Page 24 of Wrath of the Dragons (Fear the Flames #2)
Sorin lands in the snow, placing me down gently as I draw the sword at my waist and another knife. In a brief reprieve from the creatures, Cayden turns and rushes toward me, wrapping one arm around my waist while keeping a firm grip on his sword.
“Are you hurt?” he asks, scanning me for injuries I don’t have.
Ryder runs toward us before I have the chance to respond. “Where is my sister?” he frantically asks. “Where is Finnian?”
“We had to split up, but he’s bringing her here.”
Houses along the perimeter have caught fire, and netherwraiths swallowed in flames run frantically through the village until they collapse.
There is death and gore wherever I look.
Claw marks mar the fallen, blood and ash decorating their demise.
Sorin takes to the sky again to continue burning droves of them.
Cayden slices through another beast, splattering his boots and adding more to the crimson field littered with entrails. I throw my knife at one leaping for Ryder, giving him time to spin out of the way and stab another.
“There are too many,” I pant. “We must get everyone through the portal and follow before we’re killed. There’s no end to this until we’re home.” Cayden glances at me, and I already know what he’s going to say. “I’m not leaving you.”
I defend my kingdom because it’s my duty, but there is a feral need to protect my friends, to protect Cayden.
“I’ll throw you through the portal if I have to,” he says.
“And I’ll return on dragonback.”
I crouch low, slicing at a netherwraith’s ankles in time for Cayden to shove his sword through its skull. He raises his voice to address our soldiers, keeping his eyes on me. “I will kill all of you myself if any harm comes to the queen.”
“How sweet of you.” An arrow spears the belly of a beast and relief trickles through me. Cayden spins into his next swing, decapitating another that was leaping for him. I narrowly dodge the head and kick it away when the tongue flops out of its mouth. “Gods, that’s disgusting.”
“Sas!” Ryder shouts as she and Finnian come into view. They’re just as blood-soaked as us, but that doesn’t stop Ryder from briefly wrapping his arms around her when she’s close enough.
“A netherwraith has never made it through the mist,” I tell Cayden. “Do you think Thirwen could be responsible for this?”
Thirwen has aligned with Imirath, and the mages born there hone their power through animal familiars.
The most skilled magic-wielders can slip into their animal’s mind and control them, but what if they found a way to control beasts?
My blood chills. Could they find a way to control human minds? Dragons?
“We’ll figure it out once we’re home,” Cayden answers.
“Fall in!” The Vareveth soldiers respond immediately, as well as at least fifteen from Aestilian, ready to receive orders and follow Cayden wherever he demands.
“We need to secure the perimeter around the crowd as they escape. Take the first chance you get to enter the portal.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” they respond in unison.
“Stay close,” Ryder says to Saskia.
We fight through, making our way to the back of the crowd. Netherwraiths flow between the buildings like several streams leading to a river. Did Sorin sense something amiss? Is that why he’s been uneasy this entire time?
I shake my head, clearing my thoughts for now.
Cayden pulls something from his back pocket and rips a pin out of a black-and-silver orb while slicing through a beast. He tosses it as far as he’s able, and fire erupts, swallowing at least fifty netherwraiths in the flames as the ground shakes.
Then, with blood trailing down his face and in the midst of battle, Cayden smiles.
I command Sorin to bring the flames closer, watching as what remains of Aestilian is bathed in fire.
I can’t build a pyre for every fallen citizen, but I can offer them this.
These are my people, and Ailliard may have referred to me as the discarded princess of Imirath, but this is the kingdom that chose me, that will follow me to war.
We continue battling and inching back toward the portal as more citizens file through. Sorin’s flames make my eyes water and ash sticks to the blood covering me. A creature rakes its claws down my leg, and I slam my knife through it, ignoring the blood and pain.
Magic pulses at my back, making me shiver.
The beasts delve into a frenzy to get away from the flames, but Sorin roasts them.
Ryder wraps an arm around Saskia’s waist, casting one final look to Cayden before ushering her through the portal.
Finnian fires his last arrow, but I shove him through before he has the chance to draw his sword, a weapon he has never favored.
Cayden throws an axe with so much force the beast he hits crashes into another rapidly approaching.
It screeches when Sorin’s fire grows closer, slowly melting the flesh off the bone.
All I can see is fire and blood. The portal begins shrinking, and Cayden’s arms are around me before I have the chance to warn him, and together we fall into a pit of whirling midnight wisps with Sorin.