I twisted my lips to the side, a little nervous this might get emotional. How embarrassing. I’d never live it down.
So I just nodded and said, “Ditto.”
“Stop chasing my shifters around the bars.”
I cracked a smile. “Now you’re asking too much.”
He laughed and turned to stick out a hand to Darius. “Durant, we won’t ever see eye to eye. But I am glad as hell to have you in this battle. You had other options, and I’m glad you chose this one.”
Darius took his hand in a firm grip, meeting his eyes. “I had no other options. You are a good leader to your people.”
“High praise coming from a vampire,” Roger said, stepping back.
“Yes,” Darius replied.
“See you out there.” And then Roger had left, probably off to find Penny and Emery, making more spells for easy access, or maybe even Cahal, hiding in the shadows or whatever.
“Why have you never weighed in on what I should do during the battle?” I’d asked Darius while strapping on my leathers.
“In short…I don’t know what you should do in battle. The Seers are not confident, the fae are not confident, and Roger is expending all of his energy on the best practices of defense. There is a very real possibility that this could go wrong. A very real possibility. Almost a certainty, in fact.”
“I get it, I get it.”
“When everything goes wrong, you and Penny—and Emery when he’s inevitably dragged into it—are at your absolute bests. When all is lost, you three create miracles. You will not allow yourself to fail, not when it means the failure of those closest to you. Quite simply, I have put my trust in you. I have led you many times—it is time for you to lead me.”
And that had finally set the waterworks off. Roger had loosened me up, and Darius shoved me over the edge.
But now? Hard-core badass. Action engaged in leather. Ready to kick some ass and forget their names.
I did a lap, the other dragons flying behind me as we soared over the forces gathered below. Callie and Dizzy waited about halfway down the long line, Steve beside them. They’d wanted to be on the front line, but Roger insisted on keeping all of the mages toward the middle. If elves sprang up out of nowhere, he wanted swords and teeth to quickly meet them, and for the mages to step in as backup.
I doubted elves would pop up out of nowhere, though.
Besides, why would they bother with us? We were about a thousand strong, which was great. It was an awesome force. But the elves had enlisted the help of almost everyone in the Realm, drafting those who didn’t come willingly. Anyone who’d escaped the draft but still wanted to fight had apparently headed down to the Underworld. They certainly hadn’t come to us. Plus my father had the other half of the vampires (or maybe a bit less, because Darius had gathered a right few), his rage and violence sects, random draft selections from the edges, a host of experienced dragons, a herd of unicorns—did I need to go on? Why the hell would the elves worry about us when the Underworld was marching toward their castle?
A wave of nervousness washed over me, but I shoved it away with a showing of my teeth.
Let’s go, I said to Archion, leaning forward to gain speed.
He must’ve felt my building adrenaline, or perhaps he was feeling his own, because he let out a trumpeting sound before he dove for the portal.
The magic of the crossing pulled at my energy and scraped across my skin. Archion touched down on the ground before lifting back up, pushing into the sky. Those portals weren’t meant for dragons, since they weren’t in the sky, unlike those of the Underworld. The other dragons flew in after us, and then the troops followed.
Nobody was waiting, but somehow that didn’t reassure me.
We took an accelerated path through the Realm, heading toward the castle. My heart beat a steady drum in my chest, my adrenaline pulsed low, and I did my best to stay calm.
Is it always this deserted? Archion asked as we flew over little huts and empty fields.
I shook my head slowly, looking for any signs of movement and seeing none. I don’t know, but I doubt it. They are either hiding, or getting ready to fight.
The land didn’t change much, unlike the constant changes in the Underworld. Always pretty. Always leaning toward fake. I hoped Romulus lived to spruce the place up a bit, turning the walkways into pleasant gardens and the trees into more convincing semblances of the same thing. This whole place was just stagnant, waiting for a breath of fresh air. It almost reminded me of the Mages’ Guild just before we busted it open. It needed some new blood. New ideas.
It was too bad it would take a battle and bloodshed to achieve that result.
There.
I flicked my eyes up at Archion’s thought. Cahal flew to one side of me, Penny and Emery on the other, and their gazes were turned in the same direction. Penny glanced at me with wide eyes.
The breath left my lungs.
A massive host had gathered in front of the elves’ castle. Catapults were lined up on the golden pathway, carts teamed with crews waiting beside them. Troops stood before them in neat lines, armed to the teeth, with elves at the back and creatures like minotaurs, centaurs, and trolls pushing out in front. Because of course they were being pushed into danger first. Even as we watched, creatures pushed up off the ground and flew into the sky, all manner of flying creatures—faeries, griffins, hippogriffs, lamassu… Their host had to be two thousand or more strong. Holy shit.
Coming toward them, spread out across the land, the scenery being stripped bare of its enchantments as they moved, came my father’s host. Demons of all shapes and sizes wore battle gear or just their own skin. Other demons flew overhead, their bodies gross and spindly. Some of the trolls from the Realm had joined them, and I noticed goblins as well as several other strange creatures I’d never seen before. They walked amongst the demons, not in front of them. Vampires walked to the right in the army, all in their monster forms, moving like graceful predators ready to kill. Behind them pranced the damn unicorns, creamy white and gorgeous, shaking their heads and neighing like a horse might do.
