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Sierra

I’d never imagined I’d be in labor on the battlefield, but that was pretty much in line with the rest of my life. Leda Pandora never did things the easy way.

A ring of soldiers from Heaven’s Army surrounded me, Nyx, Cadence, Leila, Basanti, Andromeda, and Alice. The soldiers were there to protect us from the monsters. This was the plain of monsters, after all, and though there weren’t any beasts nearby right now, that could change at any moment.

Actually, there was just one beast here. Angel, my lion-sized fluffy white cat, was pacing around inside the protected ring. She must have been just as nervous as I was.

The soldiers from Heaven’s Army were also here to protect us from the Guardians’ forces. We were currently right on top of the Sanctuary, or at least where it existed in another, slightly-offset magical plane of existence.

As expected, the Guardians had sent out soldiers to stop us.

“They must know what we’re planning and are worried,” I told the others, cringing through a contraction. “That means we’re doing exactly what we should be doing.”

“Those people, the ones the Guardians have sent into battle against us, they’re the supernaturals who were abducted and brought to the Sanctuary,” Cadence said. “Innocent people.”

“Those two are not innocent.” Leila pointed at the two angels leading the Guardians’ forces.

I recognized them from my visions as Giselle and Taron. Their eyes were alight with wicked fire. They were not innocent or ignorant like the rest.

“They’re the ones who abducted you,” I said to Cadence.

“They took your brother too,” she replied. “That’s the job the Guardians have given them: to fill their fortress with supernaturals of extraordinary power.”

“And now they’re leading those supernaturals to the slaughter on the battlefield. Why?” I wondered. “Don’t the Guardians need them to gain their magic?”

“Your reputation precedes you, Leda,” Andromeda said. “The Guardians know you won’t let them be killed.”

“She’s right,” Alice said. “You have a habit of trying to save people, no matter the cost.”

“The cost of saving those people is too high this time,” Nyx declared. “If our plan fails, many more innocents will die than just these supernaturals here.”

I watched our forces rush forward to meet the Guardians’ army. Something about this bothered me.

“Look at the fire in their eyes,” Basanti commented. “They are prepared to fight to the death, all of them.”

“They believe the Guardians were the ones who saved them from the horrors of the universe,” Leila said. “They don’t realize the Guardians plan to kill them and drain them dry of magic.”

“They’ve been kept here for years, raised like animals to be slaughtered. The whole time their magic was honed and perfected, flavored and seasoned to create the perfect meal for the Guardians.” The whole thing made me feel sick to my stomach. “We can’t kill them. They are victims too.”

“That’s a hard line for our soldiers to hold when these ‘innocents’ are doing their best to kill them,” Basanti pointed out.

“Indeed, these victims are making it difficult for us to save them,” Leila agreed.

“But we must save them.” I looked at Nyx. “Tell our soldiers not to kill them.”

Nyx sighed. “You’re an idealist, Pandora.” She pointed up at the sky. “And I don’t think they will listen.”

Winged soldiers filled the sky—angels, gods, and demons alike. I spotted Ronan. He would be leading the Legion’s forces. Faris had brought in more of his soldiers from Heaven’s Army. And Grace had come with demon soldiers sworn to her service.

Faris and Grace swooped down and landed beside me.

“Not a single one of them shall be spared,” Faris told me. “Every one of those supernaturals is just fuel for the Guardians’ fire.”

“They could be knocked out, not killed,” I said.

He didn’t look amused by my suggestion. “That is inefficient. And it will decrease our odds of winning this battle.”