Gregor’s spine straightened, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes as he growled, “You are not the leader of this army.”
Evie’s chin rose in defiance. “Aren’t I? Or is there someone more qualified to kill the gods than I?”
This time, Gregor did not balk at Evie’s subtle reminder of just how much power existed in her veins. He met her toe-to-toe, his teeth flashing as he spat, “And then what? We worshipyouinstead? Our mission is to be free from the gods!”
“A mission that you will not succeed in without me. I do not wish for your worship. Only my vengeance. What you do with a godless world is none of my concern.”
In the light of day, it was easy to see the ghost of shadows on Evie’s skin as she called her dark power to the surface. Gregor’s eyes flicked to them before resettling on the demigod’s face. “We move forward as planned,” Evie repeated, her tone cold and careful and deadly.
“Fine,” Gregor spat through gritted teeth. He turned to the soldier and gave a sharp jerk of his head. “Get to the back lines. Tell as many as you can to get clear of this area.”
Evie opened her mouth to argue, but Gregor held up a hand. “I will indulge your experiments, but I will not risk my army to do it.”
To his guards, he commanded, “I want swords on the Second Saint.”
They unsheathed them without hesitation, as if they’d been waiting for the order. Dav flashed her a wicked grin as he drew his own blade.
“If you betray us, I won’t just kill you,” Gregor threatened as he finally faced Aya. “I’ll kill everyone you ever loved.”
The threat meant nothing.
Everyone Aya had ever loved was already dead.
***
Will had known pandemonium. It looked like arriving on the beaches of Milsaio’s second island to find it burning. Itlooked like reaching Dunmeaden and hearing the screams of his people dying at the hand of those he had trained beside for years.
He had known pandemonium, but this…Sitya…was worse.
This was hells, and Aya was somewhere in it.
Will’s breath sawed from his chest, his sword arm trembling as he cut down another Kakos soldier. The battle had descended into utter chaos with the arrival of the prisoners—ofCole—who had claimed to have heard talk that the Kakos king was at the citadel.
“If I had to look somewhere, that’s where I’d look,” he’d said.
It was all Will had needed—all his friends had needed—to throw themselves back into the fight that was pressing toward the fortress.
Will ducked around the corner of a building as a Diaforaté sent a bolt of power down the street. It clipped the brick he hid behind, sending chunks of it scattering across the path. He watched as Akeeta darted out of the way of the debris, Tyr at her flank. Will threw himself around the corner, power already jettisoning across the space. The Diaforaté snarled as it tore at his shield, and it was just the distraction Will needed. Because there was Azul, his long body uncoiling as he leapt at the Diaforaté. His powerful jaw clamped around the man’s shoulder, and he hardly had time to scream before Liam’s sword lobbed off his head.
Will’s gaze darted across the street. He couldn’t see Aidon, or Dauphine, andstillthose Visya fighters were missing, meaning they had either fled or died, and godsdammit, it was becoming impossible to tell friend from foe as they continued to fight their way forward.
They have her. They have her. They have her.
It was a steady refrain that kept his feet moving forwardeven as his body ached. He forced himself to keep going, to keep moving, his legs buckling as he hit the docks.
The crowd seemed thicker here, trapped between the fortress and the trade center. They’d begun setting fire to the ships, destroying the vessels Kakos had stolen. And yet Kakos did not seem to be fighting to protect them, because a Midlandian soldier rallied his troops with a call of, “We have them on the run! Head for the fortress!”
Will lifted his head, tears streaming down his face from the smoke and dust that filled the air. He could just make out the towering gray walls at the far end of the port.
Akeeta nudged between him and a Midlands soldier, her white coat slick with dirt and grime and blood. Her nose brushed his hand, a comforting touch as much as it was encouraging.
Close. He was so close.
His shield buckled as he sent another pulse of power toward an approaching Kakos soldier. The woman stumbled, but she remained upright as she sent a stream of fire straight for him. Someone grabbed the back of his vest and yanked him out of the way just in time.
Aidon.
The king was covered in ash and blood, but he appeared unharmed. Dauphine was at his side.
