“Run!” Cassiel grabbed Dyna’s hand, and they sprinted after them.
They dodged people and burning heaps as he tried to get her out of there. Screams rang around them. Valkyrie swarmed the skies, their divine swords. He couldn’t risk flying without Dyna getting hurt. Azure Guards teemed through the market in a flood of blue. They led people to safety and put out fires, but the Valkyrie rendered any who confronted them to ash. They ran past Draven as he fought against Commissioner Veron, battle-ax against sword.
Cassiel soon lost sight of the others in the mayhem. Dyna’s hand gripped his hard, her fear coiling around his racing heart. She screamed his name and yanked on his arm. A hatchet spun past, missing his neck by a fraction. Electricity blasted through his back, and it sent him crashing, taking her with him. He hit the ground, every muscle in his body spasming as he gasped in pain.
“You wretched bitch!” Galen stood over them, his hate-filled eyes pinned on Dyna. “I knew I should have killed you on the boat.”
Cassiel pleaded with his body to move, but he was numb. Terror seized him as that hatchet came for Dyna and a cry ripped from his throat. She threw her crossed arms over her head. Galen’s sword bounced off her with a dullclang, the force knocking him back a step. He gaped at her, as did Cassiel.
How?
Galen snarled and raised his hatchet again. A spinning blade struck the weapon out of his hands. They all turned as Von approached, strolling through the chaos. Dressed in all black, riddled with knives, his face chiseled stone.
Galen frowned. “Who are—”
Von leaped into a spin kick. His boot rammed into Galen’s jaw and brutally slammed him on the ground. The poacher slumped, head lolling, as he fell unconscious.
Cassiel jerked upright as Von faced them, the feeling finally returning to his body. Why did he save them? Von’s gaze fixed on Dyna. No, it wasn’t to help. Tarn needed her alive.
“Come with me, lass,” Von told her. “Don’t make me hurt him.”
Cassiel snatched the fallen hatchet at the same time she drew her knife and sprang protectively in front of him.
“Try it,” Dyna said, the challenge honed in steel.
“Oi! You, there!” Kye and a unit of Azure Guards charged for Von. He cursed and ran in the opposite direction as they chased after him.
Dropping the hatchet, Cassiel grabbed Dyna to inspect her arms. There was no blood. “Are you hurt? What was that?”
She pulled off the heavy cloak to reveal her fae armor and the silver-leafed jacket underneath. “It’s enchanted.”
“ThankElyon.” He exhaled heavily and pulled her into his embrace. If it wasn’t for the jacket, the attack would have killed her.
“Little prince.” A Valkyrie towered them, her distinct wings the color of deep wine arching behind her.
She gripped a glaive in her fist, her armor and greaves stained with blood. Vivid blue flames swiveled around the thick blade. Her rich brown eyes, the same color as her skin, looked down at him. Strength oozed from her confident form, honed with a sharp edge. She’d braided her black hair in a coronet, exposing a face he had seen a hundred times before.
“Sowmya,” Cassiel whispered.
“You must come with us, Your Highness. Lord Jophiel awaits you.”
He couldn’t go with them, not yet. “The Valkyrie should not be here. Tell Yelrakel I command her to cease this madness and return to Hermon Ridge at once.”
“We are under orders, little prince. Orders that not even you can defy.”
Cassiel stiffened. For her to say that, the command came beyond his uncle.
Sowmya’s gaze flickered to Dyna, and he instinctively held her closer. “Shall I dispose of the human?”
“You will not touch her,” he said coolly. “I granted her immunity inallFour Realms.”
Her wide eyes stared at Dyna. Before she could reply, a wide net dropped over her. Azure Guards held the ends and fought to restrain her. With a vicious snarl, Sowmya shoved her glaive through the stomach of a guard and tossed him behind her. His body vanished in a wisp of ash.
“Stand down!” one begged her. “We mean you no harm!”
But Sowmya hacked at the net and would soon be free. The guards fought to keep her contained. Cassiel hauled Dyna to her feet as a black wolf joined them. They sprinted through the market, following Zev toward the alleyway, where Lucenna and Rawn waved at them. But Draven and a group of his men were on their heels.
“Pardon me,” Dyna said. Grabbing his wing, her body blazed with light. She threw out a hand behind them, and the air exploded with green fire, casting the poachers back.
