I just pictured him in that video, thrashing against his restraints. Looking the most feral I had ever seen him. Staying hidden behind the statue, I peered to the side to see how my friends were doing.
All four of them were fighting Ilia.
The other soldiers and women were busy fighting themselves, but I grinned at the sight of the four-to-one battle happening with the man who needed to die the most, whereas Amber was now up against several siren women. Fury coated her expression as she slashed and slashed and quickly became cornered.
“You got this,” I muttered to everyone.
Audrey was shouting, her hair a mess, her clothing torn, as she orchestrated her hands enough to conduct the power of nature to her will. Roots and thorns and branches danced around everyone, targeting the Siren King.
But Ilia was fast and strong.
As soon as a branch as thick as my leg lifted to strike him, he would turn and grasp the branch with his bare hand, crushing the wood with his single grip.
Drustan, Drustan, Drustan, I started chanting in my head.
“I should have killed you years ago,” Ilia spat at Caelena, who shouted at him with a swing of her knife. It landed true, right in his shoulder, but Ilia shook her off with no more than a wince.
Holy shit.
Ilia was too powerful.
“You!” Ilia pointed an accusing finger at Sergei, who halted his charge with a pained expression.
Sergei was frozen, wide-eyed, and trembling.
No!
“Take care of the fae!” Ilia ordered. I stared in horror as Sergei immediately turned and raised his sword toward Liam.
“No!” Audrey screamed, frantically pulling more roots and vines to the frontlines. Liam yelled as he blocked a lethal blow from Sergei. The two of them were pushed out of Ilia’s space in their own fight.
“Kill the fae!” Ilia instructed Sergei. Sergei shook his head, wincing, screaming, but his body remained dutiful to the king. Striking Liam again and again, almost frantically.
Liam, wide-eyed with horror, kept up his defense.
Ilia just used his sinndra on Sergei. Ilia just used his sinndra on Sergei.
“Drustan, we need you,” I spoke, wondering if my voice would be better than mentally shouting for him. “I—I need you.” Watching, terrified for my friends, I immediately started clawing at the dirt at my feet. Desperate.
“You’re right. You should have killed me,” Caelena growled back at Ilia, focusing his attention on her. “Now, you’ll be the one to die first.” She raised her sword at the same time Audrey’s roots circled Ilia’s neck.
But he fought them.
Stepping toward Caelena regardless of the bounds Audrey created, he grabbed Caelena’s blade with his bare hand. Ignoring the blood oozing from his grip, he used his other hand to grab her hood and tug it down, angling his lips toward her ears as he muttered to her.
“Kill the halfling.”
Caelena stilled.
“No,” I whispered, clawing at the dirt more and more, loosening it up. I started to spit in the pile I made, but my mouth was so dry, it wasn’t enough. I eventually lifted a pile of dirt in my palms and shoved it in my mouth, desperate to moisten it enough.
Audrey’s eyes were frantic, desperate to keep an eye on Liam as he fought off Sergei the best he could, while also watching as Caelena stiffened and fought against Ilia’s sinndra with all her might.
It’s up to you, Van!Caelena’s voice echoed in my head.Don’t you get it?You’rethe only one who can release Drustan!
I shook my head.I’m trying!
Try harder!Caelena shouted, making my ears ring.
