Page 42 of Artemis’ Bow (Halfling Academy #5)

“They combined their storm magic to help us,” I say. “I think it can clear the fog and will take the wraiths out of the equation.”

“At least that’s something, but what about the lizard things and the phoenix fire?” Jayden asks.

“I blasted magic out of me when I was slashed across the back. Maybe I can recreate that and at least buy us some space to get Cerberus out of the cylinder.” I shrug.

It’s the only plan we have. I didn’t say it was foolproof. There could still be more enemies waiting to swarm us. I don’t know what’s happening outside the phoenix fire.

“It’s the only plan we’ve got,” Thad says, holding his hand out to me.

Jayden snarls and I shoot him a glare. There’s no reason for his territorial bullshit in the middle of battle. I stab a wraith in the gut and snarl right back at him.

“Stop being a dick. We are friends and about to make things exceedingly easier for all of us,” I say with narrowed eyes.

“Can we focus on removing the hags with deadly claws, please?” Thad shouts.

I look to that huge well of power in my gut and focus on the sky above.

Wind rushes around us in a swirling tornado.

Jayden and the others jump back, still fighting several enemies each.

I blow out a breath and the wind listens to us as it expands outward, clearing the fog.

The wraiths roar and disintegrate along with the fog.

The phoenix squawks angrily as the wind reaches up with icy fingers into the sky and pushes it away as well.

One of the walls of phoenix fire winks out of existence and more monsters rush into battle.

A seven-foot-tall creature I have met several times before wields a battle ax, spinning it in a circle as it advances on us.

“Motherfucker,” I shout. “Why won’t you stay dead?”

“Beth, this is bad,” Jayden warns.

His gaze is fixed on the damn Chimera. Has the queen really run out of new monsters and just keeps reviving the ones we’ve already defeated? That’s not fair.

“We can’t face the horde of lizard demons and those three monsters of myth,” Raven whispers.

“Three?” I ask.

Raven points to the other creature. We are totally fucked. Who thought it would be a grand idea to bring back the Nemean lion a third time? My evil hag of a stepmother would have such terrible ideas. Of course she would.

“We barely defeated them alone the last time we faced them,” Raven says. “Now we have them and a horde of lizard demons to deal with.”

“We need Cerberus,” I shout to Jayden. “Bring him out. There’s a gap in the flames now. He will be okay.”

Jayden pulls the cylinder from his pocket and presses the rune.

Cerberus immediately leaps from the device, snarling with all three heads as he goes for the Chimera first. That’s the creature I would go after first if I were him too.

He’s fireproof. Well, normal fire. I’m not sure if he can withstand phoenix fire.

“Raven, let’s go after the big ugly.” I point to the Minotaur.

“No, you and Jayden go for him. I’m the only one who can choke the Nemean lion bastard out.” She shrugs.

“Change of plans. Jayden, you’re with me. Thad, Greyson, and Adrian, take as many of the lizard assholes as you can.” I nod to Jayden and race for my fucking nemesis.

The Minotaur is why I don’t mix my electricity with water, ever. Now we have to kill him for a third time. This is just repetitive at this point. The queen really needs to learn some new tricks.

“You came back to die a third time?” I taunt the bullheaded man.

“Baby, taunting a raging bull isn’t the best idea.” Jayden swings his blade at a lizard demon, decapitating it with one swing.

“We go way back, Jayden. He’s been trying to kill me for months. He must not be very smart to keep coming back for pain and death.” I shrug.

Another lizard demon lunges for me with a short knife but I bat it away and then stab my sword straight through its eye.

The demon explodes into dust but two more rush me.

I spin in a circle, checking to be sure none of my friends are close, and cut the heads off every creature that comes within a five-foot radius of me, but it’s still not enough.

At this point I’m not sure if there are just too many of them or if the ones we’ve killed just keep coming back from the dead and swarming. If it’s the latter, we’re fucked because we can’t fight an endless battle. My energy is already flagging. I don’t know how much longer we can fight this crazy.

“Something’s wrong,” I shout to Jayden. “Should there be this many monsters in one place?”

“No. I’m not sure what’s happening, but this is chaos in its truest form.” Jayden thrusts his sword up into one enemy and in the next second spins, slashing the throat of another.

“The demons are trying to keep us from taking out the ancient monsters. Are these three the only other reinforcements?” I ask.

It would be a relief to have a break and be able to slay all the monsters, but I don’t believe that’s happening anytime soon.

“There are too many of them. We need to start thinking of an exit strategy,” Jayden says.

“The big bad beasties are standing in front of the only place that isn’t flooded with phoenix fire.” I cut the heads off two demons. “How do we kill them again without having to go through the massive army of lizard demons?”

“Transport yourself to the car and I’ll shadow walk the others one at a time,” Jayden says, but by his expression, he already knows I won’t agree to leaving them all behind.

“No, I won’t leave before anyone else. You can shadow walk them out but I’m not leaving until you’re all out.” I shake my head.

We can’t run from this. The army of the damned will just follow us and keep trying if we retreat. We lose if we try, and we fail Artemis and the world in the process. It can’t end like this.

“We don’t have a choice. You have to get out, Beth. We can regroup and figure out a way to end this once and for all,” Jayden begs.

“We can’t, Jayden. No matter what we do, this is the end. Or will bring the end. If we lose this battle, we lose the war, and everyone and everything will be destroyed.”