Was it one of the gods?
I got my answer a moment later when I flew through the arched tower wall and landed in a crouch next to a cloaked figure whose face was hidden in shadows. Still, I recognized the burst of silver hair shot through with red. I’d only ever met one person with hair like that—one person I never would have expected to turn on us like this.
“Caedmon,” I said quietly, rising behind him and folding my wings into my back so I could draw my sword.
He stiffened and let go of the bell’s rope. With the sound as loud as it was, he hadn’t heard me approach. Several more clangs followed as he turned to face me, pushing back his hood. His eyes flashed with defiance.
“I thought you might be the one to come for me.” His lips flattened. “But it’s too late, Tessa. The shadow fae are already leaving their homes.”
“Why?” I asked, my palms slick around the hilt of my sword. “Why would you do this? To your own city? Your own people?”
He shook his head, his eyes a bit wild. “You don’t understand, do you? You’re all going to die.Weare all going to die unless we join them. Because Kalen Denare has proven he does not have what it takes to win.”
My heart pounded. “You opened the sewer gates for them. That’s why you volunteered to guard it. Where is Brigid? Is she alive?”
“I am sorry,” he said softly. “I wish it didn’t have to happen like this, but this is the only choice we have. Come with us, Tessa. You have a place by Andromeda’s side. That’s what Sirius said.”
“I would rather die than join her.”
I raised my sword, readying myself for a fight. Now that I’d turned him down, he would strike me with whatever weapon he had hidden beneath the folds of that cloak. He was a good fighter—one of the best I’d ever seen.
He had helped Nellie, shown her kindness even when she’d started shifting into a creature that would make many others turn away from her. He’d sat with me on the long journey, listening to my tales and sharing his. And he had helped the storm fae of Gailfean when all had seemed lost.
Tears burned my eyes, and that vicious, burning anger raced through me once more. Not at him—never at him. It was toward those fucking gods.
He smiled when I started advancing on him, the tower’s rough stones scraping against my boots. “Your choice then. I’m sure I’ll see you soon enough.”
And then he leapt backward onto the ledge and vanished through the archway.
I sucked in a sharp breath and raced after him. Stumbling to a stop along the edge of the tower, I stared down at where Caedmon had fallen onto the back of one of the scorpion creatures. A roar filled my head as he slid down its tail and landed in the courtyard.
He tipped back his head and gave me a salute. And then he was off, racing to join the carnage in the streets.
I lifted my gaze. The bell had stopped ringing, but he was right. The damage was already done. Some of the residents of this mountain city had trusted that sound. They’d left their homes, and now their bloodied bodies littered the square. The creature turned away, its talons clinking against the stone, and then it moved toward the wall where Kalen and the others still fought against the swarm of shadowfiends. The storm fae were kicking open doors and pushing inside the homes of those who hadn’t taken the bait, and the stench of death and blood was so thick, I almost choked.
I took in the destruction, unable to breathe, unable to think, unable to do anything but lean against that arched wall. Some of the shadow fae archers had focused their attention on the enemies in their city streets and were firing shot after shot after shot, but again…it wasn’t enough. It was too late.
The damage was done.
The enemy had gotten into the city. They were pouring over the mountain wall now. All our other fighters were stationed in the Gaoth Pass, too far from here to do us any good. We could call for them, but again…
The damage was done.
A choked cry spilled from my lips as my gaze snagged on the castle doors halfway across the city. Another scorpion had been led into the twin courtyard to this one, and it was slamming its massive pincer into the door over and over and over, the sound as loud as thunder.
Several archers trained their sights on the creature, but the arrows just bounced off its form, like they were nothing more than gnats toying with a giant. Half the city was hiding in that castle, along with the storm fae refugees, depending on its fortified walls to keep them safe.
Nellie was in that castle.
I knew she was strong—stronger than I could comprehend. But she was only one person against a storm of enemies waiting to push inside the castle walls as soon as the scorpion knocked down the door.
The mists swirled around me, still pushed by that incessant wind. I could see it all so clearly now. All that blood. All that death. The wicked lightning that crackled from the storm fae’s fingertips. We would never win, even if we survived this battle. Sirius had yet to show himself—none of them had. It would only get worse after this. Grief pressed down on me, dampening the fire of my heart and snuffing out the rage that normally fueled me.
Now I just felt numb. Because this city was going to die—thisworldwas going to die. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.
Forty-Seven
Ruari
