I’ve lost the Sturmfrost crown in my fall, I realize dazedly, hand at my temple—
“There!”Anassa’s mental snarl cuts off the thought.
The Kryptos woman and her wolf materialize in front of Stark and several paces off to the right. She uses her Kryptos power to obscure them from sight as they move.
Her control is astounding—I don’t understand how she stays so completely hidden in such a bright place. What is happening? Is it just because she’s older?
Or has something happened to make the magic… stronger?
Reaching for my sword, I drop into a fighting stance.
Once again, though, the Kryptos pair do something unexpected. Instead of coming for me, they swing wide. The woman draws a short lance and spears something glinting in the dirt.
Then they dash away.
My crown, I realize, stomach dropping.Fuck.There’s a whispering darkness in my veins, but once again, it’s only a whisper.
Stark and I lock eyes, and I nod, answering the question in his glance. “Get it back.”
“My queen,” he says. He and Cratos spring forward so quickly I barely see them move.
Anassa leaps down from the platform, and I remount, linking with the rest of the Strategos to assess the situation. I’m still weakened from the fall and shy away from the strain of trying to reach for those outside my pack again.
“Jonah had several teams planted around the perimeter,” Nevah says.“See there, there, and there.”She gestures with her dagger while also sharing pictures mentally.“They’re guarding the entrances and exits.”
The pack’s understanding of the field coalesces, ideas and updates flowing in from a dozen different minds.
“That group’s coming straight for us,” Izabel mind-shouts, and we all spot the cluster of wolves headed toward Jonah: mostly former Rawbonds who trailed around after him during training. Disturbingly, a few older Bonded are in the group, too.
“And from the left!” Nevah adds, leading a group around that side of the platform. All of us use the wooden structure at our backs as an extra defense.
“Form up!” I call, snapping back into battle mode. Our group is a little larger than Jonah’s, but not by much.
What the fuck? How is this a nearly even battle?
Many of the Bonded in the arena are still hanging back, I realize. Possibly waiting to see the outcome of this fight before picking sides.
My mouth twists.
There’s a familiar tension in the air, the sick hum of energy that happens just before bloodshed. From where I sit on Anassa’s back, I watch as the castle servants clock it, too. Their eyes dart between the two separate factions of Bonded. They know what’s going to happen here.
They quickly scurry back into the castle, away from the messiness that’s brewing. Jonah’s forces let them pass through the exits without an issue. Good. No one else needs to bear witness to this insanity.
The Strategos riders and other loyal Bonded close ranks around me. My gaze seeks out Stark and Cratos. They’ve almost caught the Kryptos woman, but she’s still a length ahead of them and making hard for an exit guarded by Jonah’s people.
Stark’s heading straight into the waiting line of the enemy.
“Don’t worry about them,” Anassa snaps at me.“They’ve been doing this since you were a pup. Sword up!”
The first group of attackers hits us, several armed with long spears they must’ve brought with them, anticipating this would happen. Assholes. We break ranks slightly to avoid the vicious weapons spearing our wolves.
Anassa darts in and snaps her teeth down on one of the spears, sending splinters flying as she shakes her snout. The rider wisely lets go but pulls out his sword.
I don’t think so.
I swing the Dire Blade toward him. Metal hits metal, and I grit my teeth as I press forward, forcing him back inch by inch.
Then Anassa clamps her jaws viciously and comes away with a chunk of fur between her teeth. There’s a hole where his wolf’s left ear was.
