“That’s not —” I sent my magic through him, cutting him off. His flesh began to mend, and in seconds, the gash had closed. “Thank you, sweetheart.” He offered me his hand, and I placed my palm in his. “Shall we?”
Chapter Sixty-Nine
Cadence
Riordan didn’t hesitate, throwing himself back into the fray with abandon. I sprinted after him, the clash of weapons and the cries of combat crashing against my senses in a dizzying storm.
Blood, bodies, and magic surrounded me, blending into a single violent blur as I drove forward, carving a path toward the center of the chaos.
A mountain of a man lunged for me, his eyes wide with rage. I spun, catching his blade as sparks snapped through the air. Power coiled in my muscles, and with a swift twist, I slammed my elbow into his ribcage. He wheezed, stumbling back, and I used the moment to my advantage. I darted forward, gripping his forearm and sending a sudden, sharp burst of magic through him.
Not my mother’s magic, but my father’s.
The man in front of me withered and decayed right before my eyes, as my power sucked his life force from his body. It was over quickly, but recalling the agony that ravaged him made me shiver.
Grating steel drew my attention, and another soldier barreled toward me. He raised his sword high and let out an almighty roar as he lunged. I stepped to the side just as his blade came down, exactly as Eamon had taught me.
Guilt tightened my chest at the thought of my fallen guard, but I didn’t have time to indulge my grief.
First, I had to survive.
The weight behind his swing overextended him, and I drove my knee into his gut. When he doubled over, I brought the tip of my dagger down against the back of his neck, severing his spinal cord before he crumpled to the floor, unmoving.
Blood coated my hands, and sweat beaded my brow as I fought to catch my breath. But another Wraith Borne came at me immediately. There was no pause, no mercy, just the endless rhythm of bloodshed.
And I matched it, move for move.
My magic unfurled beneath my skin, racing along my arms in sharp, heated bursts. It begged to be released, to tear throughany threat that stood in my path. I let it flood my veins, a surge of strength rising from my core. I dodged the first strike, planting my hand over the hilt of her blade and sending a pulse of my power down through my palm.
But my skin wasn’t touching hers, and my magic fell away.
Until it didn’t.
Shadows shot forward from my fingertips, coiling around the woman’s wrist as my own magic surged forth, dancing along the inky tendrils, bridging the gap.
Her gaze locked with mine, and her eyes widened in horror before sinking into her skull. Her face grew gaunt as her skin tightened, and her body contorted, twisting and snapping with each jerky movement. When it was over, all that remained was a shriveled husk of the woman who had sought to claim my life.
I stumbled back as I peered down at my hands. The shadows had retreated, but I could still feel the thrum of magic vibrating just beneath my skin.
Ryker’s magic.
A scream tore through the room, harsh but unmistakable, drawing me out of my whirling thoughts.
I spun around, searching for its source.
Unease crept down my spine like hundreds of tiny spiders, causing me to shudder. My pulse spiked, and adrenaline flared like fire in my lungs. Then I caught sight of him.
Riordan.
Two of my father’s men were holding him back while he struggled against their grip. My father met my gaze, sinister and triumphant.
“Riordan!” Ryker sprinted across the chamber toward his brother.
His shadows cut through the room like ribbons of night, swallowing every threat in his way. But a soldier interceptedhim, appearing out of nowhere as he dragged a blade across his throat. Ryker dropped to the floor, and my heart ceased beating.
“Ryker!”
Callum screamed my name, but I couldn’t take my eyes off my mate as he lay unmoving in a pool of his blood.
