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“Nay!” she screamed, scrambling from beneath his weight and pulling him onto his side. A stray arrow whizzed through the funnel of magic Shaye and Moira wielded. Rihanna threw up a shield, deflecting any threat that could touch them. Her gut churned, the familiar fear of loss slamming against her newfound happiness. Tears burned her eyes as she gingerly touched the dagger, drawing blood-coated fingertips away from the wound. “Bryce.”

A low groan rumbled from his chest. He blindly reachedaround to his back, fingers grasping the air until they finally touched the hilt. She immediately stilled his hand when she realized what he was about to do.

“Nay, you can’t. Leave it.” Holding tight to his hand, she twisted, searching through the agonizing battle, the wild arrows, the clashing of blades, the waves of Fae, Tuatha dé and Talaenian, shedding blood. The wildlife of the forests weaponized for their talons, beaks, claws, paws, and bodies. Arcs of magic cut through dust, debris, and the intensifying funnel that continued to burst from Shaye, throwing anyone and everyone in its path hundreds of yards back. Gilded body after body slammed impossibly hard into the sheered mountainside.

Then, she spotted the one she sought.

“Liam! Help!” Her voice cracked in her terror of losing heranam cara. Bryce stiffened against her legs, fingers grappling for the hilt again. “Nay, beloved. Goddess, how did you get here?”

“Get the fucking thing out. Please, little bird. I’ll…be”—she could see his pulse tapping along his neck, and his face turning a deep pink—“fine.Shit.”

“Liam!”

As she twisted, her shield trembled, her magic shifting.

An arrow broke through the barrier, piercing her shoulder. Pain exploded through her body, wreaking mayhem in her head. Her vision pulsed in time with her heartbeat, and that warm golden glow she shared with Bryce wavered.

Somehow, she threw up a hand, reinforcing the shield before another wayward arrow found its target.

“Rihanna!”

In her moment of confusion, Bryce grabbed the hilt and yanked the dagger from his back with a roar. Blood oozed from the puncture, dripping over the rocks.

Her heart splintered. No mortal could survive such a wound. No mortal…

Two hands grabbed her shoulders. In a blink, the arrow’s shaft cracked, splitting in two, and another stab of agony ripped through her as the remaining shaft was yanked out of her shoulder. Those hands abandoned their hold on her and clamped down on either side of her wound. Healing power wove through the opening, working quickly to stanch the bleeding. She caught the unreadable glow of a High Fae’s gaze.

Liam lowered to a knee beside Bryce and splayed his palm over the bleeding wound on his back. “Remain still, Bryce. Don’t—”

“Rihanna.” Her name came sharp, pained, coarse.

It wrenched her heart in two.

Liam caught her eyes, jutting his chin toward the persistent flow of magic pouring from her good hand to maintain the shield.

“She fairs well. The shaft was removed before the iron core could cause damage. However, you’re not in such a position.” Liam twisted his hand, stirring soft blue-gold light through his fingers, and added the additional magic to his working palm. “Fortunately, you’ve taken Fae potion, so a blade’s injury shan’t cause you devastating damage.”

Rihanna gasped. “What?”

The corner of Liam’s lips twitched. “I sense Fae power within youranam cara. These blades weren’t laced with poison. I suspect Daeanna didn’t anticipate the return of old magic.”

Liam lifted his gaze to Shaye.

The funneling magic that barreled through the opposing army, scorched the rocks, melted gold and froze magic in mid-air fizzled.

Shaye pitched forward onto hands and knees, chest heaving with each breath. Moira collapsed beside him, but one of the High Fae caught her before she hit the ground.

On the cliff where a line of Daeanna’s soldiers had stood at the start of this battle, now stood a line of Talaenian Fae, some injured but heads held high, others poised to attack again.

With them, Thierry and Horano mounted on their Fae steeds.

A golden hawk soared over the devastated Fae army before it landed on Thierry’s shoulder.

The bodies of gold-plated Tuatha dé littered the grounds. Arrows protruded like quills everywhere. Yet as Rihanna took in the destruction, the one person she sought in the wreckage could not be found.

“Where’s Daeanna?” she asked, new tension straightening her spine. The pain in her shoulder began to fade, as did her magic. The shield shuddered, then folded down on itself, vanishing. She immediately reached forward and grabbed Bryce’s hand. Goddess, warmth. His skin remained warm, his heart continued to beat. She could feel the healing magic working on his wound as he lay on his side, eyes clenched shut, teeth grinding in silent pain. “Bryce?”

“Fine, lil’ bird. Fine,” he said. “You?”