My gaze tracked upward, and I sagged on Archion.
There are all of your friends, I thought, seeing the large beasts fill the sky. Lucifer didn’t have as many fliers as the elves, but his were of a much better quality. Larger, deadlier.
At the front, flying low, Lucifer rode atop Tatsu, her jet-black scales soaking up the night.
My heart thudded in my chest. A strange feeling of being misplaced settled over me.
I should be beside him, I thought without meaning to.
You will be, Archion replied.
I shook my head, looking at the messy horde he had following him, tromping through the land and thirsty for blood. His host was larger than the elves, no question. More eager. Likely more violent. He would win this battle if we didn’t stop him. He’d tear into the elves and everyone who stood with them. He would show no mercy.
The memory of the grimy walls of my prison, my broken legs, my askew fingers, and the constant thrust of pain as I lay on that dingy floor filtered through my mind. Rage kindled into a fire within me. Lucifer knew what the elves were capable of. He’d seen it firsthand, applied to his own flesh and blood.
But what was Lucifer capable of? He had great darkness within him. It balanced the light I’d seen. I had to ask myself again whether he was any better.
There was too much hate in the worlds, and not enough compassion.
Someone had to stand in the way. We had to stand in the way. We had to be the ringleaders for a different, better future.
Our people moved forward in orderly rows, the most vulnerable in the middle and the strongest taking the front, back, and sides. It was the opposite of the fae’s usual strategy, but Roger wanted everyone to make it to the battle without falling behind.
It doesn’t look like we have time to rest before battle, Archion thought as we continued forward, unrelenting.
We’d rested along the w
ay a couple times, getting water and food for those who needed it. Donors gave the vampires blood—with more vampires accepting than probably needed to. Roger had forbidden any banging, though. He’d even agreed to give Marie blood (who had definitely not needed it, given her age), but would not allow her to touch him anywhere, save her mouth on his arm.
When her serum hit his bloodstream, I’d watched with glee as his entire body tensed, like he’d grabbed a live wire. His stern expression could not hide the rush of pleasure from her bite, and his lack of clothing was further testament to what he thought of the experience. Marie had pulled back with a blood-soaked smile, her eyes twinkling. The whole experience had probably been one of the worst of his life. He’d done it for the team, though. I’d given him a cookie right afterward. He’d needed one.
The plan had been to stop about here and get one last rest in before we shoved ourselves between the two brawling worlds and played the good guy, whatever that meant. It wasn’t to be, though.
I leaned over Archion’s side so I could look down at Roger in his wolf form. He was looking up. When we connected gazes, he looked straight ahead. Romulus, still beside him, nodded, and pointed toward the battle. Overkill, but whatever.
Prepare for battle, I thought, a sheen of sweat breaking over me. It’s time we decide the fate of the worlds.
Seventeen
I turned to Cahal first, wondering if he’d see the directive. He was looking back at me. He nodded once.
With a deep breath, I turned to Penny next. I hadn’t gotten her into this mess—not really. Emery was the one who’d showed up on her porch and dragged her into trouble. I really shouldn’t be blamed for everything that had unfurled since. I hoped she saw it my way.
Her gaze was straight ahead, and I was surprised not to see any fear or trepidation. I saw only determination.
Pride and aggression swirled within me. Penny Bristol was finally, solidly ready for battle. That, I did take credit for.
Emery caught me looking and nudged her before pointing. Her gaze swung my way, her eyebrows lifting.
I gave her a thumbs-up, followed by a fist. Then, because I didn’t know if she’d know what any of that meant, yelled, “We’re going to battle now!”
“Strength and honor!” she yelled, and it was clear she’d been watching Gladiator to boost her courage.
When I glanced down again, our vampires had stalled and were now undressing. I felt a surge of love through the bond, Darius wishing me well.
“We’ll have our future,” I murmured, hardening myself. “We will have our future if I have to pull a miracle out of my ass.”
Here we go, I thought, and leaned forward.
Archion put on a burst of speed. The dragons would get there first, but I knew Lucifer wouldn’t order our deaths.
There is one question I still don’t really understand the answer to, Archion thought as we hastened toward the scene.
Lucifer’s forces ran at the elves in a messy mass. Roars and shouts of blood lust rang up as we neared the melee. The dragons and the flying demons kept pace above us, Lucifer clearly having some sort of plan and choosing this mess as his strategy.
What is that? I asked Archion as I stitched magic into the sky. I’d been working on this and only this for the last two days. I would not wait until the sky was ripped away to construct another. Instead, I’d stitch my magic into the foundation of this place to hold the existing sky in place. I’d root my illusion to the ground in a weave of fire and ice that, in our practice, even Penny had been hard-pressed to tear apart. I was a hybrid—godly lineage merged with the Underworld—and it gave me uniqueness that I would use to our advantage. The elves and Lucifer might try to break through it, but without plenty of time and focus, they wouldn’t get far.
