I lifted my eyes to the horse, who was neighing and stomping at the ground. “Keep Silver safe.”
Swallowing, I lifted my sword, my limbs screaming in protest. Every muscle in my body ached. It had been far too long since I’d had a good sleep, and the past few days had been a blur of agony, fear, and rage. But I would not back down.
A shadowfiend lumbered toward us. Niamh swore as she loosed an arrow, but the beast batted it aside. She grabbed another arrow from her quiver and shot. Again, the beast knocked it aside. As I stared down the snarling creature, I sucked in a breath, then another. My past rose behind me on phantom wings, threatening to remind me just how weak and powerless I was.
But I shoved those thoughts aside. I’d won one fight. I could win another, especially when this time, I wasn’t facing one of these monsters alone.
The beast roared and leapt into the air, its claws outstretched. Niamh loosed another arrow. This time, the sharp tip slammed into the shadowfiend’s neck. The creature howled in pain, but it just kept coming, its vicious fangs aimed right at my throat.
I swung my sword as it crashed into me. My breath rushed from my lungs as I landed hard on my back. Several more shadowfiends rushed out from the dark, their sights on the fae. Nellie was safely in the middle of a group of archers now, thank the light. It was the only thought I had before the beast swung its claw at my face.
I got my sword up just in time, and the blade sliced into the beast’s paw. Its wild eyes zeroed in on me, and thick, rancid blood dripped onto my face. The shadowfiend kept pushing and pushing, as if it didn’t notice the pain from the sword cutting into its paw. Suddenly, the blade shifted in my hands, tipping sideways until the blunt side pressed against the claw.
The beast shoved down, even harder now. Tears leaking from my eyes, I released my grip on the sword and rolled to the right. The sharp claws hit the ground right where I’d just been. Sand sprayed into the air, mingling with the mist. Sucking in a shaky breath, I leapt to my feet.
“Tessa!” Kalen roared from somewhere in the distance. But I couldn’t look for him, not now. The beast knocked my sword aside and started stalking toward me. I took a step back, swallowing.
Niamh and the other fae warriors were engaged in combat with the rest of the shadowfiends. Kalen was too far away to help me now, blocked by the circle of beasts in the middle of our army. My sword was out of reach. Now it was just me and the creature stalking toward me, snapping its sharp fangs at the air.
I curled my fingers and felt that darkness pulse through my veins, whispering words into my mind.
Use me, it hissed.Kill the beast.
My mouth went dry. The power in my veins—the power of a god—was all I had now. But if I gave in and tried to use it, would the darkness claim me, too? I’d seen what had happened to Oberon and to Kalen’s mother—what had happened to my own father. The power had twisted them, corrupted them beyond saving.
Yes, Oberon had fought back against it in the end, but it had been too little, too late. He’d died a monster, despite how hard he’d tried to right his wrongs. None of it could undo all his terrible deeds. All his cruelty. All the lives he’d ruined in his quest to extend the life of someone who had become just as twisted as he had.
But if I didn’t do something, this shadowfiend was going to kill me.
“Tessa!” Kalen shouted again. “Get your sword!”
I shuddered as the beast took another thunderous step toward me. I glanced behind it, where my sword lay on the sandy ground. If I could just get around the shadowfiend, I could grab my blade. And that would be enough. I wouldn’t need to use the power then.
Body coiled tightly, I stepped to the side. The beast growled and inched closer. I shifted to the side again, keeping my gaze locked on its snarling face.
Another step, and it followed. But I was only a few more moves away from the sword now.
And then it lunged.
I threw up my hands as the shadowfiend’s fur-coated body slammed into me. My back hit the ground, snapping my neck and sending a storm of stars through my eyes. Its heavy body pinned me in place, and it ran a long, wet snout along my cheek. I ground my teeth, shuddering, memories rushing through my mind. This was just like that night—that horrible moment when I’d been nothing but a helpless child tossed to her death by her own father.
I’d survived then, but only just.
That night had broken me. It had twisted me until I’d become a reckless ball of rage.
My hands shook as they pushed against the beast’s rough fur. Tears of terror burned my eyes, but I gritted my teeth, forcing down the fear so I could focus—focus on the place where my hands connected with the shadowfiend. The creature bellowed as it heaved up its massive paw, ready to swipe its claws right through my neck. Its other claw pinned me in place, piercing my fighting leathers and digging into my skin. Venom stormed through me, and my vision began to swim.
I squeezed my eyes shut, calling upon whatever power I had inside me, even as I hated and feared every part of it. Something stirred in my veins, something dark, electric, and so terrible that it made my teeth slam together. Hissing between my clenched teeth, Iforcedthat power into the beast.
But nothing happened.
Sudden certainty of death punched my heart. I opened my eyes and braced myself for the pain.
A sword whistled above my head. Alastair’s blood-soaked face appeared as he roared and shoved his blade deep into the shadowfiend’s gut. The beast let out a soundless scream. Blood and gore sprayed. The weight left my chest as the creature tumbled sideways and landed heavily on the sand.
My nostrils flared as I sucked in frantic gasps of air. The venom was spreading now, numbing my limbs and silencing the world around me. Alastair fell to my side and brushed back the hair that had pulled free of my braid.
“Little dove, speak to me,” he said in an urgent voice. “Tell me what hurts.”
