Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37456 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
I gasp in shock as a blast of Light sails over the wall into one, sending Forsaken fleeing like mice. Those not fast enough ignite with faint screams. So does the portal. It explodes in a shower of sparks, winking out of existence.
My sisters.
I stretch eagerly for the next rung, hauling myself up as quickly as I can climb. A minute or two later, I'm stepping onto a flat dais on the roof of the building. It's some sort of watchtower, and the view is incredible. From this height, I can see everything.
Tori, Rissa, and Abigail are huddled on the edge with several of the Fae, bathed in Light.
"There," Tori says, pointing into the distance.
Rissa nods and sends a blast of Light spinning in that direction. A moment later, another portal explodes, taking dozens of the Forsaken with it.
"Helvete," the giant warrior behind Tori says. "They're getting good at this."
"Ja," the one-eyed warrior beside him murmurs dryly. "Only fifteen hundred or so Forsaken to go, and we can all rest easy."
The giant warrior rumbles laughter.
"It would go a lot faster if you'd let us out there again, Reaper," Tori complains. "we could take out three or four times as many in half the time."
"Nei, little Valkyrie," her mate—Reaper—protests. "It is not safe."
"They couldn't even touch us!"
"Perhaps not, but if Abigail is right and there's a Forsaken who doesn't burn, who's to say he can't touch you?" Reaper asks.
Tori grumbles wordlessly as Malachi hauls himself up onto the platform behind me.
"He's right," I say quietly, drawing their attention. I shift nervously, prompting Malachi to slide his arm around my waist. "What we did earlier, we did to rescue the Fae. But the Forsaken are dangerous. Especially the one who doesn't burn."
"You've seen him," the one-eyed warrior says.
"Marion, this is Adriel," Malachi murmurs, nodding at the warrior. He then points to a regal Fae with gold eyes standing beside him. "Damrion." And then at the giant warrior who was arguing with Tori. "And Reaper. Rissa's mate, Dax, is down below, overseeing our defenses."
"Hi," I whisper to the warriors before glancing at Adriel to answer his question. "I have seen him. He killed my mother."
"You tried to burn him when he killed her?" Rissa asks.
"No, I—"
A shiver dances up my spine a split second before a black hole appears on the platform to my right. Rissa, Abigail, and Tori feel it too, but they don't see it forming. I do. I see a flash of yellow eyes and a pale face on the other side, a tendril of dark magic already whispering through the rippling hole from his hands. A Forsaken spinning his perverse black magic.
I don't think. I just react, reaching for my Light.
A blade appears in my hand, formed before I even call it. I throw it into the portal, striking the Forsaken in the throat.
He stumbles back, the portal collapsing.
"Valkyrie!" Malachi growls, grabbing me by the shoulders and yanking me back behind. But the threat is gone.
"Helvete!" Reaper growls. "Look!"
I glance at him, only to find him pointing at me.
The blade in my hand winks out. I cower back against Malachi as everyone gapes at me, completely silent.
"W-what's wrong?" I whisper.
"She wields Light like a Fae," Adriel says.
"Valkyrie, ljúfr," Malachi says gently, curving a hand around my jaw and turning me gently to face him. "Where did you learn to wield a blade like that?"
"I…"
"It's okay," Malachi murmurs. "You didn't do anything wrong."
"I think my father taught me," I whisper.
Damrion looks at Malachi before stepping forward, his gold eyes locked on me. "Are you saying that your father wielded a lyststål, Valkyrie?"
I hesitate and then nod reluctantly.
"Faen, Damrion," Reaper breathes. "Is she saying…?"
"Are you saying that your father was Fae, ljúfr?" Malachi asks, his voice soft as he holds me.
"I…" I glance around nervously, reluctant to spill secrets I barely understand myself. "I…don't know," I finally whisper. "But I think so."
Stunned silence ripples across the dais, Fae and Valkyrie alike staring at me in shock.
Chapter Eight
Marion
"AFae warrior mated here on earth?" Adriel finally mutters, the vicious scar across his face puckering as he scowls. "We would have known."
"Would we?" Damrion asks. "Can we even be sure he came through when we did?"
"What are suggesting?"
"We lost thousands during the wars, brother. We were scattered across the realms. Can we really be sure no others were already here on earth, only to find themselves trapped when the portal collapsed?"
"He wasn't trapped. He w-wanted to be here." All eyes turn in my direction. My stomach flutters with nerves, and I almost wish I hadn't said anything. But this is too important. "Um…I think my mother may have been Valkyrie."
That's what the Forsaken called her the night they killed her…Valkyrie. Only, I don't think she was born on earth like me, Rissa, Tori, and Abigail. I think she came from somewhere else. Valhalla. It's the only thing that makes sense to me. I felt her power. It was immense. And the Forsaken were afraid her.