To my surprise, Silver began to transform. His sleek skin shuddered, rippling away to reveal the rough bark underneath. His teeth elongated, sharpening, and his body expanded until he towered over us. He was at least three times as tall as a fae. Spine curved, he leaned down and gently brushed Tessa’s cheek with a knobby, branch-like finger.
She had tears in her eyes. “I thought you were stuck, but you can change.”
When he spoke, his voice rattled like parchment. “A great deal of power was poured into this chasm once. It gives me strength.”
“You should go,” she said in a hurry. “Take shelter in the city or escape over the mountains. Get out of here, Silver. I bet you could find someplace in this world where you could be safe for centuries. The gods would never think to come for you.”
“I will fight by your side.” Creaking, he stood to his full height, the wind and rain battering his thin body. He raised his deadly claw and pointed across the chasm. “They are your enemy, and so they are mine, Daughter of Stars.”
“Wait, you know that name?”
“The gods created me ages ago. They accidentally created all of us beasts. In that creation, they passed along the knowledge of their quest and the names of their greatest enemies. So yes, I know about you. I also know what you must do. Use Kalen Denare’s power. Channel it. You will defeat her if you do.”
“But I can’t channel it. Not against the gods. They made certain of that,” Tessa whispered.
Deep-throated roars exploded near the bridge. The conversation promptly ended as we all returned our focus to the impending battle. Across the chasm, the beasts hunkered in the mud. Their gleaming eyes pierced the mist. They were watching us.
“Archers, prepare yourselves. We can’t be certain what they will do,” I ordered, then turned to Gaven. “Get ready by the bridge. You know what to do.”
Bows were raised. Strings were pulled taut. Tension drove me to pull my own sword.
Time ticked by in agonizing wait. There was still no sight of the gods. The storm fae weren’t moving. Neither were the beasts.
“What do you think they’re doing?” Toryn muttered from beside me. “Why aren’t they trying to cross the bridge?”
“They’re waiting for something,” I said.
“I don’t like this,” Tessa said. “Something’s wrong.”
Unease churned my gut. We needed the beasts to attempt the crossing. Our plan relied on it. When they tried to reach us, we’d briefly lower the barrier so Gaven could light the bridge on fire. Even in the rain, his flames would rip through the beasts and the waiting fae army, so long as the gods didn’t spot him and mute his powers. It would significantly reduce their numbers.
But the beasts stayed put.
I leaned down to speak to Tessa. “Arm yourself. Something’s about to happen, and I don’t know if—”
Lightning forked through the sky. It shot through the clouds above us, then slammed into the chasm wall. It split the rocks, which rolled forward, tumbling into the chasm below. One of my warriors got caught in the landslide. His scream filled the air as he plunged into the darkness.
“They’re using the storm,” Tessa said in a gasp. “They can’t breach the barrier themselves, but their power can. We need to get back. We need to find shelter.”
She was right, though I hated withdrawing so early.
But before I could shout the order, the ground rumbled.
“Get back from the chasm!” I shouted at my warriors. The barrier was still intact, but the lightning had pierced it. Clearly, it was no match for the power of the gods. Ruari had hoped it could withstand them, but he’d been wrong. Tiger-eyes could not stop the gods. Nothing could.
My warriors fell back, taking several steps away from the chasm edge. The ground continued to shake, and a crack suddenly yawned behind us. A large black talon soared through the dirt and punched down like a hammer from the sky.
Another burst of lightning ripped toward us and slashed the barrier.
Tessa’s fingers dug into my arm. “It’s one of the scorpions.”
I looked at the bridge and the waiting army, feeling more helpless than I’d ever been. We only had one beast to fight, but the barrier would not hold for much longer. We’d be swarmed. And yet, there was nothing else I could do but stay and fight.
I resigned myself to my fate, though I wished I’d had just a bit more time. I’d found my mate, but our time together had been plagued by constant battle, loss, and sorrow. We’d never had a chance tojust live, to wake up side by side and wander into the Great Hall to break our fast, laughing with our self-made family. The only time we’d ever walked through verdant fields or gazed upon a sky full of stars had been inside our dreams.
I’d wanted it to be real one day. And now it never would be.
I stood tall and addressed the gathered warriors. And as they looked to me, I could see in their eyes they understood. This battle would be our last.
