Marrying a Warhound (Cassian) novel Chapter 73

Chapter 73

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“My lady, there seems to be a problem with the beasts this time,” Rio said grimly. “Usually, they attack in batches–ten at most, sometimes a scattered group. But not like this.”

I stepped closer to the ledge of the wall and forced myself to look down.

The sight made my stomach twist.

Below us, dozens of beasts moved in the darkness, their shapes illuminated by the flickering light of torches from the watchtowers. They were far larger than I had imagined, their shoulders rising taller than any warhorse. Their hides were mottled, a mix of cracked scales and coarse fur.

Some had too many limbs, jagged claws scraping against stone as they swarmed, while others dragged tails lined with spines sharp enough to pierce armor. Their faces were the worst, elongated jaws full of uneven teeth, their eyes glowing red as if the moon itself had burned into them.

One slammed into the base of the wall, the impact rattling the stone beneath my boots. Its claws screeched against the black surface but didn’t break through. It lifted its head and let out a guttural roar that echoed in my chest. I gripped the railing tighter without realizing it.

“They aren’t supposed to look like this,” I whispered. When I was younger, I remember seeing a book about these beasts, but none of them looked like this.

“No,” Rio agreed, his eyes fixed on the chaos below. “Not usually. Most beasts are crude, animalistic. They’re dangerous, yes, but predictable. During the red moon, though…” His voice hardened. “They change. They become twisted, larger, more violent, they mutate. They fight without regard for their own survival, like something is driving them mad.”

Sivi stepped forward, his scar catching the torchlight as he watched the fighting below. “They don’t just change in form, either. Their behavior shifts. Normally, beasts scatter when they sense fire or smell wolfsbane. Now they rush at it, tearing through flames, biting into soldiers. even while their own hides burn.”

I swallowed, uneasy. “So… they aren’t afraid of fire?”

“They still are,” Sivi corrected. “But under the red moon, it takes much more to push them back. Look.”

As if on cue, a squad of soldiers hurled flaming spears into the tide. The weapons struck, igniting the hides of two beasts, but instead of retreating, the creatures thrashed forward, bowling through the line until swords cut them down.

“They fight even when burning alive,” Sivi said. “That’s the red moon’s effect. It strips them of

11:22 Wed, Sep 10

Chapter 73

fear.”

“And wolfsbane?” I asked quickly.

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Rio shook his head. “It weakens them, but not enough. Normally, a beast would stagger if it inhaled a dose of wolfsbane mist. Tonight, they tear through it. Their bodies slow, yes, but they don’t stop. The red moon drives them until their hearts give out.”

Another roar rose from below as a beast the size of a small house lunged from the treeline, its horns curving forward like spears. It slammed into a formation of warriors. I flinched as shields cracked and men were thrown aside, only for others to close ranks immediately, spears stabbing deep into its chest. Even impaled, it writhed, snapping its jaws at anything within reach until Sivi gave a sharp signal and an archer’s arrow, tipped with a faint blue shimmer, pierced its skull.

“That shimmer,” I muttered. “Is that…?”

“Fae stone,” Sivi said. “Bound to the arrowhead. It makes the weapon bite deeper. Without it, the beast might have torn through half that line before it fell.”

My chest tightened as I gripped the railing harder. Each growl, each crash of claws against the wall, was a reminder of how fragile the balance here was.

“Then what are they afraid of?” I asked finally, my voice low.

Sivi and Rio exchanged a look before Rio answered. “Pain. Even under the red moon, they still fear overwhelming pain. Fire hot enough to sear, weapons sharp enough to pierce bone, wounds deep enough to cripple. That’s why we reinforce everything with fae stone. Without it, these walls would have fallen long ago.”

“And sound,” Sivi added. “Loud, piercing sound. They hate it. Horns, drums, even the shriek of metal. Sometimes it drives them back for a few breaths. Not enough to win a battle, but enough to breathe.”

I blinked. “Days?”

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