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The aerial viewof the ruins of Yveswich was eye-opening.

From way up here, in the rainy gloom, there was no mistaking the hard truth.

The city was completely destroyed. Few districts had been fortunate enough to evade the explosion, and those that had would succumb to the Void’s dark grasp sooner rather than later. Death was coming for them—for every last district, every last street, every last home. No one and nothing would be left unscathed.

Loren had done everything she could, but in the end she had only managed to save a little over a quarter of the state’s capital. Everything else, all the people and homes in the path of the blast… Destroyed. Incinerated.

Gone.

Max’s throat pinched shut with emotion as he scanned the wreckage down below. Darkness cut through the once magnificent city in billowing black walls and plumes, forming a shape that reminded him of spider-webbed glass. Where it’d hit was entirely sporadic—there was no pattern, at least not one he could identify. By the looks of things, the Void had quarreledwith Loren’s power, sneaking in like a thief through every crack and fissure where her protection was weakest.

There were many.

Pillars of smoke, otherworldly smog, and sheets of half-frozen rain plagued the streets that remained visible. It was getting colder and darker by the minute, the air slowly thinning in a peculiar way. Max knew it had nothing to do with how high up they were and everything to do with the Void breathing death into a planet of life.

They had no choice but to take the long route through the city, staying out of the path of military planes and helicopters actively engaged in combat. The darkness that would render the pilots blind was another obstacle they were smart to avoid. They were cutting west, heading out toward the open ocean. From there, they would probably be let out on one of the highways, where they would then need to find a lift to Angelthene.

How they would go about doing that was a problem they could wait to tackle. Right now, all Max wanted was to get out of Yveswich. Get on land. Reunite with the others.

“You okay?” he asked Dallas. The witch was squeezing his hand so hard, it felt numb. “You’re not scared of heights, are you?”

He knew that his question succeeded at distracting her when her copper brows flew up. “You’re asking someone who has wings?” Her shout filled his headset; evidently she had never ridden in a helicopter before.

He grinned.

She smiled back—a shaky thing, but still a smile.

They were above the harbor now. The docks and boats looked so tiny from way up here.

Max checked his watch. Sixteen minutes remained.

He used his Sight to scan the interlocked columns of glowing green runes that curved skyward, forming the forcefield. Theysliced like a blade through the water in the distance, diving all the way down to the ocean floor. Aquatic demons had snuck through the forcefield’s protection over the years, some likely tunneling their way in through the sand, and from there had rapidly multiplied and invaded the coastal waters. The same exact thing had happened in Angelthene. There were some breeds down there that were probably so old, they predated the technology that had given them forcefields.

Max had never really been fond of the ocean. Too many unknowns with teeth.

They were passing Athene’s island now. The rocky stretch of land owned by the Riptide. He spotted the House of Blue peeking between towering evergreens. Shay’s home.

Boats dotted the expanse of gray. Civilians making one last ditch attempt at a watery escape. More helicopters flew about, likely taking other evacuees to safety. Serpents swam through the strong sea, their spiked backs breaking the surface of the white-capped waves.

The helicopter shuddered as a mighty pulse of energy rippled across the ocean. Max’s heart jolted, his hairs standing on end.

Suddenly, their surroundings blackened. He couldn’t see a thing.

He held his breath, his hand tightening around Dal’s.

“Max?” she said quietly, grasping him with both hands now.

“It’s okay,” he said, lightly squeezing her tense fingers. “It’s okay, we’ll be fine.”

But the helicopter shook again—harder this time. So hard that several people shouted out in alarm. Soldiers readied their weapons as the blackness gradually cleared. They were flying slower now, as if something was hindering their speed.

He shared a loaded glance with Dominic.

Checked his watch.

Nine minutes.

Another shake, a jarringboom, and suddenly they were falling.