Another savage surged straight at him, the long handle of his flail mid-swing.
Jackson sent an arrow through him, toppling him from his dragon.
Ophidian maintained a steady stream of fire, scorching everything in their path.
Noah flew at Jackson’s side, keeping perfect pace. Scowling, he scanned the sky, his loyalty to Ryleigh still obvious, though he rode as a Death Dealer this time. He glanced at Jackson and frowned.
Jackson shook his head.
Even amid the hundreds of dragons in the sky, the queen’s white dragon, and those of her army, stood out. He counted again. Kalayah was still missing.
Another savage fell at Noah’s hand.
In the distance, Dakota circled a peak for the second time.
Jackson got Noah’s attention and gestured toward the peak.
Dakota’s dragon dove.
Thaddeus. He turned his feelings off and waved Noah forward. The search for Ryleigh would have to wait. Even if it killed him.
Noah hesitated, scanned the sky once more, then nodded.
Together, they flew toward the peak. If they could just reach Thaddeus before he noticed Dakota’s—
Black smoke erupted from the top of the mountain.
Dakota and Draco tumbled through the air.
So much for sneaking in unnoticed.
Jackson prodded Ophidian to go faster.
The smoke split off into smaller sections.
Dakota righted himself. He skimmed the surface, staying low, and headed back up the mountain.
Jackson and Noah surged into the sky, desperate to get Thaddeus’s attention.
A phantom barreled into Noah.
Jackson steered Ophidian through the smoke, dispersing it.
It coalesced before he could swing around.
Noah dove to avoid flying through the cloud.
Jackson followed.
Smoke enveloped Noah, concealing him.
Jackson rocketed toward him.
Smoke forced its way into Jackson’s mouth. Okay, at least they had Thaddeus’s attention. Now to keep him focused on them.
Jackson choked. The creature tunneled into his head, surged into his nose, blocked the back of his throat. He couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t swallow. The stench gagged him.
Still he kept a wall in place to protect his memories, his thoughts, all of his knowledge. An idea began to form, but he locked it away before it could be intercepted, kept his mind carefully blank.
Noah plunged toward the side of the mountain.
Jackson followed. He wouldn’t be able to hold on long. He couldn’t breathe. He had to get to Noah. See if he could save him.
If he would just stay still. Or slow down.
Noah’s dragon tumbled. Noah righted him, once again taking up his steady dive toward the rocks. Was he crazy? What was he doing?
At the last minute, just before his dragon plowed into the mountainside, Noah yanked back on the reigns.
The dragon jerked around.
Noah released the reigns and flew from the dragon. His back slammed into the rocks.
The phantom shot from his mouth.
Noah crumbled to the ground, his broken body tumbling down the slope. He grabbed a tree and stopped his decent, then lay gasping for air.
Jackson guided Ophidian toward Noah, but before he landed, Jackson launched himself and turned over. Landing flat on his back ejected the phantom. He gagged and each inhalation brought piercing pain. He’d definitely cracked ribs. He belly-crawled toward Noah.
“Where’d they go?” Still unable to catch his breath, Noah ripped off his breastplate, tore his shirt over his head, and wound it around his nose and mouth.
Jackson shook his head. They’d disappeared. They had to get back in the game. Quick. He grabbed Noah’s arm. “Did they…get anything?”
“Nothing. But I don’t want to do that again.”
“Me. Neither.”
Noah helped him yank his shirt off and tie it around his face. “No idea if that’ll help, but I had to try something.”
Jackson nodded and donned his armor. Healing energy poured through him, sealing the hole in his lung, weaving the cracked ribs together. Not fast enough.
He grabbed Noah’s face and stared into his eyes. “You’re sure it’s gone?”
Noah gripped his wrist. “Yeah. It’s gone.”
Jackson released him.
Noah lifted the shirt away from his mouth and spat. “But I’ll never get rid of the taste.”
