Alpha Nocurne's Contracted Mate

Greyson led the way through the shell of a building that he and his men had secured and had been using as a base to direct reconnaissance and shelter the people they had rescued.

Lexi followed behind him with Allen and Lord Brarthroroz at her side as they made their way past the curious looks of a mixture of men and civilians who had clearly been involved in some sort of fighting recently.

“We had to utilize some of the civilians that had combat experience.” Greyson explained as they descended a rusty spiral staircase into the basement area, “The men that we lost left gaps in the defense that we had to replace.”

Lord Brarthroroz hummed as Lexi and Allen shared a look between them, both of them having noticed just how beaten down the remaining members of Greyson’s original squadron were.

Greyson ushered them past civilians huddled together in various rooms, their faces etched in misery as the sound of children crying hung hauntingly in the air.

“There was no way to get all of them out safely,” Greyson said wearily as he sat on a chair, wincing as the partially healed burns pulled tightly across the surface of his skin, “This was the first break in their relentless assaults that we had, so I gathered the men that we had and set out. Hopefully, now that we have a line of communications established, we can begin ferrying them back to the capital until this f*uc*kery is cleaned up.”

“Narcissa headed the force here too?” Lexi asked as the rest of them found a place to sit.

“I don’t know for sure, but she certainly matches the description of the monstrosity that’s been harrying our men constantly.” Greyson answered as he ran his hand over his face tiredly.

“I still don’t understand how she got away,” Lexi fumed quietly, “With so many men…”

“She’s a wraith.” Lord Brarthroroz said simply, “It’s like trying to contain and kill smoke.”

Steve?” Lexi snorted in disbelief as

thought she was just… a human? I mean sure, a dark witch too,

I’m assuming that Eromaug didn’t take kindly to her losing the magick he gifted her and after enacting his punishment, he chose to prolong her

been helpful to know before we threw our men at her.” Greyson growled

couldn’t have known.” Allen intoned flatly, sighing deeply as he looked to Lord Brarthroroz, “So how do

wait for them to attack again, or… we can take the fight

of being holed up here like sitting ducks, waiting for them to pick us off

the coven is located?” Lexi asked,

a moment and reached forward, unfolding a detailed map of the area and pointing to an area just slightly northwest of the village, and close by to the smaller containment facility that

some of the former

The former inmates have either fled in the initial assault from the coven, or were coerced into joining them. The ones that refused were executed and now hang from the walls of the facility.. .you’ll see that there weren’t many who refused to join

Brarthroroz scowled deeply at the

that will be the entrance to his little evil lair that he wants us to focus on. But he isn’t stupid. There is always a second entrance… one

as he watched Lord Brarthroroz scour the

could really have used Bartholomew’s input

he be able

since the first war, he has an incredibly astute memory for remembering all of the historical sites and specific pieces of information that the rest of us would think

can just phone him Papa,” Lexi snorted, “As old as you are, you seem to forget that we have all this technology up here that means you can