I’m too slow to realize it isn’t the only attack.
A bright green glow lights up the fog, and in less than a blink, the shield cloaking our army falls away.
I glance back and find only a few hundred soldiers behind us.
My stomach drops as I realize that could easily have been the death of our entire army.
Sin sends warmth through the bond, and I hold onto it for dear life.
Need grins triumphantly. “Well, isn’t this an adorable effort. Kill anyone without power. Capture the others,” she orders before apparating behind her soldiers, entourage in tow.
In the next heartbeat, the murderous spirits begin marching in our direction. The ground trembles fromthousands of synchronized steps, and whispered static fills the air as the ghosts close in.
“Ready, kitten?” Sin asks, gently releasing my hand.
“You’ve got this, Vivi,” Rosie encourages, her gaze not leaving Irena.
They already know what I’m about to do.
My pulse slows as I watch them advance, and a sense of calm washes over me.
Because this is something IknowI can do.
We hold our position until the last moment, buying our army as much time as possible.
I wait until they’re almost on top of us before finally lifting my gaze to find Need. The moment our stares meet, I let the horror fall from my face and smile.
Reaper energy flares over my skin, and it feels as easy as breathing to amplify it using my Creator powers. There’s no slipping or struggle for control as the golden light curls around silver threads, magnifying them, rather than combining.
Need frowns, unsure of what’s happening, until recognition dawns on her face.
She knows what I am.
But it’s too late. Silver light explodes over the spirits as I reap every last one of them.
In a single blast, the ghost army disappears.
Chapter 63
Vivian’s Point of View
Rule sixty-three:Don’t scream.
Silence stretches across the battlefield as every soldier takes in what I’ve just done. But there’s no air of victory on our side. Need’s army still overwhelmingly outnumbers us, and from the speed at which her expression recovers, she damned well knows it.
“Attack!” She yells, her voice carrying throughout the field.
Like a well-oiled machine, soldiers from three realms advance.
Sin takes my hand again and apparates us closer to our army. A heartbeat later, Rosie flashes in beside us. I’m still wobbling from the sudden shift when the air behind us shudders.
I whirl around, only to find Arianna standing there, panting a bit. She gives me a slightly panicked smile. “Sorry I’m late!”
“Where have you been?” I exclaim, even as a wave of relief washes over me.
She gives a shaky laugh before winking at me. “To Hell and back.”
Varian jogs up to us. “They’re going to try and flank us. I recommend we meet their front lines. Send the largest shifters first. We can disrupt their formations.”
