Page 82 of Night Fae

"You're lying!" Daniel insisted.

"Am I?"

Zev felt the air shift as Yuri drew magic to himself. His hand went to his own blade, but Knox stopped him from attacking.

"Not yet," the incubus whispered. "We need to break the ritual first."

Daniel called Leon's name again, more desperately this time. For a moment, Leon's concentration seemed to waver. His eyelids fluttered, and the energy flow faltered.

"Leon," Daniel pressed. "It's me. Look at me."

Leon's eyes opened, glazed and unfocused. "Daniel?" His voice sounded distant, confused. "I'm sorry. I didn't know... I didn't…."

Yuri's expression hardened. "Enough of this." He made a sharp gesture, and the ritual circle flared with renewed power. Leon gasped, his back arching as energy surged through him once more.

Before any of them could move, a cold voice cut through the shifting reality of the Fields.

"Well, isn't this convenient? All our targets in one place."

Zev spun toward the voice, ice flooding his veins. Emerging from the mist were ten figures in the black and silver of the Night Court. At their head stood Andras, his grandmother's half-fae lieutenant and commander of her personal guards.

"Prince Ashelon sends his regards," Andras said with a mocking bow. "Particularly to you, traitor." His eyes fixed on Zev.

"Take Leon and go," Zev told the others, drawing his sword. "I'll handle them."

Knox cursed under his breath. "Don't be stupid. There are too many."

Caelen pushed Daniel behind him, ice crystallizing around his fingertips. "The incubus is right for once. We fight together." His tone made it clear this was a tactical decision, not one born of camaraderie.

The Night Court soldiers attacked as one, their movements in perfect coordination. Zev blocked a thrust from the first to reach him, spinning to slash at a second. Beside him, Knox engaged three guards while Caelen's ice magic lashed out at two more.

Daniel darted toward Leon, ducking beneath a soldier's swing. He reached the ritual circle and grabbed Leon's arm, trying to pull him away from the glowing symbols.

Yuri made no move to stop him. Instead, the Barrier Keeper stepped back, watching the chaos with calculated interest.

"The amulet," Caelen shouted to Daniel. "It disrupts magic. Press it against the circle's edge."

Daniel fumbled for the pendant, then slammed it against the ground where one of the symbols glowed brightest. There was a flare of power, a sound like glass shattering, and the ritual circle went dark.

Leon collapsed forward, Daniel barely catching him before his head hit the ground.

Zev cut down another guard, spinning to check on Daniel's progress. The human had managed to get Leon to his feet, though Leon looked dazed and disoriented.

"We need to go," Knox called, his blade dripping with dark blood. "Now."

Yuri observed them impassively. "This changes nothing." He stepped backward, his form beginning to blur. "We will meet again, when the walls between worlds are thinner still."

As Yuri faded from sight, the remaining Night Court soldiers pressed their attack with renewed fury.

"The way we came," Caelen ordered, ice spears impaling two guards at once. "Stay together."

They began to retreat, Daniel supporting Leon, while Caelen cleared a path with devastating ice magic. Knox covered their left flank, and Zev took the rear position, facing the remaining soldiers.

Andras stepped forward, his face twisted in contempt. "Running again, Zev? Just like when you fled without your werewolf?"

Zev's grip tightened on his sword.

"Your father sends a message," Andras continued, circling to Zev's right. "About your human pet."