And in the skies where wild winds sing,
Beast and bond form a timeless ring.
“Yes,” I whisper. “And this time, we take to the skies.”
His face twists into something feral. “See, this is the kind of plan I can support,” he nods, all mischief and cheek, removing his ill-fitting leathers in preparation.
Kael unsheathes a blade, silver and shadow crackling at his other palm.
Teddy crouches low, axe above his shoulder.
Jax harnesses from Kael, shadows licking at her wrists.
Seren checks her crossbow bolts.
And together, we ready to bring the world to its knees.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX
KAEL
“No mercy,”I command in a predatory rumble.
No one speaks, eyes fixed on the Starborn soldiers that gnash at the Nullveil.
We stalk the perimeter, waiting for our chance.
Muscles coiled tight, jaws set for carnage.
We’re ready.
The Nullveil collapses under Jax’s command, dissolving into a million glimmering shards that vanish into the storm around us.
And the world unravels.
The Starborn army surges forward.
Metal and magic and ruin.
But this time, we don’t retreat.
We meet them with steel and savage.
Teddy charges first, his roar splitting the night. Seren’s bolts follow, bright streaks of silver light cutting through the haze.
The ground trembles as the Vaythari descend from the western ridge, their staves striking the earth in a rhythm that shakes the marrow of the world.
Zhari. Zhari. Zhari.Their chant rises like thunder.
The Caelorian soldiers on the causeway turn to face them, ancient warriors clashing with advanced training.
From the east, the Cindrali answer in fury—in the kind of rage that festers after centuries forgotten. Their war cries carry on spirals of wind and heat, braids snapping like whips behind them.
The battlefield blooms with opposing forces made one—ancient and new, wise and advanced, savage and trained.
It’s chaos, yes, but it’s beautiful.
Bloody and feral and beautiful.
