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I touched his arm. “Dunstan, we’re going to try to draw the soldiers into the town square. Once we do, I want you to get as many of the townspeople as you can close to the gates. We’ll keep the Luminari’s attention on us.”

“What?”Sion stared at me as if I’d lost my mind. “I’m not sacrificing myself for a bunch of whelk-picking, fishmonger yokels.”

I turned to Sion. “I’m the Underworld Queen, remember? I’m supposed to be in charge. Can you use some shadow magic?”

“What do you have planned?” Sion asked dejectedly.

“I just need a little shadow magic. Not too much. Just make a dramatic show of it. Make it look like nighttime. Trust me.”

From behind, I heard the soldiers shouting as they marched closer, coming through the gate. Then, the sound of the gate groaning, creaking as it shut, trapping us in the city.

I grabbed the bell from Dunstan and started marching back toward the town square.

Without another word, Sion’s shadows began darkening the air, clouding the sky like an unnatural storm rolling in.

A shiver whispered over my skin as his darkness whirled around us. “The Great Witch of Briarwood is here,” I bellowed. “The Underworld Queen who kills with her touch. And the treasonous vampiric former Magister Solaris!”

As they marched closer, I heard a soldier shout the orders to speed up.

I moved faster, luring them into the town square. As they spilled into the square behind us, I headed for the well in its center.

The town square, filled with an unnatural darkness, now looked like a moonless night. Screams echoed as night swallowed the day. I climbed up the side of the well and stood on the edge. Sion stood by my side at the base of the well, facing the oncoming Luminari soldiers. The new Magister Solaris stood at the front, his sun pendant hanging over his dark robes. He drew his sword.

Sion growled at them, and the sound rumbled through my bones.

I raised my hands. “Here I am, the powerful witch you’ve been hunting for. The one who tried to kill the Pater not once, but twice.”

The Magister raised his hand, and the soldiers drew their swords.

When my gaze landed on four archers among them, my heart began to race. A bit harder to evade arrows from a distance.

The Magister stepped closer. “You see, men? The Archon has delivered to usjustwhat the Pater has ordered. The Archon rewards those with faith.”

The archers nocked their arrows.

My breath caught in my throat. “All right, Sion. Let’s go.”

“Where the fuck are we going?” he hissed.

“In the well.”

The Magister raised his sword. “Draw!”

The archers pulled their bows taut, aiming their arrows at us.

Sion turned to look at me, his eyes black as night. “Thewell?” It was more of a snarl than a question.

“The stream comes out on the other side of the wall.”

Sion had gone completely still, and darkness slid through the air around him. With the utter blackness in his eyes, he looked otherworldly, beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

“I don’t like the water.”

My jaw dropped. “You’re scared of swimming?”

“I didn’t sayscared,” he gritted out.

The Magister still held his sword aloft. “Aim!”