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Rion kissed her fiercely again, then pressed his forehead to hers. “I’ve never lied to you. I’m not going to start now.”

Then he was gone, the cold breeze replacing the warmth of his body. She watched his back as he raced across the field, sprinting as fast as his legs could carry him. Then Rion disappeared off the city’s edge.

Chapter Eighty-eight

Saoirse

“What the hell is going on up there?” Zylah yelled as she draped a male’s almost limp arm across her shoulders and began dragging him toward the two-story home she’d declared their infirmary.

The building had once been some sort of city hall. The residents hadn’t been happy about Zylah’s demands and they’d argued against it until Fae began falling from the sky. Literally.

No one questioned her again. Saoirse’s warriors had jumped into action, assisting those who seemed as though they couldn’t slow their descent fast enough. Many outright screamed for help and Saoirse wondered if the battle above was truly so frightening that Fae would leap from the city’s edge without a guarantee of safety.

Zylah had called them idiots.

Saoirse sank her blade into another body and pivoted on her toes to thrust her magic through one who dared charge the half-breed at her side.

Saoirse was a whirlwind of movement as she kept their enemy at bay. Niall’s warriors. She’d already broken through two glamours. Arianna had been right in assuming Niall would send a force down to deal with the village. It seemed as though he was willing to slaughter them all. A taunt to Arianna, she was sure.

Though most seemed to be fleeing the city, there were others chasing them down, screaming the word traitor as they tumbled through the sky. Saoirse didn’t know whether the orders came from Niall or if they were simply acting on their own. She didn’t care, either. If they came for Zylah, they were as good as dead.

Saoirse listened to the whispers of those who passed by, seeking shelter and assistance. They claimed the city would fall, but Saoirse didn’t see any signs of it. The silhouette of the massive island was still hidden among the gray clouds. If they were right though, Saoirse wouldn’t have long to grab Zylah and flee. Then the female would hate her even more than she already did.

“We need to move,” Saoirse called over the fray.

Zylah rolled her eyes. “Do you see him?” She jerked her chin to the male in her gasp. “Does he look like he’s moving any faster to you?”

“I mean we need to evacuate. The city is coming down.”

Zylah tilted her head skyward. “What do you mean it’s coming down?” Well, she certainly didn’t appear to have Fae hearing. Or maybe she was simply too focused on her current task.

Saoirse slammed her blade into the gut of another male before kicking him away. “I mean, if you value your charges, you’ll listen to me for once instead of arguing and start moving them away from the village.” Saoirse’s hair was standing on end now, every instinct telling her to run, run, run.

Zylah was frantic, her gaze searching the crowd. “If we can get one of those platforms over here, we could get them all out.”

Saoirse yanked a dagger from her belt and launched it straight toward Zylah. It whizzed just past her left cheek and buried itself in another female’s throat. The half-breed pulled at her magic and spun, yanking the male in her grasp. Her eyes widened at the sight of the female who’d been about to impale her, then she whipped back toward Saoirse with a scowl on her face.

“Are you out of your mind?”

Saoirse smirked. “Afraid I’d miss?”

“I felt the wind from that,” Zylah screeched.

But Saoirse couldn’t keep the laughter from her voice. “I have over a century of practice. I assure you, you were in no danger.”

Something in the half-breed’s gaze had Saoirse straightening. Zylah looked her over, as if appreciating her for the first time since their meeting in the tavern. It called to a primal instinct in Saoirse’s blood, but she didn’t have time to dawdle. Instead, Saoirse plunged her blade into another warrior hell-bent on running her through.

Maybe all wasn’t lost. Maybe, just maybe if they survived this, Saoirse would get the chance to court Zylah properly. She pivoted again, dancing around her opponents with feather-light steps.

Zylah was definitely watching and she’d make sure to give the female a show she wouldn’t forget.

Chapter Eighty-nine

Arianna

Raevina grabbed Arianna by her shoulders and shook her, drawing her away from the place where Rion had just plummeted off the edge of the city.

Arianna turned to find Talon and her father’s elite waiting for her command. She took a breath, trying to steady herself. Despite her aching heart, Arianna didn’t have time to linger. She’d get these people to safety, then return to assist Rion in any way she could. Saoirse was already down there and if Rion could buy them time, it might save countless lives.