A shriek wrenched out of the female draugr I fought and in a pitiful moment of weakness she spun to find her peer crumbling to ash. One second was all I needed. My sword ripped through her neck, and a pile of ash formed.
Two direwolves left. That’s all?—
A dagger shot past me, sticking in one wolves’ skull rightbefore a second blade did the same to the other. The beasts fell, and their blood ran down the steps.
Freyia laughed. “Stupid dogs.”
Bringing the vampire had been a good idea, indeed.
“That’s all, right?” Neve gasped as she ran up the steps to join.
“For now,” I said. “More will be at the top. Soldiers.”
Neve winced. “Harvadril, can you?—”
“I appreciate your invitation to join you, Princess Isolde, but I cannot leave The Below,” the undead corpse interrupted. “I’m sorry.”
“Oh. Well, then, thank you for your help.” She looked like she wanted to hug the creature. Or possibly drag him up the stairs. I would not be surprised if later, I found Neve researching how to break a draugr from its enchantment.
If we survive whomever we’ll meet at the top, that is.
The alarm had ceased, but we all knew guards would be waiting in case, against all odds, we survived the monsters they’d placed in The Below to deal with thieves.
“Thank you, draugr,” I said. “We owe you our lives.”
Harvadril stepped aside, allowing us to pass. I didn’t look back as we climbed the stairs. One by one, we reached the top. The last being Bac and Freyia, who were helping Tanziel.
“Freyia, I need you here,” I said. “When we exit this door, they’ll be waiting. The only reason no one has come down already is they want the monsters to defeat us and likely have the door warded against their kind.”
“No.” Neve held up a hand. “I have an idea. Let me gofirst, and we won’t have to kill anymore. I want to avoid that, if possible.”
Her fingers glowed a light amethyst. She was calling her magic.
“You have enough power left?”
“I think so.”
I trusted her judgment. “Be ready to strike the instant I open it.”
She got into position, her chin tilted up, her spine straight and proud. I’d never seen my mate look so like the force of nature that she was.
“Three, two . . .go!” I flung the door open and a blast of cold rushed by me, stealing my breath before Neve crossed the threshold.
Screams came from the coinaries’ main level, but they silenced quickly. Neve entered, and I shivered as I followed my mate and witnessed the destruction.
Three dozen guards stood assembled and ready to fight. Leprechauns were waiting for us to appear, not to battle, of course, but likely to give instructions. Every one of them was frozen from head to toe.
Neve wavered, and I caught her right before her knees buckled. “Thanks. I need a second. I—” Her eyes caught mine and widened. “Vale, your glamour! It’s gone!”
Only then did I realize hers was too. Luccan, Caelo, and Freyia also appeared to be their usual selves.
“There was an enchantment on the threshold,” Caelo said. “I bet it activates with the alarm. I felt the enchantment break my glamour when I walked through.”
“There’s no time for you to redo them,” I said. “We have to run from here.”
Everyone agreed, and we pulled up our hoods, our only means of disguise in a city that knew many of our faces far too well. Seeing in her stance that Neve had not regained her strength enough to sprint through the city, I sheathed my sword and gathered her in my arms. She didn’t protest, a sign as sure as any that I’d correctly determined her energy reserves were low.
“Freyia, cover me,” I commanded as we burst out of the coinary.
