“I need to do something,” she said. “Don’t you?”
I nodded and looked around. I spotted Gaven hiding near the bridge, alone. His part of the plan would begin soon, based on how many bolts of lightning the barrier had endured. I jerked my head toward him.
“We should protect Gaven.”
Nellie looked relieved. Together, we circled the fight against the scorpion, then walked toward Gaven at the bridge. He nodded gravely as we both joined him. A group of archers saw what we were doing. They gathered behind us, ready to loose their first volley.
“If this goes according to plan, there’s not much you can do without range weapons,” he said, indicating the axe in Nellie’s hands. Then he smiled. “Though I appreciate the company.”
I pointed up at the sky. “It’s not the beasts I’m worried about.”
“Ah, the gods.” He nodded knowingly, but jerked his thumb toward Kalen, Toryn, and Fenella. “They’ll have bigger fish to fry than me.”
The thought of Andromeda aiming her sights on Kalen again did not provide me with much comfort. But he had Toryn, and he had Fenella. He was surrounded by dozens of other lethal fighters, armed with axes and swords. He’d told me before the battle that many of them had lived through his war against Oberon. They’d stood by his side for centuries.
Still, I watched as he dealt the final, deadly blow to the scorpion. Somehow, he’d leapt on its back. He shoved the blade into its head, killing it instantly. The beast tumbled sideways, and Kalen slid off its back so casually, it was as if he did this every day.
An explosion rocked the ground. A crackling, ear-splitting screech filled the air. Wincing, I turned toward the bridge. The barrier briefly flashed before us, almost as clear as glass. It stretched and bent and shuddered against the force of the lightning. And then it shattered.
Shards of invisible metal sprayed across us. I shielded my face and twisted away, but pain flared through my bare hand. Several pieces thunked into my leathers. Warriors behind me screamed.
The beasts on the other side of the bridge began to charge. They rushed forward in a blur of gray and black, their crimson eyes glowing in the darkness. There were too many to count. And they were moving so fast they were almost on us already.
“Now!” I shouted at Gaven. “Do it now!”
Gaven fell to his knees and palmed the edge of the bridge. With his eyes locked on the enemy, heshovedthe wood. Light consumed his hands. The heat of it sparked a flame. It grew quickly, building into an inferno. Then he exhaled.
The flames expanded in a fiery burst and surged toward the beasts. The creatures skidded to a stop, and the sudden motion made their bodies collide. A few beasts tumbled over the side. Their shrieks slowly faded into the nothingness below.
Fire swarmed them, engulfing the ones who were still on the bridge. The wood started to burn, erupting into a powerful shield. And still, the creatures kept pressing forward, a slave to the commands of the god above. The scent of charred fur and flesh filled the air.
“Come on.” I grabbed Gaven’s arm and tugged him back, in case one of the beasts managed to make it across. He seemed dazed, clearly drained from the amount of power he’d poured into the fire.
Nellie wrapped her arm around his back, and together, we helped him hobble away.
He sighed against my shoulder. “It’s done. The fire will destroy the bridge. The army won’t make it—”
A sudden gust of wind slammed against us. I staggered to the side, shielding my face against the torrential downpour. Hard beads of rain slammed down on our heads, the droplets as large as marbles. Gaven stiffened. He twisted to look over his shoulder, and I had the impulse to do the same.
The rain was putting out the fire. Steam filled the air, blocking our sight of the beasts. Gaven shook his head and moaned.
“No, no, no.” He sank to his knees and dropped his head into his hands. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s the gods,” Nellie said tightly. “Their power is muting your fae power. They didn’t notice you before. But now they have…”
I searched the clouds, my heart pounding. The barrier was gone now. It was only a matter of time before the gods show themselves. They were already using the power of storms and beasts, but more would come. Perseus could shatter us with fear, even without touching anyone, but Orion and Sirius needed direct contact. Just like Andromeda.
My stomach twisted at the thought of seeing her again. The last time we’d gone head to head, she’d killed me. My neck still ached with phantom pain, and my thoughts were plagued by the memory of my blood pouring from that gaping wound.
I shuddered and helped Gaven to his feet. The thunder of paws on wood grew louder. I withdrew my sword and motioned for Nellie to lift her axe. Kalen called out, having seen what had happened, ordering the warriors to line up around us. Then he came to stand with me, his face grim. Fenella followed, and Toryn stood on Nellie’s other side.
Together, we would stand and face the enemy.
Moments ticked by. I held my breath. And then the world exploded into chaos.
Beasts launched toward us from the misty darkness. I held my sword before me and braced myself. Several aimed their sights on us, but their movements were more sluggish than normal, thanks to the mud. As one reached me, I managed to slice through its neck. It joined three others in death that Kalen and Toryn quickly dispatched.
We fell back into formation. Kalen wiped the flesh from his sword and held his weapon at the ready.
