Page 27

Gargoyles slammed into Hadeon’s shield again and again. The sounds ricocheted in every direction, feeling like they were drumming inside her skull.

Slowly, Cora nodded. Her hand slipped into Brynne’s, their fingers interlocking. “We’ll tell the enchantresses what we’ve learned and make certain everyone is prepared—for anything.”

They knew as well as Arabella did that the ward wouldn’t be strong enough to hold an army at bay.

Tears welled in Cora’s eyes as she offered Arabella a sad smile. “Come home once you’ve saved your mate, okay?”

Home.

It felt like it had been an eternity since she’d been in Shadowbank.

Jessamine thumped Arabella on the back. “She won’t be alone.”

Arabella blinked, shaking her head. Jessamine couldn’t mean she intended to stay with her. Not when it meant getting tied up with the fae…

“Are you sure you don’t want to go with them—” she began.

“Knock that shit out,” Jessamine interrupted. “I’m exactly where I want to be.”

Arabella swallowed back a torrent of feelings along with the tears threatening to spill over. Then she turned to Vorkle and Hadeon.

“Take Cora and Brynne to Shadowbank first,” she managed, her voice trembling faintly. Then she added in a quieter tone, “Please.”

Vorkle looked up to Hadeon, who nodded. The goblin released Breckett before disappearing and reappearing between Cora and Brynne. He grabbed their hands and was gone in an instant.

There hadn’t even been time for a goodbye.

Be safe,she thought.

A moment later, Vorkle reappeared at Kazimir’s side. Again, he offered his hands, which only Breckett took. With a sigh, Jessamine took Breckett’s hand in hers, which was crusted in dried ogre blood.

“I’m coming with you,” Kazimir said to Hadeon, ignoring Vorkle’s outstretched hand.

“No,” Hadeon said. “Stay with them.”

“I can’t leave my prince—” Kazimir began.

“That was an order, General,” Hadeon snapped, interrupting whatever he’d been about to say.

They stared at each other for a long moment, as though speaking without words, before Kazimir’s lips drew into a thin line and he nodded. Without another word, he took Vorkle’s other hand.

Hadeon looked at Arabella expectantly, still holding the shield above them as a dark look crossed his features.

Before she took Jessamine’s hand, Arabella glanced toward the grounds below—to the place she’d begun to think of as one of her homes.

Dozens of ogres and gargoyles moved across the grounds, trampling the gardens and breaking down doors into the outer buildings. Nearby, the door to their turret shook as the creatures behind it tried to break through from the other side. Above them, the skies were filled with dark wings.

The castle was overrun.

Just as Elias had predicted.

Without a new ward, Magnus’ army had found them. But despite this, Elias had risked not fully fixing the ward and gave the amplifier—and the power that remained within it—to Shadowbank.

Now, Elias was Magnus’ prisoner, and Shadowbank was at risk of being overrun. Just like this place.

A strange sadness swelled in her chest as she thought of the life she and Elias might have had if things had been different. If Shadowbank had been safe from the threat of the demons and all that lay in the forest beyond. If the goblins had been safe from those who sought to use their magic for their own gain.

If there had been only the enchantress and the demon.