Their lines reformed, but everyone was being driven back. Their ranks thinned, spreading too far. Fae fell. Enemies fell. Her sword kept moving, eliminating anything that stood in her way. Because there was no other option. It was either fight or be devoured.
Sweat trickled down her temples. She kept one eye on the mound closest to her, then her gaze lifted to the sky. Saoirse’s heart lodged in her throat. Not only were there new creatures pouring from the ground, but she could see another horde flying straight for them.
Gods, what the hell had happened? Was Vairik dead? Had some spell been unleashed as a result? It had happened when Niall had been pierced with iron. It looked as though hell was rising to meet them rather than waiting for their souls in the underworld.
Saoirse yanked at her magic again, summoning a wall of living trunks that braided together. Her second shouted orders. Their line reformed. She grimaced, bracing, watching the beasts claw their way through the thick bark. Their numbers were too thin. They needed reinforcements, but everyone already knew none were coming. She glanced to her right. They could move toward the center and merge with her mother’s forces, but if she did that, she’d be leaving Alec vulnerable. She’d have to get his attention first. She’d never abandon a member of her family. Even if he fell, she’d rather die dragging his body back to Nàdair than leave him to be consumed by these foul creatures. She knew he’d do the same.
The ground shook again. Saoirse cursed and stepped back, her breath hitching when another mound began rising to her left.No.No, they couldn’t handle another surge. She adjusted her weapon anyway and planted her feet, already spiraling magic around the growing mound, ready to funnel them straight toward herself. She could handle it. She could conquer the world. Her legs shook, and Saoirse clenched her jaw.
There was no time for rest.
The creatures burst out and Saoirse roared, both hands gripping her sword as she charged. In a fury of movements, she hacked through body after body, shoving her magic in all directions at once. Sharp pain lanced through her side. She gasped, but pivoted, tugging on her magic again. Another bout of pain, this time in her left arm. She cursed again, ignoring the depletion in her body. Her magic, once a well full andoverflowing, had turned to nothing more than a husk, the edges dry and cracking.
She still didn’t stop.
Her skin crawled, the magic grating against her bones. She needed more. Just a few hours, then maybe she’d discover whether Vairik had actually fallen. Once that male was gone, maybe her soul would be able to rest in death, wherever it was headed.
A Dark Fae no bigger than a dog lunged for Saoirse’s throat. She impaled its body with a woody vine. It had gotten far too close. The beast struggled and whimpered, suspended in the air. Another leapt at her from the other side, and she brought her blade down, severing the strange bluish snout. The canine jumped back, pawing at the wound. She panted in triumph.
Saoirse’s body jerked to one side, and pain exploded through her back. She hit the ground hard and rolled, turning to come face to face with a beast that stood just as tall as herself. Its armored horn was clearly made for crushing bones, among other things. She tried to stand and winced when pain radiated down her spine. Saoirse forced herself to rise anyway.
“I’ll send you to hell,” she growled. The creature snarled, then lunged, but a gust of violent wind tore through the area, sending every single Dark Fae crashing into their comrades. They toppled together in a mass of snapping teeth.
Saoirse’s heart stuttered.
She knew that scent.
Saoirse spun, heart pounding, and located the female standing just a few feet away. She wore a warrior’s face, body outlined in armor and outfitted with weapons. Her eyes shone with a fiery determination she’d never once tried to hide.
Zylah.
Saoirse’s body moved of its own accord, crossing the distance in a few strides before grabbing the female by her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
Zylah’s eyes widened a moment, taking Saoirse in. Fear threatened to drown Saoirse’s mind. Fear and pride and something she couldn’t quite name.
“You always have such a nice way of saying thank you.”
Saoirse might have laughed if not for the creatures righting themselves. Her second was ready to hold them at bay, his warriors at his sides. “You should be at the palace.”
Zylah gritted her teeth. “I will not be remembered as a feeble half-breed who sat back while the rest of the Fae fought for our existence.”
“Zylah.”
“And I will not be remembered as the half-breed who left her mate to meet death on her own.”
Saoirse’s lips parted. She couldn’t rein her emotions back. Not this time. She thought she’d never lay eyes on this female ever again. She thought her final image had been of Zylah furiously scribbling in a notebook. She thought the female would remain underground. Safe. Saoirse’s eyes misted over, then she grabbed the back of Zylah’s neck, and right there, in the middle of the chaos and fire, and blood, she kissed her.
It was deep and unrelenting. The kind of kiss that could shatter the universe itself. Saoirse’s heart soared, ready to follow Zylah to the heavens and break down the gates if they denied her access. She pressed her forehead to Zylah’s, both females breathless. “Did you have to wait until we’re about to die?”
Zylah smiled. “Maybe I finally realized I was making a mistake.” She remained close, her arms on Saoirse’s now. “Survive this and I’ll give you a date.”
“Are you bribing me into living?”
“Maybe.”
“And I only get one?”
Zylah smirked. “You’ll have to earn the second.”