No, he probably wouldn’t. “Listen. Fast. Maybe we can trick him.”
“Thaddeus?”
“Yeah. Let the monsters get what we want them to have.”
Noah paled. “But then we have to let them back in.”
Jackson nodded. He’d already thought of that.
“Ah, man. Really?”
“I can do it alone, but it’d be better if he got a similar picture from each of us.”
Noah mumbled and tore the shirt from his face. “You’re gonna owe me one for this.”
Jackson shot him his cockiest grin. “You got it.”
“Tell me. Fast.”
“Dakota needs to get in behind him to get the book, so we have to lure him out.”
“Okay. What does he want?”
“Power.”
Noah stared up the side of the mountain. “How can that help us?”
Good question. He wouldn’t involve anyone else.
Noah jerked his head back toward Jackson. “It’s you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants you. Let’s make him think I’ll betray you. He seems to enjoy that. Betrayal. I’ll give him an image of me and Ryleigh together.”
Jackson grabbed him by the throat.
“An old one, an old one.” Noah tried to pry his hand free.
Jackson loosened his grip.
“Then an image of me fighting with you and ascending the throne with Ryleigh. You said he prefers a puppet leader so he can rule from the background. If he thinks I’m weak enough, it may draw him to me.”
“Can you fight the phantoms?”
Noah shrugged. “Hopefully, as soon as Thaddeus retrieves those images, the phantom will release me.”
“Let’s go.”
“Wait. What about you?”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it. Just make sure that’s the only knowledge he gets.”
“You got it, man.” He jumped onto his dragon and lifted into the air. A little too eager?
Jackson had no choice. He had to trust him. There was no other way. He guided Ophidian into the sky and kept pace with Noah.
Together, they rode straight toward Thaddeus.
Phantoms were on them in seconds.
Noah thrashed and fought the invading phantoms.
Jackson welcomed it. He allowed one small image, the image clearly etched in his memory, his hand around Noah’s throat. Noah gripping his hand, trying to pry it loose. Then he clamped down and forced his mind blank.
The phantom tunneled deeper, hungry for more knowledge, energized by the image of violence.
Jackson worked to keep his breathing calm. In and out. If he didn’t allow himself to panic, he could breathe past the blockage in his throat.
Noah’s dragon landed on the plateau in front of a cave near the mountain peak. Noah lurched from his back and fell to his knees, still enveloped in smoke, clawing at his throat.
Thaddeus emerged from the cave.
Jackson dove straight at him, Ophidian spraying fire. Jackson pulled his bow, readied an arrow. The instant he got an opening, Thaddeus was his.
Noah knelt in front of Thaddeus, and the smoke released him.
Dakota crept from the entrance behind Thaddeus. He slid over the rocks and disappeared.
Jackson couldn’t get a clear shot. Giving up on placing an arrow, he pulled his sword and landed on the plateau, then jumpe
d from Ophidian.
Noah yanked his sword. He turned on Jackson.
Jackson raced toward him, sword drawn.
Thaddeus grinned wildly.
As Jackson reached him and hefted his sword, Noah spun and plunged his sword through Thaddeus’s chest.
Jackson followed, decapitating him with one swing.
Black smoke billowed and swirled.
Noah coughed.
Jackson grabbed his arm. “We have to get out of here.”
“What’s happening?”
“We’ve set them free. Unless Mia can get control.”
They ran for the dragons. He hadn’t meant to lose control for even an instant. The plan had been for Mia to be ready to assume control before Thaddeus was killed. They had to get the phantoms back to the Realm of the Dead.
Dakota had better move fast.
The creatures merged into one, swirling in a huge cloud of smoke. Then they separated, spilling over the land, invading savages and tearing through his people.
Jackson flew toward the mountain where they’d left Mia.
Noah stayed glued to his side.
Screams tore through the darkening sky.
They rounded the last peak and landed on the plateau.
Mia and two of the faeries knelt amid a firestorm with the book spread open.
