Page 53

IRIS

S-class magic rattles my teeth. The Deathguard shifts their feet.

From their formation, a Sentinel mutters. “Should we stop them?”

“Of course we stop them!” the Guide-squirrel shouts, jittering like an agitated ball.

“Go ahead,” I offer. “I’ll handle things here.”

I’m not stepping one baby toe closer to the fight that keeps ringing Remy’s shield like a gong.

Bursts of hellfire and shadow whisper at the edges of my senses, but Vhex and Remy aren’t rampaging or calling for help.

Their energy stays tight.

It’s focused on revenge.

My insides flutter with a confetti of mixed emotions.

I never would’ve asked them to go after Kevan.

But also?

I’m not asking them to stop.

Kevan won’t die.

A lich has a hundred ways to resurrect.

A lich king probably has a thousand.

I turn my focus to the Deathguard. Ten squads wait in crisp, black and white uniforms. Their cold weapons are sharp but well-used.

Technically, I know every member.

In reality, Kevan only allowed us to interact during emergencies.

The Deathguard has a lot of emergencies.

I’d save a Sentinel’s life on a Tuesday, and by Wednesday I didn’t exist again.

I never expected a thank you.

I stopped expecting human decency the first time I said good morning to a Sentinel I pulled out of rampage, and the guy kept walking like I was empty air.

If the Deathguard doesn’t want to acknowledge me now, it’s their loss.

With a quick touch, I re-establish my mental imprint on the Farguard’s badge.

“Squad captains to me. I’ll bring you up to speed.” Earlier, while I scarfed down a ham breakfast sandwich, I finally spent a minute playing with the functions of my badge.

With a little mental energy, it can project simple maps.

Using a thread of power and plenty of focus, I call up the most recent image of the Farguard’s mountainous territory. Then I tilt the picture until the sparkling lines hit a baked patch of dirt.

Cherise and her teams bled through the night to track the growing horde’s movements.

A tall Sentinel with striking green eyes dashes forward. “Do we call you Major Ashbourne?”

“Commander is fine,” I answer cautiously.

Captain Tiago Reyes is an A-class, wood-attribute Sentinel. We were on a desert-clearing mission when a leatherback-scorpion’s sting triggered his rampage. I detoxified him, calmed his energy, and dragged his seven-foot ass to an oasis.

He hasn’t made eye contact since.

Now his brilliant grin is as shocking as the welcoming warmth of his spring green magic. “Commander fits you better than duchess.”

“No one ever called me duchess.” Until Vhex.

I have zero interest in reconnecting with Sentinels who looked away while I suffered.

I slide away from Tiago’s reaching silks, and re-angle the map projection as the Deathguard’s leaders huddle.

Kevan’s Guide stays behind. He bites his nails, watching the shadow dome rattle and shooting me toxic glares.

I snort.

You wanted to be the duchess.

Go save the day yourself.

I use a beefy Sentinel to block him from my line of sight, then point everyone’s attention to the map.

“The prison array was originally in a cave, but as the seal collapses, the ground collapses with it. Now, our lich is somewhere at the bottom of a pit with sheer walls. Its horde surrounded the ground entrance, so the survey team couldn’t get close enough for an official power reading.

We won’t know for sure until we find a way down there, but with these numbers of mid-tier undead under its control, we can assume the lich king is above S-class.

We’re looking SS and Apocalypse territory. ”

Each dot on the map represents a thousand enemies. They surround the mountains like ants.

The odds tighten my throat.

Even with the Deathguard’s help, we’re staggeringly outnumbered.

“Damn.” Tiago uses his fingers to count the forces. “Are these all kobolds?”

“Mostly kobolds and giant boar skeletons, but expect surprises. The deep mountains have been a battlefield for centuries.”

As Tiago and the officers ask more detailed follow-up questions, I zone into my role.

I’m not doing a terrible job.

By the time I’ve finished sharing enough to hopefully save some of their lives, the magic explosions are winding down. I stretch my senses to check on my troublemakers.

Before I can reach Vhex and Remy, I’m swarmed with resonance from the Deathguard.

Their mental touches are warm, familiar, and so totally unexpected that I reflexively jump back.

But only my feet make the move.

My silks break free, gleefully ignoring what’s good for me. They’re ready to dish out spiritual ear scratches to all the playful silks that frolic like puppies at my feet.

I snatch back my control.

I can feel the Sentinels’ wagging tails.

I hope they feel my confusion.

We are not friends?

After trading eye signals, the other leaders push Tiago forward.

He bashfully rubs his neck. “The Deathguard hasn’t been the same without you. If you ever want to come back, we?—”

Captain Mallory—a Sentinel the size of a rock troll—elbows his friend’s ribs. “We’re glad you’re free. You look good. Happy.”

I squint.

Since when did he ever look?

Once, I blocked Mallory from a dive-bombing harpy that would’ve carved him like a rotisserie chicken. He didn’t even salute me with his sword.

Wouldn’t want to piss off Kevan.

Now Mallory’s silvery silks peacock to win my favor. He beams me a weird mix of appreciation and hope.

Instead of warm fuzzies, I feel a lead ball in my throat.

Where was this energy six months ago?

Where was it five years ago when I was being treated like a ghost?

My smile twists. “You don’t think I was happy in the Deathguard?”

Mallory’s eyes drop. “Well… The major oof ?—”

This time, Tiago throws an elbow to shut him up.

I nod.

Why talk shit about Kevan on my account?

He’s the duke.

I’m just a tool.

“Are you flirting right now?” Kevan’s Guide blusters over with his cheeks puffed.

