to her stomach as Radek moved towards her with a gleeful smile.
No, no, no. This cannot be the end of it. The core ending up in Carter's hands. Khaos being reawakened. Mason and Kora being locked inside this dreadful place and her? Being sacrificed to bring back her father.
Adina's hands tightened into a fist, her nails digging into her palms so hard, it drew more blood out.
"No one is leaving here. Not me, not the witch, and certainly not you, Lord Carter," Adina snarled.
Carter paused in his steps, brows cocked up. He turned to Adina, head tilted. "What did you say?"
Adina's chest heaved, her body trembling with fury. She managed to get on her feet, wiping her mouth. "You are not leaving here with the Aetheris core."
Radek barked out laughing. "She thinks she's a beast now." He leaned in, his fangs glinting. "You'll be the first I tear apart, little sage."
Before Adina could snarl back, the ground rumbled. A bone-chilling howl cracked through the air. The sounds of paws thundering against the ground filled the air. The beasts stilled. Even Carter froze.
Adina's heart stuttered, she knew that sound. Heard it many times during patrols.
Carter's jaw clenched. "No…" he slipped the core into his cloak and Adina lunged at him. She was never going to let him leave with that core. Never.
"You useless mutt!" Carter growled as she bit down on his shoulder, biting as hard as she could even as he tried flinging her off.
"Get this thing off me!" He barked desperately, the howls were getting closer and he needed to have a clean escape.
The beasts let go of Mason and Kora and lunged for Adina, grabbing her hair, legs, arms even but even their power wasn't enough. Carter groaned in pain, he couldn't believe it, her powers had been cut off by the collar and yet… not even two of his beasts could get her off him.
Adina's teeth sunk in deeper, his flesh in her mouth and still she didn't let go. The beasts pulled harder and finally tore her off him. Carter growled as she ripped off his flesh, blood spurting from his shoulder.
Adina was thrown to the ground. Her bones cracked slightly from the impact but she barely felt it. Perhaps it was the adrenaline. Her body began to tremble and at first, they thought something had possessed her. But then she stood, cackling loudly, she stared at Carter as she spat out his skin, wiping her bloodied mouth with the back of her hand.
Radek's eyes widened with horror at the sight. "She's mad!" He muttered.
"You'll only leave here over my dead, rotten body," Adina snarled.
And just then, the gates to the crypt groaned opened. Carter's eyes widened, head snapping towards the sound.
The king was here.