Fear of something horrible happening to her ricochets through my body. I thought we had more time before having to part ways to fight in a battle. We can't be attached at the hip. I'd be more distracted with her fighting beside me than holding her own somewhere else.
"Where Shaye goes, I go." Nyx steps beside her, arms crossed.
"I will go north," I roll my shoulders back. "I can ensure the safety of the people dwelling there and cut off any attempts for them to escape through the forest."
"I'm with Atlas," Finn says without hesitation.
"Count us in as well." My mother and Ronan step forward.
"No," I point at my mother. "Stay with – "
"Your father and Eris will stay with Viella and the royal family in case the enemy makes a move for them," my mother cuts me off. "If the demons want a fight" – flames lick up my mother's arms – "then we will fight."
She was denied the opportunity to fight in the Great War. If I stand in her way now, she might be inclined to pull rank on me and I'm in no mood. And quite frankly, we don't have time. So reluctantly, I nod. "Fine." My eyes find Shaye. "Be safe."
She bobs her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "I will see you tonight, my love."
With that, she, Nyx, and the Basilius family take off down the hill. Shaye kicked her heels off ages ago, and sprints down toward the city with ease.
I shove all trepidation of not being with her to the back of my mind. Tronovians need us. With my brother, cousin, and mother with me, we take the path through the Old Kingdom to reach the northern part of the city.
Ronan hasn't said a word. Not that his words would do a better job of expressing his fury than the rage burning within him. Ronan is going to fight with everything he has. At least he has the comfort of knowing my father and Eris are guarding his new bride for when he returns.
We make it to the northern side and people are screaming, running in different directions, and sections of the city are collapsed from explosions. We sprint through the city streets, aiding citizens trapped under rumble and debris. My stomachclenches when I see blood in the streets and bodies of the dead scattered.
I'm so focused on searching for people with red-rimmed eyes I nearly miss the giant wolf-crocodile hybrids. Finn smacks his hand to my chest. "There's six of them."
"Six?" I stare down the street and sure enough, terrorizing my people, shattering glass windows, and destroying everything in their path arecrolves. "Fuck." Shadow swords appear in my hands. "Protect the people on this side. Ronan – "
My cousin doesn't wait for instructions. He sprints ahead, shifting into his transcendent state. I haven't seen Torch in years, but Ronan is a beast unleashed. He screams and wraps his arms around one of the creatures. It howls in scorching pain. Ronan doesn't release him. He's so blinded by his rage he fails to see one charging him from behind. I'm just out of reach. I scream for Ronan to turn around, but thecrolfsuddenly twists in horrific shapes. It's arms and legs are broken in several different unnatural angles. It bellows, levitating off the ground.
I twist and look back at Finn. His eyes are bright orange. He's using his affinity. "I've got this one. Push forward!"
Ronan drops the dead creature, sizzling and charred. He takes off down the street, his brutal tactic working. I take off after him, slicing thecrolvesthat start chasing my cousin. He's perfect bait. The second the creatures realize I'm behind them, it's too late. I cut them down easily, their blood splattering across my face.
Six down. But as we turn the corner, we see more at the end of the street wreaking havoc. Where are they all coming from?
Four more turn their attention to me and Ronan. He's getting tired, I can see his shoulders droop.
"You've spent too long in your Torch state," I tell him, garnering a wicked glare. "You're no good to anyone dead or burnt out, Rone. Fall back."
"No!" His flames grow hotter, licking up higher.
"Rone," I growl. "Don't be fucking stubborn. I don't need you passing out."
"I said – "
I slice my sword up, blocking his path. "I will not watch my future king put himself in danger. Fall back. Regroup."
My mother joins us. "Listen to him, Ronan. Finn will watch over you. Atlas and I have this covered."
Ronan's eyes are burning in anger, but there's a weariness there, too. Finally, his flames douse and he falls to his knees in a smoke of exhaustion. Finn is on us, his eyes back to normal.
"Go!" He yells. "I'll watch over him."
My mother and I sprint forward. "I've got the two on the left," I say and she nods with a wicked smile. Flames flicker up to her elbows. She throws her hands out in two different directions as the creatures attempt to escape us. Blasts of fire find her intended targets and holds them in place, igniting their scales and patches of fur.
I avoid their attack, using my speed to my advantage. I dip and dodge their claws and spiked tails, slicing their reptilian bodies before decapitating them. That's when I see her. Vesper.