Mallory obediently ducks his head. “No, Keeper Luca.”

Ugh.

Now I know his name.

Squirrelly little Luca swings his nutty eye lasers onto me. “You’re not fit to lead.”

His soul-silks show a bit of yellow, but they’re mostly green after melding with Kevan’s. They’re thicker and more solid than an unimprinted Guide’s.

His energy surges in challenge, but when it hits me, all I want to do is wheeze. “You’re an A-class?”

“A plus,” he snaps like a child insisting he’s not four—he’s four-and-a-half .

The difference between the A and S classes is more than just a rank. It’s like the chasm between seventy-five and eighty percent compatibility—one is really good and the other is off-the-charts, out-of-this-fucking-world.

I don’t bother tangling with Luca’s power.

I just stop holding mine back.

At full power, my aura glitters like blue diamonds.

Luca’s cheeks redden. His fists ball as he abandons the challenge he threw down. “If you’re that strong, then fucking do something . Those monsters are murdering my Sentinel.”

“They’re not monsters,” I mutter as I stretch my spiritual senses. “They’re struggling. Have some compassion as a Guide.”

We’re so far away, I can’t sense Vhex and Remy’s status. But depending how deep they’ve imprinted, Luca will be able to feel what Kevan feels, even from a distance.

Hope it’s pain.

Luca hugs his arms. “They need to be put down.”

“That’s not your call.”

“Wait until the palace reads my report,” Luca says haughtily, lifting his chin. “The emperor will make the right decision.”

My blood simmers.

I’ll let go when Vhex and Remy find a better match. Until then? “Nobody touches my Sentinels.”

The Deathguard stirs. I don’t care what they think.

Ignoring their rippling energies, I press my badge to make the call. “Come back to me.”

I don’t have time to finish my breath.

Shadow wings fold around me from behind.

“ Guide ,” Remy rasps, burying his head in my throat. He smells like smoke and something richer than cologne.

My body lights with flashes from last night.

After connecting so deeply, his soul is already my backyard. I undo fresh tangles, guiding his magic and soul back where they belong.

In record speed, Remy recovers his drawl. “The younger generation truly disappoints.”

I snort and wave at the shadow dome. “Let them out.”

“If you insist,” Remy says smoothly.

As soon as the shield weakens, a column of hellfire explodes its own exit. Roaring loud enough to liquify the air, Vhex launches himself as a flaming meteor.

“Easy.” I stretch my silks to meet him before he crashes.

Vhex’s soul shivers with relief.

Ignoring the answering flutter in my gut, I push free of Remy’s wings and open my arms. “Come here.”

“Rissy.” Vhex melts over my shoulders. “Missed you.”

Radiating heat, he hauls me to his chest. Remy mirrors the motion from behind. Their energy ripples in another silent feud, but I’d never know from their bodies.

The Sentinels mold around me, all gentle hands and wing tips. They don’t even snarl when their arms brush.

“It’s okay,” I murmur shakily. “We’re all okay.”

“You feel so fucking good.” Vhex hums against my collarbone.

“Better than good.” Remy tightens his fingers in my hair—it’s almost painful, but also totally fucking hot. “A dream.”

They glue themselves to me hip-to-shoulder, part possessive, part protective, and totally trying to start a fight with my ex.

After only a few minutes away from me, their meridians are way too painful. Vhex needs a layer of charcoal scraped off his soul, and fresh, dark spiderwebs tangle between Remy’s older knots.

I’m so focused on guiding them that it takes a few minutes before Luca’s screeches drag me back to the field.

Kevan hasn’t returned.

I squeeze out of Vhex and Remy’s arms and force them shoulder-to-shoulder, so I can squint at them both at the same time. “What did you do?”

“Tested his power.” Vhex frowns. The sullen expression wrinkles his forehead, just beneath his horn. “He’s too weak for you.”

Remy stays silent, looking at the sky.

Red flags, everywhere.

“Remy? What did you do?” I repeat.

“Ah. Here comes the duke, ready for battle.” Remy gestures to the side of the teleportation platform, where shadows un-subtly recoil. Kevan stands blinking in the reeds.

Luca pounces over to him.

Thankfully, my instincts don’t drive me to do the same.

“How dare they.” Luca fusses, trying to guide the Sentinel’s magic while he cleans the ash from his blank face.

I’m busy chewing my lip, trying not to reward Remy with a snicker.

Kevan is the kind of neat freak who showers as soon as he pulls out.

Now he’s wrecked.

His cape is charred. Slashes decorate his uniform. His thick, black hair always thins when he shifts more skeletal. Now, it’s a bird’s nest, missing whole chunks with patches showing his bone-pale scalp.

Vhex and Remy were toying with him.

For me.

My ribs squeeze.

I’ve never been avenged before.

The feeling leaves me light-headed, and a suspicious tightness sneaks down my throat.

“What’s this?” Remy murmurs, smoothing my tensed muscles.

“Nothing,” I answer, pulling away. “We’ve wasted too much time. Let’s head to the keep and?—”

I stumble as a pulse of necromancy shakes the earth beneath my toes.

The deep bass note drags a shiver from my soul.

Vhex and Remy flash between me and the mountains, but they can’t shield me from the call.

It echoes up from my feet and rattles my bones.

ARISE.

My body tilts toward the source of the power. A few Sentinels break formation and take shaky steps toward the horizon. Luca swoons.

Kevan doesn’t notice.

Empty-eyed, he swivels to face the mountains.

“Too late,” I whisper without meaning to lower my voice.

The king is here.