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T he group was up and out of their chairs before Ava could discern what was going on.

Raine yanked her up by her arm. “Stay close.”

More screams sounded, panic ringing in the night air. Other patrons jumped from their seats and ran inside, seeking safety as they left the warriors to face whatever threat had infiltrated their quiet capital city.

A hissing sound floated toward them as the group took their positions.

Jorrar stepped in front of Kai, fierceness on his face as he prepared to protect his husband.

Fanya had joined her brother behind the table, standing near Ava.

The four warriors and their king had drawn their swords, scanning the darkness for the source of the sounds.

Something slithered over the stone wall, glistening in the moonlight and Ava’s heart picked up its pace. She’d seen this creature before.

“Raine,” she whispered. “I saw those at Deidamia’s camp.”

It was a giant snake, silver scales luminous in the light of the moon.

Casimir cursed in front of her as they watched the silver serpent slither closer, footlong fangs dripping with venom.

It rose and hissed at the group while Casimir lifted his sword, bringing it down to sever its head when its tail lashed out and knocked him over.

Two more serpents crawled over the wall, racing toward the group. Quinn and Thorne lunged toward them but were thrown aside with their tails as the first snake rose and began to speak.

“We have a message,” it said with a voice that sent shivers down Ava’s spine.

The three warriors had gotten up and joined the rest of the group behind the table, waiting for instructions from Casimir.

“Hold steady,” he said quietly.

The three serpents were now swaying and spoke in unison, their voices different.

“Ava, darling.” It was Andras’ voice. She trembled behind Raine as Casimir and Thorne appeared, flanking her and carefully watching the serpents.

“I know you can hear me, dear. Come back to us and your new friends will be spared,” he crooned, his voice mixed with the hissing of the serpents.

“We miss you. I miss you. I long to hear your screams again as The Scourge plays with his toy.”

They had found her. Heart beating frantically, her hands shook as she started to back away, but Casimir put a hand on her shoulder. “We won’t let them take you,” he whispered with certainty.

“You’re harboring a fugitive, King.” The snakes now spoke to Thorne. “Release her to us and your people will be spared.”

“I do not make deals with daemons, Andras,” Thorne asserted. Then, turning toward Quinn whispered, “Now.”

Quinn, Raine, and Thorne had been tunneling into their power while the serpents spoke.

On Thorne’s command, sharp vines burst through the ground, impaling the snakes through their bodies.

As the monsters tried to retreat, a giant golden eagle swooped down and grabbed one of the creatures, carrying it away.

Then, Raine’s wolf and a black panther leaped over the wall and tore into the other two while Raine and Quinn jumped into action and severed their heads.

The snakes were gone but more screams sounded from inside the pub behind them. They all turned to the sudden chaos and one of the bar maidens ran up to Casimir and shouted, “Daemon soldiers in the tavern!”

Casimir launched into action and barked commands at the group, immediately assuming the role of fae general she had heard so much about.

“Get a team of soldiers here now ,” he said to Quinn who nodded and ran over to her panther, communicating through the animals. He then turned to Ava. “Stay behind us,” he ordered.

She did as he instructed, joined by Fanya and Kai who were not trained fighters.

Patrons of the tavern were screaming and running, trying to find a way out as they congregated along the back fence.

Ava looked inside of the pub and froze as she met eyes with one of the daemons.

He had short black hair, green eyes and a pock-marked face.

It was the one who had killed that prisoner in front of her.

The one whose face Ava had spit in. And when he saw the terror and recognition on her face, he sneered.

Fuck.

Ava backed up as the warriors launched into action. The daemon soldiers were outside now, and the clanging of swords reverberated as the fae faced their enemies. It was pure chaos and Ava didn’t know where to look.

Raine raised green vines from the ground that wrapped around the legs of one of the daemons just as his wolf, Sabriel, jumped and clamped down on the soldier’s neck, black blood painting her silver fur.

Quinn unsheathed a dagger and whipped it toward another, her weapon finding purchase in his throat.

Jorrar was engaged in a swordfight with a large daemon as Thorne came up behind the unsuspecting soldier and beheaded him with his sword in one smooth swipe.

Though the warriors were cutting through the daemons quickly, more continued to come through the doors of the tavern.

