“They’re stillhuman.They didn’t choose this,” I insisted. “We’ve found a way to cure them—that’s what Arowyn’s working on. So, for now, just…just incapacitate them. But don’t kill, if you can help it.”
Leo let out a sigh. “This is the most high-maintenance rescue operation I’ve ever seen.”
“Devora, watch out!” Rose yelled.
I whipped around to see a ball of crackling light aimed straight at me. I didn’t even have time to raise my shadow shield.
But I didn’t have to.
A wall of shadows formed within inches of my face, so strong it knocked me to the ground. It swallowed the lightning sphere whole, then molded to the shape of the ball, growing and shifting with power. A second later, it reversed direction and sped back through the open air. With a powerful clap of thunder, it collided with the mutant Lightbender across the field, sending him and two others flying back into the forest.
Thecae emerged from the pool of shadows at my feet.
My mouth fell open. He wore deep red fighting leathers and a belt full of weapons, his hands outstretched with shadows dancing between them.
Shock overwhelmed me. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing right now. EvenThecaehad come?
He quirked an eyebrow. “What’ve you gotten yourself into, girl?” he asked in that hard, gruff voice. I hadn’t realized how much I missed my shadow trainer until now.
I jumped and threw my arms around his waist. His muscles tensed at first, then he awkwardly patted me on the back. “Think we can save this for later?”
I cursed and gathered my bearings. “Right. Fates, okay.” I looked out at the horde of glowing eyes, the dark magic hanging thickly in the air, and the menacing growls from the dozens of mutants still left standing in the field.
I gestured at them. “So basically, we just need to?—”
“I think we got it,” Rose said with a smirk.
Tessa and Kieran leaped toward us in their animal forms, shifting midair and landing at my side in a crouch. Tessa rolled her neck along her shoulders as she pulled a shortsword from its sheath. With a nod at the others, Kieran fell in line and brandished his weapon.
My heart kicked as I took in the sight of them.Allof them.
“Through flame and ash,” Kieran said, raising his sword. “Form ranks!”
And they attacked.
The battlefield exploded into motion. Thecae shadow melted straight into the ground, appearing behind enemy lines with blades of shadows in his hands. He carved a path through the chaos faster than I could keep up. He aimed for nonlethal points—the legs, the arms, the occasional swipe at their sides.
All around him, creatures fell, and Thecae erected barriers of shadow to keep them firmly stowed behind until Arowyn or Chaz could get to them.
Rose and Leo each took on two Shifter mutants, wielding both daggers and spells in tandem. Rose cast a rapid-fire string of spells, and vines ripped from the ground to wrap around her opponents. She blew a powder in their faces that made them yowl in pain. Thin pricks of blood trickled down their skin from thorns embedded in the vines.
I had to admit, the Alchemist was a little vicious. I liked it.
Kieran, fully shifted once more, lowered his antlers and plowed through a trio of creatures. Tessa’s snarls accented the night as she launched herself into the air to take on a wolf Shifter.
In between the fighting, Arowyn and Chaz were striding every couple of minutes to pull the incapacitated Veridians to the Hollow.
I summoned my shadows, and they swelled around me with new strength. The battle was no longer collapsing around us. It wasturning. Shifting. Changing in our favor.
We coulddothis. Together.
But a small flicker of panic crossed my mind as I took in the field. Where was Nox?
A roar echoed over the grounds, followed by a flash of brilliant light to my right. Sounds of another battle rang out, taking place around the side of the mansion. My breath quickened. What if he was?—
“Go,” Rose said at my back. “We’llbe fine. Get your boy.”
I nodded and took off as another roar sounded. When I could see around the edge of the property, I stopped short. A figure, both human and bird-like, shot into the air, feathers igniting as flames encompassed her body.
