Reign | Dark #1 (18+)

25. WORTH FIGHTING FOR

Draze

I gulped in air. Feigh's current location of her scent wasn't from the direction of where I left her with Candice. It was far from here. My breathing turned ragged as we exited the building.

Abruptly, Candice came into view. I was shocked at her clothing as she headed toward our direction. My eyebrows mashed together as I smelt chlorine combined with water from her and suspected she was swimming not a second ago.

And she was panting.

In distress.

"Brother, it's Feigh... Austin, he..." she said unable to finish the sentence as she was catching her breath.

"Where's she? Candice?!" I snarled.

"Just go straight north of this place and you'll find a pool, she's with Austin. She's in danger. I'll follow under the roof since I couldn't able to walk under the—" I didn't have to hear anything more of it but I would make sure Austin will do the explanation.

I took off and immediately followed the direction Candice provided, and Gridian was following behind. "Iandraze, I don't know what Austin is up to but I'm sure he didn't know she's with you."

I didn't answer. No communication passed between Gridian and me. It wasn't necessary because Feigh was crying. And it sure as hell wasn't tears of joy, given Candice's reaction. I was afraid. Scared. Terrified.

As the seconds ticked by, we had reached the pool, the intended location. But the instant we walked through the door, everything changed. Because Austin was holding Feigh against her will, and his canines were intentionally pressed on Feigh's neck. An obvious gesture he was trying to provoke and challenge me.

"Austin, let go of her," Gridian demanded harshly. His voice was dread with authority. But something's wrong. Because Lycans couldn't resist the command of their King, the King who has the power over them.

Except for one reason—

He was fighting for his mate.

Realization filled through my brain. Feigh was his mate. His fucking mate. Fuck!

And Gridian wasn't dumb to not realized it.

Austin let go of Feigh's neck but still holding her body pressed against his and roared, "She's fucking mine, father! Mine!"

I took that opportunity to claw his face and grabbed Feigh by the arm. Austin was momentarily stunned. His head snapped up, his dark liquid eyes swirling stormy.

As soon as Feigh was trapped in my arms, she sobbed and clutched my shoulders in a death grip, pressing herself even closer to me. I struggled to control my trembling as relief rushed through me. She wasn't marked by him. But I smelt a little drop of her blood. Adrenaline and bloodlust pushed hard through my body like a drug. My brain begged to explode, chaotic and frenzied all toward one goal—he was going to die by my hands!

"You are mine. You are my mate! I will never allow you to be with someone else!" Austin growled.

I heard Kol breathed, "Dude... you fucked up!"

I called out, "Kol, don't let go of her!" and hand Feigh over to him. Her eyes were wide as she stared at me. I nodded to let her know that she was safe with Kol. She immediately clutched onto Kol's arm. She was still trembling.

I surged forward with every intent to rip Austin's heart out but Gridian abruptly stood in front of me, "King Iandraze, please don't. He is not himself. You do understand that once the Lycan finds their mate, they can't resist the urge to mark them," I heard Kol and Candice curse under their breath. "It's the beast inside of us. The compulsion to mark our mate was strong. He couldn't control it. I beg you to consider this for once and listen to the reason. Please! I'll promise you, if he is himself again—"