That was the plan, anyway.
My heart throbbed. My pulse pounded in my ears, a steady, fast throb. Adrenaline fueled me, followed by excitement.
I loved running into battle. That was my jam. I didn’t slink closer and strategize; I burst into the scene and kicked in teeth. The situation might’ve changed, but I hadn’t.
We’re going to get in their way so that they don’t fight, but if they ignore us—which they will—we’re supposed to apply force? he thought.
Yup.
So we are basically the smaller force fighting against two larger forces on either side of us?
Yup.
How is that a good idea?
I honestly have no idea.
Dragons didn’t talk, but his low growl was close enough. This was, quite possibly, a suicide mission, but fuck it. If we didn’t take a stand for what we believed in, who were we?
We reached the edge of the battle, and the elves’ heads turned as they took notice of us for the first time. The fliers in the sky, on both sides, fluttered a little in the air, surprised. My father turned his head slowly, a grin sliding up his face. He nodded.
I couldn’t resist giving him an answering smile. We might not be on the same side, but damn it, this felt good. Stretching the legs of our violent rage.
Give ’em hell, Archion, I thought.
He flew down the center of the open space between the elves and the demons, roaring. Coppelia and Saphira joined us, their cacophony merging, reverberating through the grounds and echoing off the castle walls. We’d worked hard to control our reactions to the dragons’ roars, but this one was amplified somehow. Much more intense. Fear blistered through my body and nearly stopped my heart.
We’d always thought that effect was a tall tale until we started to practice at the shifters’ private estate, Archion thought, clearly happy with himself. We had endless time to practice.
It was two months. Give me a break. It wasn’t endless.
The non-dragon fliers froze up. Several of them fell to the ground like dead weights. The smaller dragons careened into the troops below, fire erupting from some and scorching whoever was unlucky enough to be in the way. The larger dragons lost height, struggling against the blast.
Our three roared again, their sounds intermingling to create that heart-shaking boost.
Demons hovered off their dragons, including my father. His hands came out to stabilize Tatsu in the air.
Thanks for the warning, I thought to Archion.
Surprise.
I sent a tidal wave of fire and ice at the elves, a blast of air chased by flame. I flattened their first troops as the roars wore off. Archion veered toward them and opened fire. Romulus had said the elves depended on organized warfare—or at least they had once upon a time. Since the same leadership was still in effect, he’d figured they still would, and those orderly ranks suggested he was right. They also would’ve heard that we’d be here as attempted peacekeepers. Crushing part of their army might seem counterintuitive, but the goal now was to blow their minds, get them scrambling, and then prepare for the onslaught from my father, who would want to take advantage of the melee. And who also might think I’d joined his side.
Romulus seemed very good at strategy. We’d see if he was right.
Coppelia and Saphira came after us, blowing fire down on the scrambling troops below. The elves’ fliers were slow to rise, and it was clear some had broken limbs or necks in the fall. I slammed down with air, not allowing them to climb back up.
A blistering spell zipped past the line of elves and to the castle beyond. It slammed against the (very new looking) closed front doors and exploded, like a bomb going off. The wood blew off the hinges and tumbled out of the way. Stone rained down from a pockmarked and scarred surface, as though someone had done that previously. Probably Lucifer’s way of knocking when he’d come to collect me.
Another spell, just like the first, followed it, this time flying into the open crevice.
This wasn’t part of the plan, I said, throwing my magic around before taking a moment to stitch this portion of the sky into the scenery.
This is probably part of Penny’s plan, Archion said, turning away from the castle and setting fi
re to another catapult. Saphira has said Penny has a lot of anger to work through.
Now is not the time, though.
We may not get another one.
He had a point.
Change of plans.
Archion tilted his great wings before I even finished that thought. We followed Saphira closer to the castle.
I’d meant to send a swell of magic after hers. I’d meant to summon hellfire and cut at least part of that place down. I’d meant to do a lot of things.
But then I saw them. The king and queen, pushed back from their people, standing on a dais with telescopes to either side of them in case they wanted to look more closely at a battle they had caused. While I led this force, and Lucifer led his people, these cowardly bastards had hung back to let someone else die for them. I was putting my neck on the line to save most of their people, and they couldn’t even stand at the last row of their troops.
There, I said to Archion, my focus razor sharp, my vision tinged red. Being the bigger person was all well and good, and very adultlike, but it turned out I just couldn’t get over it. I might not wipe out the whole damn force of elves, but I would at least kill those assholes. Those two there.
Are they the same person?
They certainly look like it. Head there.
Archion put on a burst of speed.
Get lower to the ground, I thought. When you feel their magic—and you will—veer right into that field behind them. Once the magic lifts, we’ll need to split up. Help the others with Romulus’s plan. I’ll take these dickheads down on my own.
I won’t leave you.
You will do our duty, since I am too much of an asshole to do it with you.
When you’re done, hover high and I’ll pick you up.
No need. I’ll attack the rest from behind.
Battle With Fire Page 17