Khal’ Sira’s hands spread, and the light around her turned white-hot, ghostly, shimmering like a thousand spirit hands overlaying her own. A spectral Queen rose behind her—tall, crowned, made of smoke and stars.
Pantar’s fur stood on end.
This was no Aurathion ability.
“You do not touch what is ours.” the spirit-voice echoed in every skull.
The hunters hung—choking, clawing, terrified.
Reverie whispered, voice her own again, but filled with command. “Drop.”
Every enemy slammed into the ground at once—like the earth itself had called them home. Dead before they hit the ground.
Silence.
Even the forest held its breath.
Her knees wavered—body shaking under power too significant for her bones—but her men caught her before she fell. Nathan’s fire dimmed. Zeke’s claws gentled. Jet and Oren stepped in protectively. Zane stood at the ready to defend her if needed.
I lowered myself—not in weakness.
In recognition.
Khal’ Sira.
The Reborn Queen.
Last child of the bloodline.
And I made the sign of loyalty. Crossed arms, claw dragged down my sternum.
They didn’t want her dead.
They wanted her contained.
Because if she rose…
The Dark Faction could not cage her.
I moved to her side, towering over her, growl vibrating the earth.“You did well, little queen.”
She looked up at me, not frightened. Not horrified in the least by what she’d done.
Just steady.
“Did I?” she whispered. “I’m not even sure how I did it.”
Chapter 23
Reverie
We had won.
At least, it looked like we had.
My pulse was still racing, breath sharp in my chest. Stunned by the ability that had taken over my body.
“Please tell me that was all of them,” Nathan complained.
