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Shaye tipped his chin and mirrored Thaddeus’s grin. “You’ve fallen far from your youth, Thade.”

“I beg to differ. I’ve risen far from my youth,” Thaddeus countered calmly, cocking his head to the side. “As we shall witness on this day.”

Without warning, the whizzing snap of arrows filled the air. Golden shafts arced from the mountaintop, split straight from the ground, their lethal intent joined by bursts of magic.

His world hummed, sizzling with the intensity of energy.

Shaye unleashed several defensive bolts of magic, rocking the ground beneath him. Streaks of color flew wildly, curling, coiling, meeting the arrows and bursts of enemy fire. He grabbed Rihanna’s arm and spun them out of the path of twin arrows that lodged into the rock a few inches from her feet.

Heat struck his side.

He twisted, casting a shield around him and Rihanna as a blinding white orb flew toward him. Daeanna threw one orb after another, each exploding against his magic, his defenses, breaking them down little by little. The force of the blows pushed him back, and he kept Rihanna behind him with one hand while maintaining his shield with the other.

“Shaye, you’re bleeding,” she said quietly.

“I’m aware.” Goddess, was he ever. The wound continued to needle through his muscles, burrowing deeper and deeper, trying to weaken his resolve as warm liquid oozed down his side. “Watch for an attack from behind.”

“You are far outnumbered, Shaye!” Daeanna yelled over the battle noise. She laughed, a sound that chilled his blood and cast frost over the rock around her feet. “’Tis the day I claim revenge on all who’ve betrayed me. Betrayed thepureblooded race! I shall become queen of the Seelie Court, and you shall bow at my feet! I’ve men scouring that pitiful village as we speak. Not a single Talaenian shall be left with a breath in their lungs when they are through.”

She raised her hands to the sky.

Shaye dropped the shield and pulled as much magic into his body as he could. Gathered power from the never-ending reservoir that burst within his soul. The tumultuous mixture of elemental powers melted and wove together until his skin flickered with barely contained energy.

Lightning shot from the clouds.

Landed in her open and accepting palms.

Skittered down her arms in a web of brilliant white.

“Brother?” Rihanna whispered.

His world slowed. Power pulsed against his mind as he scanned his land. The war raining down on them in a hostile storm of golden arrows, magic, and spells. The High Fae he’d promised safety within his home countering the persistent attack. His people, ill-prepared for such bloodshed in the village. His cousins, whom he sent into that village in hopes of keeping them safe.

Magic flaring, flying, arcing, exploding.

Everywhere.

Slow. So utterly slow.

Beannaithe badia.

The softly sung words seeped into his soul, a whispered blessing, a subtle encouragement from something unseen but far from imaginary.

“Spirits,” he whispered.

His fingers, palms, arms, tingled fiercely in response.

Then his momentary peace was gone.

Daeanna thrust her arms forward. Wicked bolts shot toward him.

Rihanna flung powerful blasts in response, her energy colliding with the ropes of Daeanna’s electricity that would kill all in their path.

Magic, power, energy burned inside him, setting his vision on fire until all he could see were the orange outlines of enemies seeking his peoples’ destruction.

Lightning coursed through the clouds, spiraling overhead.

Rihanna moved light as air on her feet, countering each attack with an agility and strength he hadn’t seen her wield in a hundred years. Her magic returned. Her power alive.