Darius stepped to the side, and Cora did the same until they were circling each other. He shook his head. “You’ve truly disappointed me, Aveline. I respected you as my kin. Admired you as a fellow witch and worldwalker. You’ve made a terrible blunder in trying to deceive me. Ridine is now mine. My men will attack and everyone in your castle will suffer for it. I’ll torture those most loyal to you. Strip their flesh from their bones. Place everyone else’s head on a pike.”
He said those chilling words with a calm that made them that much more terrifying. All she had to counter her fear was a hope that Teryn’s plan would work. That his wraiths were enough to protect Ridine.
Darius halted his circling and narrowed his eyes. “I hear the others too. How many are there in the woods? Fifty? One hundred? I take it this is an ambush. What are they waiting for?”
“I haven’t a clue what you mean,” she said flatly.
Hetsked. “Did you think you could isolate me here? That I wouldn’t stand a chance against your little soldiers? What you fail to realize is I don’t have to stay to watch this pathetic ambush unfold. I have better uses for my time—”
He snapped his mouth shut, hearing the wingbeats before she did. It was the hulking shadow darkening the sky that had first alerted Cora that the time had come. Now the pound of Uziel’s wings rose over the crash of waves.
Darius whirled around.
Uziel landed on the coastal road, a red glow burning deep in this onyx throat. Upon his back, at the base of his shoulders, sat Ailan.
With a huff of laughter, Darius drew his sword. “I see. I have a reason to stay after all.”
Uziel lowered his head, and Ailan climbed down his leg, as easily as if she were exiting a coach. She was dressed in form-fitting trousers, a knee-length robe, and scaled armor over her chest, shoulders, and forearms. She unsheathed a sword with one hand and raised a double-bladed weapon in the other.
Only it wasn’t a double-bladed weapon. Not exactly. It was the collar. The one thing that could stop Darius from worldwalking away.
“It’s been a long time, sister dear,” Darius said, tone mocking.
“Face me,” Ailan said through her teeth, “and we can end this rivalry of ours at last.”
“I’ll face you, but I’d prefer to even the odds first.” In the next blink, he disappeared.
Cora used that moment to focus on the space beside Ailan. She stepped across the distance, appearing at the Elvyn’s side. “Has Mareleau been alerted that the battle has begun?”
“I sent Ferrah to her as soon as Berol entered the tear,” Ailan said. “She’ll be prepared for the worst-case scenario.”
Cora hated that there even was a worst-case scenario. Which was why her role was so important. She needed to ensure the Elvyn could seal the tear before Darius discovered its location. “Are your wardweavers ready?”
“Yes. They await within the tear. They will weave as soon as themorasurges back to El’Ara and their powers strengthen.”
Just then, two dozen soldiers appeared, the same way they had at Ridine. These men, however, weren’t waiting under their shields. Instead, they surged forward at once.
“Now!” Ailan shouted.
Uziel opened his maw and shot a volley of flame at the men. Those who acted fast enough raised their shields, but at least half screamed as they fell to the blaze.
Another group of soldiers appeared. Then another. Luckily, Uziel’s flame wasn’t their sole defense. The flash of light had triggered motion from the woods. Now human and Elvyn soldiers ran forth to meet the enemy forces, even as they grew in number. Uziel roared and snapped but could no longer risk his blasts of fire, lest he harm their allies. The allied troops kept the space around Ailan, Uziel, and Cora clear, funneling the enemy soldiers away. Yet Darius made no attempt to drop his fighters near them. He wanted to face Ailan alone.
The sound of steel against steel drowned out the waves, rose above the wind. Would Darius ever stop bringing his soldiers? Had Cora been wrong—
Darius appeared before them, far too close for comfort. Uziel growled, but he couldn’t blast Darius without risking harm to Ailan and Cora. He curved his body around them, but Darius only worldwalked to the side, keeping Ailan in view.
“Go,” Ailan muttered to Cora as Uziel tried to hide them again.
Cora blew out a shaky breath. As much as she wanted to ensure her allies weren’t outnumbered, that they truly could defeat their enemies, she’d already done her part here. She’d lured Darius, and now he’d fight Ailan.
Meanwhile, Cora had another mission to complete.
Ailan stepped forward, leaving the safety of Uziel’s proximity.
With a grin, Darius disappeared and reappeared directly behind her.
Cora’s heart leaped into her throat—
