I’d never seen a sight so beautiful in my entire life.
Her eyes lit up with starlight, and it began to slowly surround her. I wanted her to embrace that fully, and let her light shine for miles.
I swung my blade into a soldier’s neck, pulling it out to gut the next. The numbers were beginning to dwindle slightly on the opposing side, and the humans who’d apparently decided to help fight in Arien’s army began to move forward to help clean up the stragglers.
“Asteria!” A voice called, and I turned in tandem with her. A copper-headed male with hair to his shoulders and emerald-green eyes stepped forward. Her eyes widened, and I growled as I realized who this must be.
“Soren.” She gasped, and I immediately cut my way over to her. I watched him pull her into a quick hug, distracting her. I snarled, pushing him away and stabbing the Fae who was sneaking up on her.
Asteria panted with wide eyes, looking at me, before her eyes cut to Soren. She winced, grabbing my hand. “Sorry, I won’t get distracted again.”
“You better not.” I insisted, smirking slightly as I pretended not to feel Soren’s glare.If looks could kill.But given I felt similarly about him, he could fuck himself. “If I have to drag you back from Elysium, you’ll never forgive me for stealing you from paradise.”
I could feel the Fae trying to sneak up behind me and stabbed my sword backward, catching him right in the stomach. I pulled the blade out, and Asteria watched me with a heated look, biting her lip.
“If you’re not there, then it’s not paradise, my dorchadas.” She winked, and I struggled not to grab her right then. But she kept her promise, paying attention as a mounted Fae in fancy bronze armor with a green surcoat galloped toward her.
“We will never bow to a feeble woman!” he screamed, a snarl on his face. I noticed Lord Aydun watching him proudly. I narrowed my eyes, marking the man for death right then. I’d make him feel all the pain of Tartarus before he enjoyed his permanent stay there.
“For King Aelius!” The man shouted again as he charged.
Soren went to grab Asteria and pull her behind him, holding his sword aloft. I rolled my eyes at him. Asteria brushed him off with a growl, making his head rear back in surprise. She bent her knees slightly, and as the rider approached, Asteria let her wings out and used her knees to get a boost up, giving her more air more quickly.
She flew above him, leaving the man gaping as he tried to readjust. But there was no time. The swing of her sword was a thing of beauty. The man’s head flew off his neck while the horse kept running, albeit more slowly without anyone directing it, and the man’s body slumped off to the other side.
Asteria landed on her feet, her wings rustling.Nox, I loved that woman.
Seeing that display from the future queen they dreaded seemed to inspire the enemy soldiers to regroup. Maybe she was more of a threat than they expected, maybe they just feared her regardless—I couldn’t rightly say. But they managed to line up a charge, which would take down many of Arien’s men if they succeeded.
“Calix! Asteria!” Titan called, and I looked to where he was running toward us. “Lord Freyr’s men! They’re coming from the other side. We’re going to be stuck between them.”
As he finished, a horn blew, announcing the approaching army.Fuck. The people of Day were obviously getting tired. We needed to swap out men quickly.
“Arien!” I called to my mate’s brother. He whipped around to face me after cutting open the stomach of the man he’d been fighting. “Tell me you have reinforcements!”
Arien shrugged helplessly with a grimace. “If they show up in time!”
By the Otherworld. I guess it was up to us. Thank Nox we’d come.
“Asteria, stick with me,” I instructed her, dipping my head and sending my near begging through the bond.
“Who are you to order her around?” Soren spat, stepping up to me like he was going to abandon the battle to take out his petty grievances.
I raised an eyebrow slowly, growling at him.
“Hey!” Asteria shouted, pulling Soren back. “He’s not ordering me around, you ass. And we have a battle to fight if you didn’t notice. Go fight that. I can speak for myself.”
Soren looked injured at her words, and I couldn’t blame him, honestly. Just because I wanted to disembowel him slowly and painfully with my claws didn’t mean I didn’t understand.
If I’d had Asteria and lost her, I’d lose my Tartarus damned mind.
Titan and Arien thankfully broke up the tension, ordering everyone into new lines. Asteria stayed with me, but Soren was sent to the other side. A smart move. I couldn’t guarantee my patience for the human lusting over my mate would last amid bloodlust.
I grabbed Asteria’s hand, kissing her knuckles. She smiled at me, nodding slightly. I nodded back before turning to face the coming charge.
As the horses began to gallop, I could hear the horn blowing from the other side. If we could break this charge, we could move over to help with Lord Freyr’s men. We couldnotlet this city fall to Aelius.
Asteria and I both let our wings free, flying up into the air as the riders galloped toward us. We were in the middle of the line, so most were able to see us. We flew right into the first two enemies we saw, knocking them down for someone else to finish. Then we continued on, knocking the men off their horses like dominos. Those who struggled, got a sword slashed across their throats.
