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A gust of wind flips me over, and someone slaps me in the face. “No sleeping,” Recienne warns, but he’s not standing close by. His power carried his voice to my ear. Didn’t know he could do that. I’ll tell him how this could be used for pranks if I survive this.

“I said, up with you.” This time, Recienne is standing above me, his boot toeing my side as if to check if he’ll need to carry me out of here. He lifts his sword arm to block an attack from the side, an elegant parry that I remember fromour battles in the Seeing Forest. I’d hated it back then. I also remember that this is the type of movement that opens him for another attack.

“Watch out,” I cough.

Recienne spins, but it’s too late. It’s not a blade that hits him but a splash of liquid that isn’t the rain Ayna sent upon us that lands square in his face.

Recienne sputters as he stumbles back, knees wobbling, hands gripping his sword harder.

They got him with the serum, too. Had I believed a moment ago that we might stand a chance against the Flames, all illusions are gone now. Even with Tori’s rocks firing at the Flames and Herinor and Silas fighting alongside Tata and Clio, we’re all drained from either the battle or the drug. In my case, it’s both.

Recienne knows it too. The odds have tilted against us within a breath, and if we don’t get him to safety, Askarea won’t have a king much longer.

“Take Clio and get out of here,” he shouts at Tori, words slightly slurred as he fights the effects of the serum. They are too far away to take Recienne with them without risking getting showered with the serum as well. Tori—Gods bless him—realizes it too and doesn’t hesitate to take Clio’s hand and site-hop her away.

I don’t know how far they’ll make it, but out of sight and out of reach is enough.

Recienne swings his sword at a Flame coming for him, but his aim is off, and his power fails him. The blow slides off the Flame’s shoulder piece, and Recienne stumbles into the enemy.

My vision goes dark, and the only comfort is that I’ll die knowing Ayna still loves me. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

Ayna

I can’tthinkat the sight of blood spilling from Myron’s mouth. Whoever fired that arrow will die. I’ll pick out their eyes with my beak and feast on them.

The Fairy King is standing over him, defending him, but he misses that the Matrone he disarmed is scrambling to her feet again.

My caw of warning comes too late when I spot Jeseida pull a small vial from the pocket of her armor. She uncorks it and tosses the contents into Recienne’s face.

“Get them out, Tori,”I beg. He hears me, but his focus is on his king, who stumbles under the influence of the serum Jeseida dumped on him. The drug, I realize.His movements are sluggish, and it’s a matter of moments before a blade will pierce him.

Herinor and Royad are both on their feet, but their strength is gone, their blows weak like those of human soldiers.

Tori is barely standing upright, but he’s still wielding his sword and his magic. A general to the last moment. And Clio?—

“Take Clio and get out of here,” Recienne’s shout reverberates in my mind.

I blink as Tori follows the order without hesitation, grabbing Clio by the arm and disappearing into thin air.

The Flame they’d been fighting stares into blank space for a moment, which Silas uses to take his opponent’s head off with a swing of his hatchet.

Tata unceremoniously kicks the head out of her path as she steps around the Crow to face the next guard.

Only three more Flames are standing, plus the Matrone. Three of them and six of us—not counting Myron whose eyes have closed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

I can still feel him but barely.

My chest aches where the arrow is perching into Myron’s, my heart beats too fast, and my wings lose strength with every beat. If I don’t make it down there in time, there will be nothing I can do to help.

Herinor stumbles next, landing on hands and knees mid-fight, and vomits onto the ground. Royad blocks the blow meant for him, driving the Flame back, but his strength is faltering, and he stumbles, nearly losing his footing in the mud. And that’s when they start using their fire.

It winks out the moment it meets the soaked leathers, but the steam rising where it touches draws a scream from Royad’s bleeding lips.

Thank Vala, Silas reaches him in time to hack into the Flame’s shoulder. Royad embeds his sword in the opponent’s chest, and we’re down to two soldiers.

I trust Silas, Tata, and Royad to take them down. What I’m worried about is Jeseida turning to Recienne, who’s shaking under the full dose of magic-nullifying serum. In her hands, she’s holding a black dagger with wisps of fire dancing along the blade.

So close. I’m so close it will take only a few seconds to get to them.