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This all happens in seconds. And then they’re on us. Just as the first one is about to reach me, Zayne swoops down from above and plucks him from the ground. A shrill scream fills the air as Zayne tosses the man sideways and then rises up to swoop again. Already, another is in front of me. Khaosti kicks out, dodges a sword, and punches the man in the face. He goes down, and Khaosti stamps on his arm, grabs the man’s sword, and kills him with a downward stab. But I can’t see anymore because I’m fighting for my life. For all our lives. There are so many; I’m standing back-to-back with Khaosti. I spare a brief moment to glance sideways and see Winter with her arms wrapped around Josh in the lee of one of the big rocks. So far, they’re both unharmed.

I swing, stab, and parry, searching my mind for some spell that will help, but my spells are limited. And anything I say now will affect the rest of us as much, and I can’t risk that. But Zayne is doing a fabulous job. I glance at Khaosti. I can see the frustration in his face. I’m sure he wants to shift, but the five words he did say earlier were, “I still can’t fucking shift.” So I’m guessing that’s out of the question.

My world narrows to slice, parry, and slice.

I hear a gasp behind me and glance back. Khaosti has been caught in the arm with a sword blade. I’m not sure how bad it is, but there’s blood streaming from the wound. I can’t check now. I’ve got to keep going. Finally, Zayne swoops down and plucks the last man I’m fighting from in front of me. He spins him wildly into the air and then drops him from a height. He crashes right beside me, neck obviously broken, eyes staring.

Breathing out, I lower Nightfall until the tip touches the ground, and I rest my weight on her.

That was so close.

Beside me Khaosti is standing, unmoving, his arm by his side, dripping blood onto the sand.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

He glances at me. “I’m fine.”

Winter is already moving; she tears a strip off the bottom of her skirt and wraps it around Khaosti’s arm. He doesn’t complain; he just lets her get on with it. Then he flexes his arm. It must hurt, but I can see nothing reflected in his face.

Josh is still standing where Winter left him, his eyes wide open, so I hurry over and crouch down beside him.

“Are you okay?” I ask.

He’s looking at all the bodies surrounding us, and I’m guessing he’s not really okay. But he swallows and then gives a quick nod. “Thanks, Amber. You saved us.”

He looks up at the sky. Above us, the basilisk is searching the area for any more threats. I can tell by the way he’s flying in wide circles. He must think it’s safe because he comes in to land, and a moment later, Zayne is back.

“All clear,” he says. He looks around at all the dead bodies and then back at me with Nightfall still in my hand. “Hey, you’re really pretty good with that thing.” He grins. “I’m impressed.”

“What? You thought it was an ornament? An accessory?”

“Yeah, something like that. Is everyone all right?”

“Khaosti got cut in the arm. Otherwise, we’re all good. But I want to get out of here.” I have a bad feeling about this. It will be a relief once we’re inside the walls of Zandar Aurion. “Let’s go.”

Zayne nods and picks up Josh, placing him back in the saddle. “Are you okay? No broken bones?”

“I’m good. I’m hungry.”

Zayne laughs. “Soon, I’m sure there’ll be lots of food where we’re going.”

I really hope he’s right. I cast a quick glance at Khaosti. He’s holding his arm against his chest, but he seems good to go. I’m guessing it’s hard for him to show any sign of weakness. He falls in beside me as we leave the dead behind.

We’re just coming out on the other side of the hills when I feel it—a pressure in my brain.

Really?

“Shit,” I mutter.

“What is it?” Khaosti asks.

“Shadowguard. I can feel them.”

“You can feel the shadowguard?”

“Didn’t I mention that before?” I ask. I’m sure I must have. “Oh yeah. They’re like a big fat headache. And it’s getting worse. Fast.”

I look around, scanning the horizon. It’s still a long way off, but I can see it—the city. Ruined, standing on the mountaintop, shimmering on the haze of the now setting sun. We have to get there before dark, and I don’t know if we’re going to make it. The shadowguard are gaining on us fast.