“Hold the line!” shouted Casimir as he ducked under the sword of an advancing soldier, Aro coming up from behind and slicing the soldier with his giant paw. “Where are the rest of our forces?” he barked at Quinn.

“Almost here!”

Citizens continued to scream and tried to escape the fighting, but several were cut down by the enemy force as they pushed their way further into the fight.

“Mother have mercy,” Fanya whispered beside Ava.

Ava reached down and gripped Fanya’s hand as she looked at the fleeing patrons, trying to comfort her new friend.

The fence around the establishment was too high, blocking their escape.

Panic unfolded as she worried they’d be sitting ducks if Casimir and the rest of them couldn’t control the advancing unit.

Several daemon soldiers pushed their way through and one of them closed in on a small hobgoblin, gutting him with his sword before moving on to his next victim. Ava immediately thought of Remy and without hesitation she rushed over and pressed her hands on his open wound, kneeling next to him.

“Ava!” Fanya yelled, but she didn’t listen.

She couldn’t just stand there and do nothing while innocent civilians were brutally murdered. Technically, she was still behind the warriors just like Casimir had instructed.

“What’s your name?” she whispered as the goblin took a shuddering breath and looked at her.

“Tash,” he barely got out as his whole body trembled.

“Okay, Tash. I’m here. You’re going to be okay,” she said. “Kai!” she shouted as she turned to where he was standing with Fanya. “Help him!”

Kai ran over, shaking his head and kneeling. “His injury’s too severe. I don’t have any supplies and my magic isn’t strong enough to heal him.”

Ava felt the prickle of tears forming. “Please,” she begged. “You can’t do anything ?”

“I can take away his pain,” he said.

She nodded, sniffling as she held Tash’s hand. The noise of battle sounded, shouts and screams plaguing her ears, but she tuned it out and focused on comforting the hobgoblin

“Shhhh,” she said as she brushed his black hair from his face. “Focus on me. You’re okay now.”

Kai placed his hands on Tash and murmured under his breath. Tash’s breaths slowed as his face relaxed, now free from pain. He smiled as he stared off into the distance.

“Mom?” he whispered, looking at something that Ava couldn’t see.

Ava let out a sob as his breathing stilled and his eyes went glassy. She gently closed them with her fingers as Kai said a prayer to The Mother. He was gone.

Ava met eyes with Kai before searching for more injured to help. The warriors were still fighting but struggling to maintain control when a scream sounded to Ava’s right and she whipped her head to the source. Fanya.

The pock-marked faced soldier had Fanya backed into a corner and was swinging his sword in his hand, taunting her. Spotting a dead daemon, Ava jumped up and grabbed the ebony dagger from his belt and bolted to her friend, ignoring Kai’s warnings.

Finding an opening between his armor, she raised the dagger over her head and slammed it into his shoulder as hard as she could. He yelped and whipped around as Fanya ran to safety. When he saw who had stabbed him, he leered and yanked Ava by the hair.

“I was wondering when I’d get to play with you,” he said as he pulled her toward a dark corner beneath a tree .

Ava looked around for help but there was so much chaos, she could barely discern who was who. She tried to scream but among the snarls of the animals, shouts and clanging weapons, her voice was lost in the noise.

Still holding onto her hair, he shoved her against a tree. She tried to kick him, but he dodged her attempts and put his other hand on her throat, beginning to squeeze.

“Too bad I’m not allowed to kill you,” he said, leaning in close. “But Andras never said I couldn’t have a little fun before I brought you back.”

She screamed and clawed at his hand as his other gripped her waist, nails digging in through the fabric of her skirt.

They wouldn’t be able to hear her. No one would know her fate and she’d be brought back to Andras and Deidamia to be tortured all over again.

He leaned in and inhaled, groaning as he continued to press her against the tree and tightened his grip; enough to hurt but not enough to completely cut off her air.

“The smell of your fear is divine,” he whispered into her ear. He leaned back again and grabbed a dagger from his belt, holding it up in front of her face. “How should I play first?” he asked. “Maybe?—”

His words were abruptly cut off as an arrow pierced through his throat sideways. His eyes widened and a gurgle sounded, panic painted on his face. He stumbled back, choking on his own black blood and crumpled to the ground as he clutched his wound. After a few gasps, he stilled.