Total pages in book: 210
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 200096 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1000(@200wpm)___ 800(@250wpm)___ 667(@300wpm)
My listless gaze is ahead, dwelling on these dark thoughts, when the indigo dragon appears out of thin air. I have just enough time to shield us before its fire rains down, carving a path of destruction. The flames are so intense, I buckle under its pressure.
And then the dragon climbs into the sky.
With a cry of rage, I lash out, releasing a bolt of fire that disintegrates against its shield.
In its clutches are two figures—the exiled king and a raven-haired female. Romeria.
“She was aiming for us,” Malachi sneers, taking in the hundreds of scorched bodies, the Saur’goths on the edges writhing in pain, burned to various degrees. He’s right—there is no way that was coincidental. She knew exactly where we were.
She tried to kill Elijah.
Our arrangement clearly means nothing to her.
The dragon veers and dives again, this time on the far side of the army, delivering another devastating arc of fire.
Silver bolts fly into the air, some missing them entirely, a few hitting her shields.
Twice more, they dive.
Malachi seethes as he watches his army burn.
“She cannot maintain that for much longer.” It is too taxing, especially for a beast of that size.
It flies within range.
With a roar, Malachi launches a ball of fire through the air at them.
It hits their side and the dragon jolts from the impact.
“You are right. Already, she weakens.” He sends another one quickly after.
The dragon banks hard, narrowly avoiding it, and they disappear into the clouds.
He nods with satisfaction. “That should keep them away.”
Groans and wails surround us.
“Move forward or fall on your swords!” Malachi urges his horse ahead, its hooves stomping on the charred remains of his fallen pets.
71
Zander
We touch down outside Lyndel’s gates and Romeria buckles, dropping to the ground in a heap.
I rush to her side, just as Abarrane, Jarek, and Elisaf close in, Solange close behind.
“I’m fine!” She holds up a hand to stall us. Her breathing is ragged. “That last hit got me good.”
“Malachi.” I thought Caindra would drop me, her massive body shuddering from the blow.
She nods. “It felt like, I don’t know how to describe it … Like holding on to a metal bar that’s been hit with another metal bar really hard. Like, it was vibrating through me and I had to let go. I can still feel it.”
Elisaf’s brow furrows with worry. “But did it work?”
“Yes, and no. They didn’t see us coming, but Sofie had her shield up too fast.” I shake my head. “We could have been rid of them both. Now, it will be impossible to catch them unaware.”
“It was stupid. We should have come in from behind. I didn’t think she could react so fast,” Romeria says, disappointment radiating from her.
“Hindsight is always far clearer.” I offer my hand and Romeria takes it, allowing me to haul her to her feet. “But they did well. There had to be at least a thousand dead.”
“Yeah, only ninety-nine thousand more to go,” Romeria mutters, and I sense her defeat.
Smoothing a palm over her back, I suggest, “Why don’t we go inside and rest. There is a room set aside for us in the manor.”
But she shakes her head. “How am I supposed to fight a fate when one hit from him did that?”
“You were defending, not attacking,” Solange says. “There is a difference.”
“There is? Will you teach me everything you know?” Romeria pleads, desperation in her voice.
“Everything?” Solange’s eyebrows arch. “By tomorrow?”
“Until we run out of time.”
“This reminds me of that day the princess fought a nethertaur after a two-hour lesson on how to not stab herself,” Abarrane muses.
“I killed it, didn’t I?” Romeria scoffs.
“No, I killed it. You stopped it.”
“Right.” Romeria dismisses the surly legionary. “So?”
Solange smirks. “I do not know how to fight a fate. No one has ever fought one and lived to tell the story. But I can teach you how to fight a powerful caster.”
“Perfect, because I’m pretty sure Sofie is going to be really pissed off after that.” Romeria squeezes my hand. “Give me a few hours and then we can fly to Eldred Wood to get an update from Atticus.” They disappear behind Lyndel’s gate, her ever-present legionary a shadow, and the sylx his.
“How did it look out there?’ Elisaf asks.
My shoulders sink with dread. “If you have been sitting on regrets and wishes, I would settle them tonight.” Anyone counting on us to lead them to victory will soon learn how fatal that hope is.
“That bad, then.”
“Yes, that bad.” We are thoroughly fucked.
72
Atticus
“The famed Eldred Wood.” King Cheral canters to my side as he sizes up the forest ahead. “It looks peaceful.”
“It is vast, stretching far south, almost to Cirilea. A great place for Nulling beasts to hide.” I imagine there are plenty in there now with the rift’s opening.
“Ybarisans and Mordain’s casters now too.”
“And soon, the Kiers. These are strange times, indeed.”