“Fucking fuck! Where did you come from?”
She turned to find Bram, Wren tucked into his side. This was actually a fairly convenient place to have ended up when she really thought about it.
“Do you know what’s going on?” she asked, unhooking her bow.
“Not ye?—”
Another scream sounded. Then another and another.
And she didn’t need to wonder anymore. Not as phantom after phantom drifted into view.
“Blood of death,” they all hissed in unison, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end at their eerie tone.
That was when mayhem let loose.
Everyone was screaming and running and trying to escape. She had arrows nocked, but without being able to move through her ashes, she couldn’t be sure of her targets. There were too many innocent people in the way. Too many innocent people meeting gold blades as the phantoms drifted forward.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
Ripping the three arrows from the string, she shoved them at Bram.
“Wait! You can’t—” Bram started.
But she was moving again, trying her best not to brush up against people.
Razik appeared at her side, pupils shifted, smoke furling, and black flames wreathing his arms. “Kailia, you can’t?—”
Ashes swirled, her smoke mixing with his, and she shoved an armful of arrows at him. “Hand these out.”
“No. We need to get you out of here,” he snarled.
More screams. People everywhere. It was becoming too much, and she couldn’t fight. She couldn’t do anything with everyone in her way. People were going to die. So many people, and she was helpless?—
“Everyone get down!”
The commanding voice echoed in the hall, everyone going still.
Because that was the voice of a king.
“On the floor! Now!” Cethin bellowed, and as everyone dropped to the ground—the floor becoming a sea of luxurious fabrics, terrified people, and those who’d already crossed the Veil—she saw him.
Tall and terrifying with his dark magic clinging to him. Silver eyes glowing. A black blade in his hand and waves of his inky power spilling across the room, hovering above the people.
The phantoms were still there, but all their targets were beneath them now. Of course, his magic didn’t do much, but a cascade of dragon fire from Razik did. It spread atop the darkness, Cethin’s magic keeping everyone from the heat while Razik’s magic kept golden blades from claiming life while also keeping the phantoms from coming any closer. For beings that didn’t touch the ground, they also didn’t appear to be able to get airborne.
She met Cethin’s gaze across the room, and he gave her a nod.
It was all she needed to be let loose here.
Summoning more arrows, the dying wails of the phantoms became a symphony only she could dance to. Tybalt couldn’t fully shift. Razik was keeping the people protected along with Cethin, and she was free to do what she did best.
Of course, it would have been faster and easier and far more fun if she could useallof her magic, but this would do.
More arrows appeared on her string the moment she released the first three. She focused on those closest to Cethin first, and then it was all instinct and skill as she released arrow after arrow, turning in a circle, until there was one left.
Kailia stilled, two arrows nocked and the string pulled back. The phantom’s features were twisted into rage, pupil-less eyes bright white.
