The zombies had come up from the Paris Metro at every stop they’d pushed past in that city. Jono figured Manhattan would be the same. Reed’s plan to bury the dead wasn’t going to stop them from clawing their way up another subway stop farther down the line.
“We need to keep heading downtown. Whatever altar Ethan will use, it won’t be built on houses but skyscrapers.”
Fenrir growled agreement on that through his mind, the god’s surety like ice in Jono’s veins. The chill came from within, not the rain beating down on his bare shoulders.
Leon snarled a warning, and Jono’s head jerked up, attention focusing on the threat coming their way out of the broken windows of Grand Central Station. Drekavacs flung themselves onto the road of the viaduct, having found a way out like Jono knew they would’ve. The barricade that Reed had set up at the viaduct’s intersection had either been abandoned or fallen, because there was no one in that area to stand their ground.
“Fuck,” he said.
“Oh, I hate those things,” Wade groaned. “You sure you don’t want me to shift and eat them?”
“We can’t risk you bringing a building down on top of us. Guard Sage and Marek. Leon and I will handle them.”
“You got it.”
Jono sucked in a breath and exhaled harshly before shifting again. The ache in his bones faded as his nerves were turned off, leaving behind no pain as his body broke itself down into wolf form. When he stood on all four legs, the drekavacs were halfway to their position.
Leon planted himself beside Jono, lips curled up over his fangs as he snarled a challenge at the oncoming, fast-moving zombies. Jono was absolutelydonewith fucking zombies. Too bad no one told the drekavacs that.
The horde coming their way was ten strong, quick and vicious. Two werewolves might not be enough to hold them off, even with Fenrir riding his soul, so it was probably a good thing Wade was incandescently angry and willing to spit fire at any who got close to his position. Dodging the fire while dodging teeth and claws as Jono went in for the kill time and time again meant he and Leon had to spread out along the road between abandoned cars.
Space was tight, and while they didn’t have to contend with bullets on the viaduct, the drekavacs weren’t easy adversaries. They were worse than the slower-moving bodies taken from Paris or graves. But the zombies weren’t the only problem they had to contend with though.
Wade’s panicked warning shout caught Jono’s ear. He spat out a broken arm before looking behind him at where Wade now stood with his back to them. Coming through the fog up the viaduct from the street level was a group of all-too-familiar jaguar constructs.
Sodding hell. More gods.
“We need to get off the viaduct,” Sage said from where she stood wrapped up in Marek’s arms.
Both easy routes were blocked. Their only option was to jump, but Jono wasn’t sure Sage had strength enough to hold on to him. Jono howled, calling for help from the packs and any vampires or fae who could be spared.
The help that arrived was unexpected.
Lightning flashed directly overhead, and the thunder that boomed through the air sounded like a continuous drum. The jaguars paused in their advance up the viaduct, and their hesitation cost them. Spears thrown from above lodged themselves in the constructs, shattering the jaguars into so many pieces of obsidian.
Jono looked up at the sky over Grand Central Station and howled a welcome to the valkyries on their pegasi flying toward them. Joining them was Hinon, the Haudenosauneethunder god’s huge, storm-colored wings flapping powerfully in the air. Lightning crackled around the god, and he aimed several bolts to strike the enemy on the ground.
Over a dozen valkyries dived to their position, picking off the remaining drekavacs as they flew over the viaduct. Several landed lightly on the road amidst the rubble and shattered bits of the jaguars. Brynhildr was in the lead, with Thor seated behind her astride her pegasus.
She leaned over and gripped a spear embedded in the road, yanking it free with inhuman strength. She straightened up in the saddle, eyes blazing in her face. “We heard the call and came as quickly as we could through the veil.”
Thor slid off the pegasus behind her, Mjölnir clenched tightly in one fist. Lightning crackled around the hammer, crawling up his arms, but he didn’t appear bothered by it. “Well met, cousin.”
“You made decent time,” Fenrir said.
“Would’ve been faster if the veil wasn’t spreading where it shouldn’t. Containment will be difficult, if it’s not already too late,” Thor said.
Fenrir snapped Jono’s teeth together. “This is a god’s beginning we shall end.”
Thor’s smile was cold and vicious, eyes dark with memory Jono could feel was shared with Fenrir. “May your hunger be all-consuming.”
“Eir,” Brynhildr called out. “Tend to the wounded.”
The young-looking valkyrie slid off her saddle with ease, clutching a spear in one hand. Jono watched as she ran toward Sage, who watched her come with wide eyes. Jono didn’t know what the immortal was going to do, but he wasn’t going to stop her if it meant Sage could stand upright for longer than ten seconds without support.
Another explosion echoed through the air, smoke drifting on the wind from around the corner behind them. Jono blinked rainwater out of his eyes, seeing more zombies climbing out of the ruined windows of Grand Central. Sparks of Spencer’s magic flashed over zombies, but he couldn’t see where Peklabog or Baba Yaga had got to.
Hinon streaked toward them in a tight dive, his massive wings folded behind him. When he landed, the road shook with his impact, but he appeared unaffected. “Where is Patrick?”
