He glances around the ragtag group of fighters, waiting for someone to offer a better idea. Nobody does.
“Anything to add, High Queen?” He glances at me and my heart swells.
I stifle my smile and force myself to look at every single male and female in front of me. I etch their faces into my memory. I could be signing their death warrants. “I’m not sure what kinds of creatures will be there, but I have fought—and killed—many cambions. Cut their head off, burn their bodies, or chop them into pieces. The Cursed are scary, but they can be killed. Kill the witches and it kills the creatures they control. We can do this. We have to do this. We are the only hope for these people. Be brave and be strong.”
They nod in unison.
“Can any of you funnel?” Asmo asks the group. Several raise their hands. “Good. Take two or three hybrids with you and funnel into separate locations, then we’ll attack from a different side. I’ll leave you to figure out your funnel destinations. We leave infive minutes.”
Etta stands in the corner of the room watching us. She wears a simple white linen shirt and leather pants, but no weapons.
“Aren’t you coming with?” I ask as the group disbands to strap even more weaponry to their bodies.
“I can’t, but Amaris will be joining in a moment.”
“Why can’t you?” I press. If I’m going, why can’t she?
She shakes her head once, a look of shame written across her face. “I don’t have powers anymore. They’re gone.”
I cringe, both at the thought of losing my magic and for pressing her. “I’m sorry,” I whisper. My magic is something that feels like another, living extension of me, of my soul. To have it ripped away would be like losing a part of me.
Etta crosses her arms and looks back up at me, her gaze now hardened. “Don’t be. Just make them pay.”
I nod, but what I really want to say is,I have no clue what I’m doing.
Amaris strides in, a look of determination on her face. If anyone knows what they’re doing when it comes to fighting, it’s her. She’s in her usual uniform—black leather pants, black leather vest, dagger hilts from every pocket. Her posture is strong, and her stride is steady, measured. She acknowledges me with a brief bow, then heads to the two Fae males in the corner.
Asmo carves a mark into his stomach, but it’s different from the usual one. It’s two slashes, a third one cutting between them. “What is that?” I ask.
“Keeps me clothed after I shift. Don’t want to be running around naked fighting witches, do I?” He smiles, but he seems nervous.
This is just another reminder of how much he knows about dark magic. How much he’s hiding from me. He carves a second sigil next to it, the oval and the X, then hands me the knife.
“Let’s go,” Asmo barks after I carve my sigil.
We walk toward the group of Lower House members willing to fight and defend the citizens of a kingdom that tossed them to the side.
Let’s make them pay. Let’s make themallpay.
Chapter 30
MAE
Asmo funnelsus into a dank alleyway. The sound of screams and the metallic scent of blood hang in the air. I turn, adrenaline and the burn of my magic beginning to take hold, but Asmo grabs my forearm.
“Wait,” he says, turning me to face him. “How are you feeling?”
Despite the adrenaline, my pulse races and my palms are already slick with sweat. “Nervous,” I admit.
“Come on,” he scoffs. “You’ve taken on an army of cambions before and you fought off the First Witch.”
But his words only remind me of my failures. “The army of cambions nearly killed Elle, and Cora nearly killed me,” I grumble.
“We handled those witches at Bouldercrest without a problem,” he says.Yeah, when that Cursed wolf sunk its teeth into my leg?Asmo pulls me into his arms. “You’re powerful and you’re smart. We can do this,” he says, brushing my lower lip with his thumb.
Wecan do this, not just me. I don’t have to do this by myself. I have my…whatever Asmo is to me to help me. Boyfriend feels too trivial. We’ve been through too much together. Partner, maybe. Because that’s what he feels like—he’s been with me through everything and stood beside me through it all. I press my lips to his, wishing I could melt into him.
“You’re their queen, Mae,” he whispers against my lips. “Show them.”
