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"Watch out!" I screamed, unable to leave Jaiel's side as a harpoon wailed into a mech to Tye's left. "Nooooo!"

Two more harpoons screamed through the air, and Tye dodged one. The other grazed his shoulder.

"Run, Tye!"

But the stubborn wolf just narrowed his eyes on Frexin … and charged straight at her.

Frexin's eyes went wide as the monstrous wolf leaped at her. But she was quick, and as he fell, the blastedwoman dropped to a knee and slapped an ungloved hand to the ground.

In front of her, a stone spike exploded from the ground, angled at Tye. Pain flooded through the bond as it impaled his shoulder, bringing him to a bloody halt.

Tye howled in pain, rage echoing in the bond as he struggled to get free.

"Tye! No!"

I reached for him through the bond as he pulled himself off the sharp spike with a savage yank, leaping back to stand between me and Frexin, blood dripping from the wound in his chest.

"You should have run when you had the chance," Frexin said. Then she closed her eyes and pressed her other hand to the ground.

Panic filled my chest as mechs and soldiers around us began to scream — her dark magic spreading from her hand like a tidal wave — turning all ground, men, and mechs around her into stone.

The dark magic made a ring around us, and I spun, frantically looking for a path.

There was none …

Tye padded around us, finding the same.

"We're trapped," I whispered, looking back at him and Jaiel. Perhaps if I could get Jaiel on Tye's back?

The enormous wolf gently nudged the unconscious Fae prince, as though he were thinking the same thing.

Pulling on his strength, I quickly lifted Jaiel to Tye's back.

Frexin began to laugh, the sound chaotic and wild. "I could take you right now, girl! You must see that. Even with this new Tye and that bond magic of yours, you have to know there's no way out of this. There's no way you're leaving here with my weapon!"

Whywasshe holding back? She could have stoned us at any time … but she just trapped and taunted us.

I looked back at Jaiel.

Why hadn't she stoned him earlier when he'd tried to attack? What wasn't I seeing …

A loud rumbling overhead drew our attention skyward, and Frexin smiled.

"Oh, what perfect timing."

An airship rolled out from over the forest, slowing just above us.

My heart sank as I took in the metal behemoth — ballista positioned at every port.

Gods.It was hard not to feel like we'd been doomed from the fucking start.

A rope dropped down beside Frexin, and a helmeted soldier slid down to stand behind her.

"My lady."

She ignored him, eyes locked with mine.

"I hope you're happy with your decisions, dear. Because Isolook forward to making your mates watch as I turn you to stone then grind you into dust!" She gestured towards us. "I take it back. Have your soldiers capture the men. I will take care of the girl."