Page 170 of Blackheart

Blood painted the Waywards.

I rotated slowly, taking in the carnage and chaos.

The Dark Natured were not prepared to wield swords, and it was horrifically telling.

At the gate, Riven was forced to abandon his post to help with defence and pushed his way through the crowd.

Just a few streets over, Drakers sliced through the Dark Natured like feeble mice. The people crammed around the exit, trampling each other as they realized the fate coming for them. Riven yelled over their cries, warning them to stay calm, but his words were washed away by the frenzy.

Ansel, Jaime, and Lord Syler would have to be our saving grace. They were the only Witchlords on our side, but that didn’t count for nothing. They were waiting for the other Witchlords to exit their homes.

Thunder shook me off balance, forcing me to crouch as a dark shade of blue illuminated the sky. Lightning webbed the sky, before striking near Keeper’s Street. The battle of the Witchlords had begun.

Ansel wasn’t the only Dreamsoul here. I’d known that and cursed myself for forgetting.

I scanned the Waywards, wincing at the losses. “It’s time to move.”

Amzee nodded. “Thank goodness.”

We were supposed to wait until Beck and Riven returned, but how could we sit and watch? King’s Mark and Lyons blood or not, Xavian could make his own heir. How could I ever consider creating more lives if I didn’t try to save these?

Scaling down the building, we dropped the last few feet into the madness.

“Please, Fate, help us!”

“Just know I love you.”

“I’m scared.”

I gripped Singer, lip curling at the fear around me.

They didn’t deserve this.

All of this death at the hand of Queen Delaina and the Sapphires. Disgust and rage flowed through me like the blood in my veins.

“Follow us!” I shouted, lifting Singer and cutting through the crowd. Amzee raised her hand, fire leading the way. Side by side, we strode through the streets, not allowing anyone to rush through. Amzee knew the people. They trusted her, and thus they trusted me.

The first group of Drakers charged us, masks on and swords drawn.

Pointing Singer, I released my Nature through the stone club, my poison eating up the distance.

Amzee followed suit, holding her palms forward and shooting flames. The Drakers screamed as they succumbed to fire and darkness. Some rolled around on the ground as they burned, while others slit their own throats.

I turned back. “Take their weapons! We must protect each other!”

“You heard your Princess!” Amzee shouted.

Inspired tears filled eyes across the crowd as lightning collided against its own in the sky, booming thunder.

With this group close enough to the gate, we were needed elsewhere. Hopefully, they would wield the weapons well.

“Let's return to a higher vantage point,” Amzee called to me over the mayhem.

I followed her to a nearby building, scaling the side quickly. As we made it to the top, my heart which had been so full of hope, shattered.

Drakers from outside of the Waywards were on horseback, riding for the port. They were going to kill all of the escapees before they even made it to the ships. My orb flashed at my hip, lightning cracking in the sky. I looked down at it, and there Ansel was, his face in the orb itself.

“Ansel?”