‘There’s so many of them,’ Skye muttered.
Asher gripped her hand.
‘And yet, they’re still fucked,’ Glesni added, limping forward, her jaw set.
The Anomaly tilted her head, a smug grin swirling across her blurry face.
‘Is that so, old bitch?’ She spun her hand, a wind whipping up before us, twisting, tugging at my skirts. The Anomaly kept her cold gaze locked on Glesni as her winds built. ‘You’ll regret?—’
We all swore, falling back as a tsunami of flames burst forth. The guards fell, screaming and writhing as Glesni doused them with fire.
Skye hid her head in Asher’s chest; he covered her ears, shielding her from their screams. The Anomaly raised her head as the flames tore into her flesh. I gagged as her eyes dissolved, her skin sizzling and popping. Finally, turning away as her jaw crumbled.
Glesni brushed her hands together as their dying screams echoed off the damp walls.
‘She won’t be calling me a bitch again in a hurry.’
‘I don’t think she’ll be doing anything again in a hurry,’ Asher cried.
‘Or us,’ Matthias said, taking a few steps forward before the flames forced him back. ‘How do we get out of here, Gles?’
The old woman rolled her eyes.
‘Youth of today,’ she muttered. ‘No patience.’
She raised her hands, and the flames receded, leaving the smoking, still shuddering forms of the guards for us to pass. The threads of deepest plum crushed the breath from my lungs. I swallowed them down, fighting to contain them.
Pablo barked a warning as more boots pounded towards us.
Glesni’s shoulders drooped, a weak flame igniting in her hand.
‘Wait,’ I shouted, racing forward and grabbing her wrist, being careful to keep away from the flames. ‘Let me try.’
A spark lit up her ancient dark eyes as she glanced at the charred bodies, and the violet threads crashed against my feeble attempts to hold them at bay. I shook my head, visions of Mama’s cold fingers tearing apart her baby girl chilling me. I’d no idea who they’d attack. I could end up killing us all. Instead, I reached in and sent out a call of silver as the new guards arrived to see the mess Glesni had made of their comrades.
‘Throw down your weapons,’ a guard screamed, unaware how the walls awoke around him.
My chest heaved as I told them to hurry.
Glesni glanced back, a questioning look in her eyes as the corridor rang with the skitter of a thousand tiny claws.
‘I told you to throw down your weapons, traitors.’ He took a step forward, sword raised high. ‘Final chance.’ He stepped over the burning remains of the guard at the rear. ‘Drop your?—’
The corridor exploded into a flood of swarming, squealing ebony. The guards cried out. Asher swore as Skye threw her arms over him and every single palace rat tore past us, smothering the guards, devouring them with relish.
Glesni barked out a laugh, hobbling after the seething mass.
‘I always knew that gift of yours was useful.’
‘Really?’ I tugged Pab’s fur as he snapped at one of the rats.
‘Never doubted it for a second.’ Glesni cackled.
I clung to Matthias, and we got ourselves as far from the dungeon and the screams of the dying as possible.
CHAPTER 40
I swear to never fail the meek, nor will I abandon the frail. Those whose hearts are filled with adoration and love will never fear the dark. For I will be the eternal light guiding those I deem worthy. Anomaly or mortal. I will forever protect the gentlest of souls.
