“Ren, if you do that, at least let me?—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head at Rydon. “I have a bad feeling Xoran fucked us. I think he told Solon everything and this is a trap. I don’t think Sonah’s here. Duke Ravos would’ve flaunted her in front of me by now if she was.”
“Then let’s just fucking leave,” Rydon said.
“Let me speak to him,” Lerek pleaded, moving his mount closer. Rydon growled, intercepting him with his larger stallion. He frowned at the mercenary before turning to Terena. “Please, Ren. He is a friend. He’ll listen to me.”
“Please, do as I asked. Stay close to Cassandra. And don’t move from that ridge. I don’t care how bad it looks. Do not. Agreed?”
“At least let me stay with you,” Rydon growled, edging his horse closer.
“No,” Terena said, her tone harsh.
Rydon stared at her a few seconds more before following after Soros, Gabriol and Lerek.
When she was alone, Terena looked up at the battlements. The duke was nowhere in sight.
Holding out her left hand, Terena curled her fingers and called up to the men above in a voice not her own, fueled by the power raging in her blood. “Open the gates for me. I am alone. Come for me. Now.”
Terena had only ever used this power once while training with Hermes back in Olympia. It had come out of nowhere, surprising her and making Hermes laugh and clap with glee. The power of compulsion was from her mother, he’d said. Once it manifested, he’d had her practice with it until it came to her easily, without her needing to even think about it.
As her powers ignited, the light beneath her skin no longer shown white. A dark red light glowed, racing through her veinsas the compulsion worked its way through the men standing above her. Her vision turned red.
The grating of the portcullis sounded as it raised and Terena tensed. She dismounted slowly, slapping Nyx’s rump. The horse trotted off after Rydon and the others.
Terena shivered beneath her cloak, the soft wolf fur tickling her cheeks as anticipation fired in her veins. Her fingers flexed.
The gates yawned open and men with swords waited impatiently to rush her. Terena widened her stance and shook out her hands.
A moment later, the soldiers roared as they ran toward her.
She heard Rydon bellow at her and Lerek shout something that was swallowed up by the men stampeding her way.
Time stopped.
Red flashed behind her eyes. Fiery red light pulsed beneath her skin along her veins. Heat slid down her fingers as she fanned them out.
Terena took a breath.
She expected the Twins, her short swords, to appear. But when time resumed in a sudden snap, Terena’s fingers flicked forward.
A pulse rushed out, the ground beneath her quaking. Dirt and snow flew as an invisible force rumbled forth, the ground tearing in a massive wave, crashing into the soldiers.
After the deafening roar of the shockwave, the dust cloud dissipated in a quiet patter like raindrops falling. Nothing remained of the soldiers.
Nothing but ash.
The sudden silence following the quake was so absolute, Terena swore she could hear the flap of the pennant atop the tallest spire of Sydney Hall off in the distance.
She felt peaceful, her breath expelling evenly. Even her mind was quiet for once.
A choked cry from above her on the wall made Terena snap her eyes up. Duke Ravos’s face was so stricken his chin wobbled. His jaw slackened as he stared in pure terror down at her.
“Abomination,” he said, his voice cracking on the word. Even as low as it was spoken, it carried on the wind to her, settling into her bones.
Long seconds passed before Terena smiled.
“No, Galen. I am retribution.”
