Rawn’s eyes widened, and he tried to say something, but Anon kicked his wounded ribs, making him wheeze with pain.
Lucenna hissed under her breath, snarled curses coming from the green elves.
“Ah, there she is.” Altham announced as a beautiful she-elf in a white dress was escorted to his side. One guard murmured something in his ear, and Altham’s delight faded. His hard eyes glanced at the keep before saying, “What do you think, Garaea? Are you pleased with your intended?”
The Red Highland princess briefly glanced at Raiden, and dipped in a curtsy, keeping her gaze lowered. “Yes, father.”
But when she straightened, her amber eyes flickered to King Leif. They exchanged a look, and her head shook slightly. So subtle, Lucenna almost missed it. Leif’s expression shifted.
“I will not marry her,” Raiden repeated. “I am already promised to another.”
All heads snapped to him, including Garaea’s.
“What is the meaning of this?” Altham asked Leif narrowly.
King Leif shrugged. “I know nothing of what he speaks. Be that as it may, I must agree, for I find you have not kept up your end of our agreement.” He said this while looking at the princess, and she grew anxious. Leif rested a hand on his sword, facing Altham. “You have broken the oath that you have made before the God of Urn; thus, our treaty ends here. I do intend to take Rawn with me. Let us go peacefully, unless you wish to start another war.”
The Greenwood soldiers behind him drew their weapons, and Lucenna braced.
But Altham didn’t look perturbed by the subtle threat. He didn’t even seem angry that the wedding would no longer take place. He was … pleased.
Prince Anon tossed a flare of orange light into the sky. It burst like a firework.
No … like a signal.
“I have not broken my oath, Leif,” Altham said, resting his hand on his sword’s hilt as well. “For it was not bymyhand your Red Shade was harmed, andIwas not the one who ordered for more armed forces to the Blood Keep.” He sneered, enjoying his ability to find ambiguity around his promise. “Regardless, I never did intend to allow you to leave. For alas, I have always chosen war.”
Red elves took aim at them from the tower. There were three times as many guards as Altham agreed to bring.
Shadows passed overhead. Lucenna’s heart sank at the sight of Lord Gadriel and an armed host of Celestials.
King Leif looked almost relieved until he recognized the sigil of Nazar on their breastplates.
Altham laughed, drawing his weapon. “They are not here for you.”
“No,” Raiden said. “But they are.”
Lucenna dropped the invisibility spell. The squadron of Valkyrie soared over the Blood Keep and clashed into the Nazarians. She couldn’t help but grin at the sight of a bright blue comet speeding toward them in the far distance.
With it came a legion of gold.
Altham snarled and swung at Leif. Their swords clashed. An onslaught of steel and magic broke out as arrows rained down from the keep. Lucenna and Eldred threw up golden shields, blocking most of them.
“Go for Rawn!” Klyde shouted at her.
Lucenna blasted a red elf swinging for her head and sprinted for the dais, following on Raiden’s heels.
“Cover me,” he told her.
Raiden conjured a bow in his hands, made of pure magic. She watched in awe as he aimed an arrow of teal light at Anon. Lucenna threw out a volt of purple electricity, striking down every elf and arrow that came their way.
Seeing they were closing in, the red prince grinned. “Little Norrlen.” He chanted a spell, and an orange pentagram filled with runes flared out beneath his palm. Rawn tackled Anon, but that didn’t prevent him from shouting,“Arreita revlov!”
Orange light blasted toward them. In the instant before it struck, Raiden called up a lightning-fast spell of his own.“Ramrased!”
He released the arrow, and the two enchanted forces collided—and exploded. The blast catapulted them away, simultaneously shattering the atmosphere.
Lucenna hit the sand with a grunt. She gaped at Raiden. The magnitude of power behind that spell—he was a Magi Master, too.
