Cackled.
Roared in amusement at the chaos around him.
Because his sister had her powers back.
And she was coming onshore on the back of a black sea serpent.
It was a sight. To see a girl standing on the back of a great black sea serpent, an eagle flying overhead, only two knives in her hands. But Nyssa hadn’t just called the serpent. She’d called on the ocean. On the raptors and the creatures of the deep. Whatever animals lay in the sand on the beach.
Soldiers swatted and dropped to their knees. Her feet hit the sand.
She’d seen Lex make her way to the battlefield, her laughter ringing in the air. She’d seen Dorian fight back to back with Reverie, resulting in a stern kiss she’d shaken her head at.
Nadir and Bala were battling on the western edge of the fight. She’d seen them team up together with wind and water in the surf. Nadir’s blades had looked like spinning wheels of water as he cut down guards in his way.
But she’d lost Ash in the crowd.
Nyssa's eagle screeched over her head.
Help me get through to Ash, she told him.
Would you like me to kill him too?
He's mine.
Nyssa pulled her daggers as two men came at her, and then they paused.
"We have her!"
Oh.
They were here to take them.
"Not today," she countered.
Her eagle swooped in, his talons slashing the guard’s throat. Nyssa ducked under his falling body to her left. Another stopped in his tracks upon seeing her, but she whirled and struck him. They made their way across the beach towards Lex, who had spotted them and called out. Lex ran for her, swiping her blade across soldiers' knees as she slid on the sand, and she nearly ran into Nyssa at the rate at which she bounded to her feet.
She ducked as a man swung, and Lex's sword caught in his throat. "They're here for Dorian and me," Nyssa said.
"Doesn’t surprise me," Lex replied, sword whirling. She ducked once as a bird came swooping down, and the falcon’s talons cut through her opponent’s chest. Lex stared at the display before looking back at Nyssa, a proud smile on her lips.
“Not bad,” she said.
Nyssa couldn’t help the chuckle in her chest. “Thanks,” she replied.
"You sure you didn't pick up some of your sister's extravagance?" Lex teased. "She'd have loved this.”
A lump rose in Nyssa's throat at her words, heart constricting.
Lex winked at her, and together, they paused to watch the scene. Dreamers and Belwarks dropped left and right. Both by sword and by creature. The serpent was striking from the surf. Screams sounded in the air when she would toy with them. Nyssa spotted Dorian battling back to back with Corbin now. Wind picked up, and she saw Bala and Nadir still down west, the pair’s combined talents wiping guards out with ease.
But there was one person Nyssa hadn’t seen on the battlefield.
"How do you think they knew you were both here?" Lex asked Nyssa.
"When’s the last time you saw Soli?"
And Lex met her gaze with a wry raised brow. "I'll have her head."
