Page 182

I created and notched another arrow, shooting a fae guard who was chasing after a young child.

The arrow struck again, and I gave myself a little fist pump,guiding Wasabi to another area.

“…Or you can fight. Not for him. Not for me. But for us. For our kind, for our brothers and sisters rotting behind these walls.”

Cam’s words were carried by the wind, and I flew closer to the gate to watch as he attempted to wrest control of the king’s alpha army.

“…we will tear down this kingdom that has wronged you—brick by brick, bone by bone.”

Growls erupted through the crowd, Cam’s position as their new leader now cemented in their shifter psyche.

EvenIwas ready to follow him into the depths of hell. I mean, I had been before this whole mess. But damn, he was just so sexy…

Okay, focus!

I found another couple of fae soldiers, dispatching of them pretty easily. From up here, Kian and I were making quick work. But I knew the real battle was still ahead of me, and by the looks of how things were progressing between the king and Ezra, it was almost time for me to step in.

Ezra went down, my chest constricting as Alaroth tortured him with his magic, trying to regain his control over my brother’s mind.

What if Cam’s alpha command didn’t work? Would Ezra be brainwashed into fighting Cam again? If so, would he be able to take back his “dominance?”

I needed to end this quickly.

I directed Wasabi to fly towards them when I felt a harsh jolt through her body, and she let loose a tormented roar. Warm liquid gushed down my foot and I looked down to where a silver arrow had pierced her side, missing my leg by inches.

“Wasabi!” I screamed, trying to hold on as my magnificent vryscral faltered in her wing beats, succumbing to the injury and letting gravity take over.

We fell, and I grasped at nothing, too stunned and scared to think or yell, knowing that from this high up, the impact would likely kill me.

Was this really how I would die? It was a blessing, I supposed. Whether it was Ezra losing his ranking as “alpha of alphas” or my untimely demise, Alaroth wouldn’t be able to bring his plans to fruition. I was just sad I hadn’t had more time with my pack.

My tears floated above me and I closed my eyes, waiting to hit the ground, when two arms wrapped around me and I jolted to a sudden stop, my fall suspended in mid air.

“I’ve got you, Marlowe,” Kian gasped, his chest heaving.

I grabbed onto his neck, shaking in fear and sobbing. “Wasabi’s been hit! We have to help her!”

He nodded, shielding us in iridescent light as we landed in the middle of the haven. Kian used his shadows to choke any lingering fae, and I rushed towards my vryscral lying still on the ground.

“Wasabi, no…” I cried. She opened her eyes a crack, mewling softly. Dark blue blood spilled on the ground, and I ripped off part of my skirt to press against the wound. “I don’t know what to do…” I whispered to myself, my voice shaking. “I don’t know what to do!” I yelled.

Two wolves bounded towards me, shifting as they arrived into Archer and Nolan.

“Marlowe!” Nolan gasped, holding my face in his hands. He looked me up and down. “Are you alright? I saw you fall, I thought… I thought…”

“Kian saved me. But Wasabi, she’s hurt…”

Archer placed his hands on mine where they lay on Wasabi’s flank. “Have you tried magic yet?”

I sniffed, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “Magic?”

Archer nodded. “We don’t know the full extent of our powers. Who’s to say you can’t heal?”

Kian kept us behind his shield, using whips of black shadow like he’d been training to do this for years.

I was in total awe of his abilities. He’d been able to learn new ways to manipulate his magic since the beginning, experimenting constantly. Why was I still shying away from it?

I released a shuddering breath, trying not to let Wasabi’s slowing heartbeat scare me. I closed my eyes, and focused. So far, I’d used my magic in anger. When I’d called it forth, it had been to hurt someone or protect myself.