Ryleigh and Tatiana held the pages down on either side, keeping the harsh wind from tearing them away.
Jackson quelled his urge to run to Ryleigh.
The faeries stood in a circle around them, facing outward, hands clasped, chanting quietly. Payton and Queen Allura stood dead center.
Mia stood and raised her arms.
Wind whipped wildly.
The Fae chanted louder.
A black mass surged toward them.
Jackson drew his sword. Not that he had a clue what to do with it.
Noah stood at his side, weapon ready, looking as helpless as Jackson felt.
The smoke rocketed toward them.
Lucas stood directly in front of the circle. His sword still sheathed.
Kiara waited off to the side.
As one, the phantoms plowed into Lucas.
“Nooo!” Jackson ran toward him, sword hefted.
Noah ran at his side.
Lucas shot backward off his feet, knocking Payton and Allura over, then crashing into Mia. He lay still, flat on his back.
Mia struggled beneath him.
Jackson and Noah tumbled him off Mia.
Kiara dropped to her knees at Lucas’s side and pressed both hands against a scorched, gaping hole in his stomach.
Battle sounds faded to the background. Jackson’s ears rang. “What happened?”
Mia stood and brushed herself off. “We needed a sacrifice. Lucas volunteered.”
“A sacrifice? Are you freakin’ kidding me?” Jackson stormed toward Ryleigh. “And you allowed this?”
“Jackson wait, I—”
“What the hell were you thinking?”
Noah stepped in front of him, blocking his advance. “Jackson. Calm down.”
“Calm down? They just sacrificed one of my men.” He couldn’t believe what he’d just seen.
Mia cleared her throat. She waited for him to turn, then pursed her lips. Her eyes danced with humor. “So you are freaking out because I used the man you were going to execute anyway as a sacrifice to return those vile things to the Realm of the Dead?”
Noah frowned. “Hey, what are you so worked up about? Aren’t you the same man who asked someone else to sacrifice himself?”
Jackson ran a hand over his mouth, then dropped it onto his hip. Hell, he had no idea what to do with his hands. Or anything else.
Kiara bent over Lucas on one side, Cyenne on the other.
Faeries surrounded him with a halo of brilliant pink light. Healing.
Lucas struggled to sit.
Jackson shot Mia a glare. “Did you know he could be healed?”
She shrugged. “We were pretty sure he could be saved. In time for you to execute him, of course.”
“Of course.” The air around Jackson had stilled. Quiet descended. He hugged her to him. “Oh, man, Mia. I think you did it.”
“Yes.” She cried softly against his chest. “I think I did.”
Tremors rocked him as the adrenaline rush subsided. With Mia beneath one arm, he started toward the cliff. Ryleigh slid into his embrace on the other side, and they stopped at the edge, overlooking the battlefield.
His people helped each other up, some crying, some laughing, some simply wandering across the field apparently stunned. The people of Cymmera and Argonas were strong and united. They would heal their people, restore their land, and rebuild their lives and their kingdoms.
The remaining savages and ice creatures scattered into the mountains. They’d have to hunt them down later. But it could wait. They posed no real threat without a leader.
His soldiers tended to wounded. Healing light spilled across the field.
Dakota hugged Mia from the other side.
Jackson gestured for Noah to join them.
Noah slung an arm around Ryleigh’s neck and gripped Jackson’s arm.
Ryleigh wrapped an arm around Noah’s waist and snuggled closer against Jackson.
Together, the five of them surveyed their kingdom.
They’d won.
Chapter 14
Ryleigh knelt at the base of the Tree of Hope, its blackened remains daunting. She dug into the cool, damp dirt, then sifted it between her fingers. She’d already worked the soil halfway around the tree, and her back ached. She stretched to ease the kinks.
Turning the soil was the first step in returning Cymmera to its former grandeur.
Mia was certain the tree was not dead. With the proper care and nurturing, she swore the soil and the tree could be restored. Along with the rest of Cymmera.
