Relief shuddered through me as I lifted my eyes to the carnage along the battlements. Blood and gore caked the stones, and the stench of death was overwhelming. There were dozens of bodies, fae and pooka alike. We’d killed nearly a hundred of the creatures, but they’d managed to get their claws and fangs into at least twenty of ours. My heart ached at all the life lost, at all those men and women who would never again see the moon-drenched sky.
But this was war, and I was their king, and I could not show my despair. I had to be strong for everyone who lived. And this battle was not over just yet.
“Archers, to the wall!” I called out as I wiped the gore from my blade. “Stay in position in case another wave comes. Those with swords will split up. Half of you stay here to back up our archers. The other half head into the city. We’re going to help Tessa clear these streets. Mist Guard, you’re with me.”
A moment ago, fear and dismay had painted every face along this wall, even Toryn’s. But almost all of them had spotted what I had—that beautiful, winged creature soaring over the enemy and using my brutal power to stop them from killing more innocent civilians. Down in the courtyard, she landed in front of a pack of pookas, and a wicked smile curved her lips. I felt that tug again and then a soft release. My power blasted into the creatures, but it didn’t stretch any further, like it usually did when I unleashed it.
A storm fae cried out from behind her. My heart lurched into my throat as he lifted a hand to throw his crackling lightning at her back. But Tessa shot up into the clouds, and his magic bounced off the stone and raced right back toward him. He had to duck to avoid the blow. It distracted him long enough for her to land on the street once more. The storm fae was dead before he could take his next breath.
“For the love of the moon,” Toryn muttered beside me. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Pride surged through me. The fighters on the wall gathered behind me, readying themselves for the next round of battle. And they all watched as the other half of my soul—their queen—faced one of those monstrous scorpions. She easily destroyed the creature with no help from anyone.
I needed to reach her side. There were dozens more enemies out in the streets. Tessa was strong, but I would not risk her getting surrounded.
“This city,” I called out loudly enough for every soul along the wall to hear me, “was once believed to be blessed by the very moon itself. So close to the sky, the Druids said, that the stars embedded their protective magic within the stones. The city has never fallen. And it will not fall today. For while the gods have muted our elite fae powers, they cannot mute the force of nature you’re witnessing this day.” I lifted my sword in the air. “Let us help Tessa Baran finish this. May the realm never break!”
The fae roared as I took off down the stone steps that led into the courtyard and the city beyond. The mists had cleared down here, providing a full view of the carnage left behind. The storm fae and their creatures had killed many unsuspecting fae who had ventured out of their homes when the Temple bell had rung. I cast a quick glance at the castle doors. They were broken and bent. But they still held, and Tessa had taken care of all the enemies in the courtyard.
She’d battled her way into the streets to protect the civilians hiding in their homes.
“Someone guard the castle doors!” I shouted as I raced through the courtyard. From the streets ahead, feral growls and gurgled screams drifted toward me.
Several warriors broke off from our group to stand watch by the castle, just in case more of the enemy spilled into the courtyard from the sewers. I pointed at the entrance to the sewage tunnel as we rushed past. Another handful of fae raced off to close up the breach.
Fenella and Toryn remained with me, one on each side, and soon, we reached the city beyond the courtyard. Tessa stood in the center of the street just beyond it, her wings flared wide behind her. They looked different now—the ends of the feathers gleamed the color of sapphire. She spun in a slow circle, her gloveless hands curled and shaking, as she eyed the storm fae surrounding her. She was trapped, and I understood at once why she hadn’t loosed my power upon them yet.
The storm fae held captives.
Fifty
Tessa
It had gone so well. I should have known it wouldn’t be as easy as that. If it were just the beasts, it would have been over by now. They wouldn’t be smart enough to put innocents between themselves and the magic burning at my fingertips. But the storm fae had seen me fighting with Kalen’s power, and they’d understood.
Next thing I knew, they were dragging innocents out of their homes and clutching them against their chests. Shields—against me.
And now I was surrounded.
I held up my hands. “Let them go. I’m the one you want. Not them.”
One of the storm fae sneered. “The entire city must die, including its king.”
As if to punctuate his statement, he lifted a dagger to the sobbing girl’s throat, but then blood sprayed before he could follow through on his threat. A spear shot through his neck, cutting off his breath. The storm fae loosened his grip on the girl, the light in his eyes blinking out as he fell.
The street exploded into chaos. Warriors rushed in from the courtyard behind us, led by a snarling Kalen and his Mist Guard. They were a whirlwind of death and mist as they swept through the circle of storm fae who had surrounded me. In the rush of it all, the innocents managed to spring free, and I motioned for them to follow me away from the fray.
They were crying and screaming and shaking like leaves, but they followed me off the path and up the steps of the nearest building. I yanked open the door and motioned them into the dark room. “Get inside and don’t come out, even if you hear that bell ringing again.”
“How will we know it’s safe?” a pale-faced girl asked, her lower lip wobbling. She reached out to take my hand, but I quickly pulled it away.
“I will come back here and tell you myself.” I started to shut the door but then paused at the look of utter devastation on her face. There was something in her eyes, something in the rawness of her expression, that made my heart twang. She reminded me so much of myself, of Nellie, and of Val—back before we’d escaped from Teine. Like she’d lost her hope. “Your king is out there fighting for your lives. He will not let you down. And neither will I.”
“Your wings,” she whispered as I turned to go. “Are you one of the gods?”
I gave her a slight smile. “No, I’m something better. I am the Daughter of Stars.”
The name came to me as if I’d known it all my life, and the fae inside the building fell silent as I passed through the door to rejoin the battle in the streets. With a determined gait, I walked back down the steps and curled my hands. Kalen was locked in a battle with a storm fae. Fenella and Toryn had surrounded a pack of shadowfiends and were taking them out one by one. The streets were thick with fighting, dozens of shadow fae wielding their swords against the enemy.
