She struck, unleashing black gas that plumed toward me, encompassing me before I could even take a step back.
I screamed as my skin began to burn and bubble and blister. After only seconds, I could no longer stand, and collapsed to the ground, gripping the floor with trembling fingers.
With each inhale, breathing became more of a chore, and air only came in thin, unsatisfying streams. My vision clouded, but right before I blacked out, the queen let up, just enough for me to draw in a full breath.
“No clever rebuttal, Dane?” My adversary’s lips spread wide. She shook her head and tutted. “I’d expected more. That’s no fun.”
Even though the last thing I wanted to do was give Ishtar what she desired, I couldn’t help it. I went on the attack.
Separating my fingers from the ground as much as I could, I directed a killing spell at her. But it seemed that the gas had zapped my magic too. Fuchsia power flew only a foot or two before it died out with a fizzle.
“Huh, it really is all you had. Maybe I was wrong about your ancestry.” Ishtar laughed again. “No daughter of Isis would be defeated so quickly. They would fight with the strength of an entire army until they were—”
“And here’s her army now!” a voice I recognized blasted across the throne room.
It took everything I had to twist my neck to confirm that I wasn’t dreaming. When my eyes ran over Alex, Eva, Hunter, Diana, the Torna twins, and the girl, Alice, who must have led them here, I whimpered.
As I did so, blood flew out of my mouth, its metallic taste coating my tongue before the liquid dripped down my chin.
For the first time, I realized how close death was—hovering just over my shoulder.
“Run!” I whisper-screamed. “Run!”
“An army? All I see are humans who are little more than children. Weaklings who are nothing compared to my power.” Ishtar pointed to me. “If she cannot beat me, neither can you.”
“We’ll see about that,” Hunter replied as he brought his fingers to his lips and blew out a loud whistle. “Infiltrate!”
The fae soldiers we’d brought from the Riverlands Court spilled into the room. White wolves bounded in behind them, and two vampires streaked by.
How did everyone get down here?
Who cares? Just get up! Fight with them,Tabitha yelled.This is your chance!
I pressed my palms to the ground and tried to lift my torso, only to crumple to the floor again.
I heard metal hitting metal, spells being fired, the snarls and roars of demons, and wolves growling as others fought. But I didn’t have fight left in me, not any longer. My side might win, but Ishtar had defeated me.
I rolled over and blinked up at the black ceiling.
Suddenly, Alex appeared in my vision with a small contingent of fae soldiers from the Riverlands.
“Watch my back,” he instructed them as he fell to his knees next to me. “Odie! What happened?” He crushed my hand to his chest, popping blisters on my fingers with his grip.
I groaned and tried to pull away, but it came out as a twitch. “Sh—She poisoned,” I forced out.
It was the only thing that made sense. The smoke that the devil queen had shrouded me in must have been poisonous. And whatever toxicity the gas had brought into my system only seemed to be strengthening. With each passing second, I weakened.
Alex’s blue eyes widened, and he wiped away the blood that had dribbled out of my mouth. “I see what you mean. Here, let me help.” He placed a hand on my stomach, making me wince. “Sorry, sweets. I’ll try to be gentle, but I need to touch you.”
“No. I’m done.”
Alex shook his head. “I can’t accept that. And neither can the world. If we’re going to have any chance at beating her, we need you.”
I was sure he was too late. Death was coming for me. Her velvet hands were wrapping around me now, cradling me.
But Alex either didn’t notice, or he was determined to beat death. He worked, pouring his life-force into me—just as he had done when I’d died before.
It was strange to be cognizant of it this time, the gentle pull from dark to light.