Ryleigh sat back on her heels. Most of the black soot had already been scrubbed from the castle’s white stone walls. Sections of the dark green roof had already been repaired, though a few spires still remained damaged. Some would need to be completely rebuilt. That would be okay, though. They had plenty of time.
She returned to turning the soil, lacing it with healing light from her hands.
“Ryleigh?” Noah said.
She jumped. “Hey.”
He knelt facing her, his usually carefree expression serious. “Can I talk to you?”
“Sure. Is something wrong?” She brushed dirt from her hands.
“No. Everything is great.”
“Then why do you look so unhappy?” His suffering brought an ache she couldn’t ease.
A tentative smile began, but sadness remained in his eyes. “I’m leaving, Ryleigh.”
“What do you mean, leaving? Where are you going?”
He took her hands in his, dirt and all. “Allura and Payton have asked me to return to the Realm of the Fae with them. They’d like an ambassador from Cymmera, and they offered me the position. Payton trusts me.”
“But…” But what? There had to be some way to make him stay, even though it wouldn’t be fair to him. “I thought you were supposed to head the Queen’s Army.”
“No. That role belongs to Tristan. It’s something he is experienced in and qualified to do. He’ll lead your army well.” He squeezed her hands.
Ryleigh returned the grip, holding tight, as if he were a lifeline. In a way, maybe he was. A connection to her past, a link to a time she couldn’t return to. “I thought you were meant to be here.”
Noah looked around the courtyard. He stared up at the turrets and spires. Then his eyes fell closed. When he opened them, he returned his attention to Ryleigh. “I believe in destiny. I don’t know if I did before all of this happened, but I’ve come to believe since. I was meant to be here at one time. I played a role in saving Mia and Jackson. I like to think I played a role in saving Cymmera.”
“Of course you did.”
A soft smile lingered. “But now my fate lies in another direction. It’s time for me to follow my own path.”
A tear tipped over her lashes and dripped in a cold line down her cheek.
Noah caught it with a finger. “There’s nothing for me in Cymmera. Unless you want to give up Jackson.” He grinned, a genuine grin, a glimpse of the charming boy he’d been. “If so, just say the word, and I’ll refuse the position.”
She stared at their interlocked hands, tracing his fingers with her own. He knew she couldn’t do that. No matter how she felt about Noah, Jackson was still her…well, hers.
He released her hands and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I thought so.”
“I’ll miss you, Noah.” She brushed the tears away.
“I’ll miss you too.” He stood and held out a hand. “Come here.”
She stood and curled into his embrace.
“You’re my best friend. There will always be a place in my heart that belongs to you.” He set her back, wiped away his own tears, and smiled. “I will always love you, Ryleigh. And I will always be there if you need me.”
She nodded, unable to speak past the lump clogging her throat.
Noah tucked her hair behind her ear again, then gave it a tug, as he always had. Then he walked away.
A sob tore through her. Watching Noah walk away was like being ripped from her home all over again. The remnants of her childhood vanished with him as he rounded the side of the castle.
She fell to her knees at the base of the Tree of Hope and used her dirt-covered shirt to wipe away the tears. This was her destiny now. Rebuilding this kingdom, helping her people heal, guiding them toward a future of peace and prosperity, and she embraced it with all of her heart.
A strong hand fell on her shoulder, and she looked up at Jackson.
“Are you okay?”
She nodded. How could she explain her feelings for Noah, the connection they shared to the past, without hurting him?
Jackson stared at the corner Noah had just rounded. “He’s a good man. He’ll make a great ambassador.”
She smiled. Maybe she didn’t have to explain after all. “Yes. He will.”
“And Payton seems quite fond of him.”
She was okay with that now. Now that her suspicions about Payton had been explained, she suddenly realized she would be happy if Noah and Payton ended up together. “Yes. I think he’s got a thing for her too.”
Battle for Cymmera Page 24