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They really didn’t.

Aurelia’s large wings swept back as she extended her head forward, letting out a burst of silvery fire at the guards, taking out a huge chunk of them. The draken had to be tiring, and I had no idea how they recovered.

Probably should’ve asked that question.

Several dozen more guards rounded the castle, swarming the courtyard. “I’m calling the draken back,” I said, and Kieran didn’t question why as Aurelia turned her head toward me.

“Go,” I urged. There was no threat from archers, as no arrowslits could be seen in the front-facing towers of Redrock. And any who had been in the inner Rise…well, they were no longer a concern. “Find a safe place to rest.”

She made a rough, deep harrumphing sound but lifted. I saw Reaver and Nithe do the same, but they didn’t go far. Nithe and Aurelia retreated to the massive oaks and the jutting rocks and boulders along the sea-facing cliffs of the courtyard. But Reaver…

He flew up to one of the crimson spires, sinking his talons into the stone, sending a fine mist of dust exploding into the air as he curled his body around the tower. Stretching his neck, he peered down on the courtyard, letting out a deafening roar that caused many of the soldiers to scatter in different directions, and others to stop where they were, covering their heads with their shields.

“Find someplace to rest?” Emil looked over at me, his gold eyes wide. “And he chose that?”

“That wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind when I said that, but Reaver’s…going to be Reaver.”

Kieran snorted as my gaze lifted to the soldiers who had taken up their stations in front of the wide steps leading to the doors of Castle Redrock. There had to be a hundred at least, shields held side by side and spears at the ready. They didn’t move as the wolven prowled forward, over what remained of the wall.

Behind us, our armies crested the hill and flowed into the courtyard. I caught sight of Valyn, his armored chest splattered with blood. Hisa rode beside him, her chest rising and falling heavily. Relief swamped me at the sight of them.

Kieran guided his horse forward, sword at the ready. “Our fight is not with you. It’s with who is behind those doors. Surrender, and no harm will come to you. Just as no harm has come to those who left the city.”

I turned back to the shields and spears, keeping my crossbow leveled. “We swear that to you.”

The guards and soldiers made no move, but I saw a few lower their spears. Please, I thought. Please, just listen.

From the spire, Reaver let out a smoky breath and a rumbling growl that matched that of the wolven on the ground, who snapped and bared sharp, blood-streaked teeth as they paced before soldiers who had faces far too young to belong to those holding the line. They didn’t need to die today.

A lot of those who already had hadn’t needed to.

Opening my senses to them, I immediately tasted the saltiness of distrust, and the bitter bite of fear as they stared at me—looking upon someone they likely believed to be a false god.

“I was once the Maiden, the Chosen, but no gods chose me,” I told them, hooking the crossbow onto one of Setti’s straps. “The Ascended did because they knew what I was.”

I’d worn white to remind the people of who I was.

It was time I showed them what I’d become.

Allowing the essence of the Primal god to surface was like having the golden chains removed, and the veil lifted. The more I allowed it to happen, the more it felt…natural. I didn’t think this would weaken me because it felt like I was no longer hiding who I was. It was almost a relief.

The hum in my chest pulsed and pounded through my veins. The thrum of power moved to my skin, where a silvery-white aura appeared.

A wave of surprise fell like freezing rain, rippling over those before me. “I am not the Harbinger. I carry the blood of the King of Gods in me, and those who reside in these walls do not speak to any god—or for them. They are your enemy. Not us.”

No one moved.

And then…

Shields and spears clattered off the stone steps as they surrendered.

The wave of relief I felt was so potent, it was a little dizzying. Pulling the eather back in, I rubbed the side of Setti’s neck and then swung my leg over the saddle, dismounting. Emil and Kieran quickly followed as I walked forward, my thighs aching from how tense I’d been the entire time.

Under the watchful eyes of the wolven and Reaver, the men stared as I approached them. A few had lowered themselves to their knees, placing trembling hands across their chests and on the ground. Others stood as if in a daze.