“I can conjure something. I’m strong enough,” Arthur insisted. “It’s the only plan we got.”
I used my magic to glue the potion vials to the wall. Alexei stumbled after us, clutching Kiara as Arthur headed toward the back of the train with Kalina.
I heard a sound like glass breaking, and the screeches of thestrygaas they drew near.
“They’ve overheard our thoughts. They know we’re going to blow up the train!” Alexei yelled.
“Then let’s move!” We’d only covered half the train, but it would have to do. The train shook as the vampires stampeded toward us. The three of us fled to the back of the train, where Arthur was waiting.
“Come on!” he shouted. He was waiting by an open door, which led to the caboose.
I dared to glance behind me. My heart stopped as I saw dozens ofstrygarunning on all fours, covering the walls, the ceiling, as they crawled toward us at super-speed. Chastity was leading them, a vicious smile on her bloody face.
The landscape raced by in a blur as we stepped onto the balcony. Terror bloomed in my gut as I looked below. The train had to be going over a hundred miles an hour. This was crazy.
But it was either leap from the train, or be eaten by vampires. Arthur blasted off the guard rail with his magic and clutched Kalina to his chest, protecting her. Alexei placed one last explosive on the back of the train.
“Now!” Alexei screeched. He took the leap, holding onto Kiara. We all followed suit, jumping off the train at the same time he did.
The explosives went off, making a ringing sound in my ears. The platform we’d been standing on immediately went up in flames as a tunnel of fire raced down the hallway we’d just fled through. I swore I heard Chastity scream as she and her horde were consumed by the fire.
At the speed we were going, I was certain we’d smash against the ground, breaking our bones to bits. The ground rushed up to meet me, and I closed my eyes to brace for the impact. Yet my body hit something soft, which immediately cushioned my fall.
I opened my eyes as I rolled off whatever had caught me. It was a giant airbag, the kind that stunt actors landed on when performing dangerous acts. Arthur had conjured us a safe place to land just in time. He cradled Kalina against him, who looked fine. The baby had grown too tired to cry, and was making tiny mewling sounds as her wide eyes searched her father’s face.
I looked down the track. The Malovian Railway was still going, momentum driving it forward as the explosives continued to go off, turning the locomotive into nothing more than a fiery bullet. Parts from the train ricocheted off as the train began breaking into pieces. Eventually, the train tipped off the tracks and landed on its side, going up in a fiery display. I heard nothing but the cries of dyingstrygafading into the night as I got to my feet.
When Alexei slid off the airbag with Kiara in his arms, it vanished completely. Arthur took a few deep breaths and said, “Right. That’s settled. We should get home.”
He cast a portal, and waited for us to walk on through. Now that Kalina was no longer in danger, he had recovered his senses. Good thing, too. He could be as reckless as Emma when he lost his head. It wasn’t something I wanted to deal with again.
“Is Kiara okay?” I asked Alexei.
“She’s still out of it. She’ll be okay, but the venom will make her forget everything. We’ll fill her in once she wakes up,” he said.
“That was the craziest thing I’ve ever done,” Arthur breathed.
“Yeah, and for us, that’s saying something,” Alexei added with a laugh.
“Do you think Chastity…” I glanced back toward the smoking remnants of the train.
“Gods, let’s hope so. I never want to deal with the likes of her again,” Arthur spat.
“She’s definitely ashes with the rest of them,” Alexei said with a resolute nod.
I wholeheartedly agreed. The portal took us back to the estate grounds, where we appeared on the front porch. Alexei headed inside immediately with Kiara, but Arthur hesitated, giving a scowl as he jostled the baby.
I noticed, and placed a hand on his shoulder. “You can rest easy. We got Kalina back.”
“We almost didn’t,” Arthur said. “This is my fault. If I had been a more attentive father—”
“You lost your mate. You didn’t abandon your children,” I insisted.
“No. My children needed me, and I let them down. I’ve been so lost in grief that it’s put them in danger,” Arthur said firmly. “I can’t make the same mistake again. Kalina could’ve lost her life today.”
“All of us would do anything to make sure the twins are safe. They’re your children, but they belong to everyone here. We all love them,” I stated firmly. “We’re here to support you with whatever you need.”
The door opened. Emma rushed out. “Oh, gods.” She started crying when she saw Kalina. “She’s okay!”
