He stared at her, unmoving, still clutching Arianna’s lifeless body to his chest. Laoirse stepped forward, the mist forming around her feet like ripples in a pond.
“Rise,” she commanded.
“I’m not leaving her.”
Laoirse approached without fear and bent down beside Arianna’s lifeless form. He didn’t know why he allowed Laoirse to reach out, but the female pushed a few stray strands away from Arianna’s beautiful face.
“Rise,” she whispered again. She wasn’t speaking to him.
Something pulsed through Rion’s chest. He grabbed at the area, feeling as if his soul was being torn from his body.
The bond.
Gods above, the bond. It was—
“Quell your fear, Rion of Alastríona. This is not the end of your story.”
Chapter Fifty-Two
Talon
A piercing cry split the air that was so high-pitched and shattering, Talon thought the world had finally come crashing down. He spun and dread settled in the pit of his stomach. Hundreds, no, thousands of wings were heading straight for them.
Reinforcements. The Dark Fae had reinforcements flying in from the northern mountains. He’d already seen dark creatures crawl up from the bowels of the earth. He supposed the next bout coming from the sky made sense.
Raevina backed away a step. Not to flee, but to absorb the finality closing in around them.
They had nothing left to offer. No magic to counter strike.
The wall shattered, and the Fae immediately behind it were ripped apart and devoured.
Raevina met his gaze. Fear shone in those beautiful eyes. The exact kind of fear he’d seen just last night. Talon approached and interlaced his fingers with hers. He didn’t turn away. Her face would be the last thing he saw before leaving this wretched world.
Magic flew in all directions as those with reserves fought to the very end. The wind from the new Dark Fae’s wings had Talon tottering. He waited for claws to tear into his shoulder, but those creatures landed instead, separating Talon and Raevina from the charging beasts.
They drew their weapons and sliced through the horde of Dark Fae as if they were walking through water. Those same piercing cries echoed across the field. The new arrivals fanned out in an organized line. Their beautiful wings spread wide,six along their back, and Talon had to take a moment to fully register the events unfolding before his eyes.
“Harpies,” he whispered. Thousands of them. The very creatures that had been listed alongside the Dark Fae in their textbooks. The creatures rumored to be nothing more than myth.
Their army moved as one, pushing the Dark Fae back. They were … succeeding. He stared in awe. They wielded spears and swords and were clad in a type of light armor he’d never seen before. He half expected the Dark Fae’s claws to tear straight through it, but they bounced off, the armor just as strong as steel.
Their wings were fanned wide, helping the harpies keep their balance. There were so many colors. Browns, blacks, whites, those who were speckled.
One landed right beside him, a lightning strike taking form. Talon yanked Raevina back. A female harpy. She stood an entire head taller, her white wings open, armor new and glistening. Raevina snarled, but the Harpy lifted one hand. To his surprise, Raevina paused.
“We answer the queen's call,” the harpy said in a thick accent, as if she'd only been practicing the language recently. “We will strike down her enemies. Prepare for when she awakens.” Talon didn't have time to respond before the female launched herself back into the air. He shielded his face, then watched her become one with the army hovering in the sky.
But—Arianna was gone. She wouldn’t—a light shimmered to his right and Talon’s heart leapt in response. Rion still held her, but he was looking at her differently now. With a trace of hope.
Talon dared a step closer. Golden light emitted from Arianna’s forehead, then branched out to either side of her face, the lines a mirror image of the other.
The tendrils of light worked their way down her arms, spiraling around her limbs like an active ribbon of light.
The Fairy Folk rushed to her side, placing their tiny hands on both Rion and Arianna.
Then their voices rose.
An ethereal melody that stood out in stark contrast to the grim sound of battle.
