Screams erupted in the distance.
Another roar echoed from deep beneath the castle, and Ronan’s words replayed in my mind.Sintarrak had been in the sewers…
“What have you done—” Ronan’s voice was cut short by the bellow of another beast, its scream tearing through the air as another small section of Mount Telum crumpled.
My head slid against the marble balustrade as I stole a glance over the edge once more. Marian had taken cover under the overhang as dust and stones slipped over the edge.
Sintarrak was destroying Mount Telum, deactivating the massive magic nullifier by breaking through the castle.
My face snapped to the edge of the battlement, where a massive, winged creature crawled up the side of the castle walls.Its membranous wings flared to the sides before it slammed its spiked tail into the high walls. I caught myself as the stone exploded, and the glowing red color flickered out as it fell.
The creature screeched and lifted itself through the air, swooping overhead and landing behind Sintarrak before letting out an earsplitting roar. My hands slapped over my ears, and I pinched my eyes shut.
Another rumble echoed from beneath the castle, and I peered over the rail. Ronan’s captains hadn’t balked, and more soldiers now surrounded the Embodied and his creature. A fearless line of warriors surged forward with their blades. Ronan gripped his longsword with two hands, stepping one foot slowly in front of the other as he faced down a god.
I blew a tight breath through my lips as another turret collapsed in the distance, an explosion of stones blowing out from its weakest point. A different creature ripped through the base, a horror of tentacles and gnashing teeth, its black scales glowing blue.
I blinked.
Its massive, bulbous body sprouted a head of eyes as its tentacles reached through the remaining windows. It was breakingoutof the castle. My mind spun, doing quick calculations and retracing the schematics of Mount Telum, before coming to a devastating conclusion—that these creatures were quietly clawing their way beneath the castle…through the sewers.
My stomach tightened as it twisted, and guilt cut through me. Vander’s questions about the construction of Mount Telum… Lyvia’s escape through the sewers. Oh gods, I’d given him every detail of Mount Telum’s weakest points, and now these creatures were destroying the biggest weapon we had against the Embodied.
A sick, plunging feeling melded with a stab of disgrace that arrived with my own stupidity. I’d been despondent, so lonely, that I’d thrown myself at the first friendly face, the first man who had ever shown an interest in me. Gods, I’d been so stupid! Devastation swarmed me.
I did this…
My eyes swept over the northern section of Mount Telum. A faint wave of lightheadedness washed over me at the gravity of the destruction. Dull, white stone scattered in huge piles of debris. Mount Telum was drained of blood.
But not all of it.
The four remaining turrets, including the largest we stood beneath, shone bright red, the rubellines still blazing strong. Only about a third of the castle had been destroyed. I didn’t know how much rubelline was needed to keep Sintarrak at bay, but I didn’t want to find out.
The scent of blood shoved into my nostrils, and a scream ripped from the training yard. I pulled my head out of my ass and heaved a focused breath. Soldiers cried out from below as the beast attacked. The sound of battle merged with the gurgling roar from the tentacled creature in the distance and the cracking of stone.
I crept along the balustrade as soldiers began rushing along the battlement, barking orders and arming themselves. I paused as I reached the other end of the courtyard with a better vantage point. I gripped the rail, and I risked a glance, keeping my head low.
Chaos erupted below. The beast tore through soldiers, hurling their broken bodies across the courtyard. Ronan’s captains had been downed, one with his head decapitated and the other with a large gash through his abdomen, his intestines spilling out.
Ronan’s curly hair dripped red, and a large gash cut across his forehead. His lips curled into a snarl as he stepped with steadfast precision, angling his blade at the Embodied, before he lunged.
Sintarrak held a single longsword in Vander’s strong hand, blocking the blow too easily. He shoved the high steward back, and then the Embodied paused, his eyes fluttering shut as he tilted his head back.
At that moment, a lightness swept over me, as if a veil had been lifted. My eyes caught on the ribbon-like whorls of the courtesan’s colorful white band that wrapped around my finger, and I brushed my thumb along its edge, feeling comfort, feelingsafe, despite the real danger I was in. A flash of blue and violet light sparkled from my chest, the colors of the noctilux drawing my attention. My hand pressed against the lucky arrowhead glowing wildly, and a moment later, it gave off a gentle…something.
What the?—
A punch of air burst from below, and my ears hollowed out. The center of my eyes reeled as a blast of light followed in its wake. The force of it knocked me on my ass, and I blinked against the stars forming in my vision. I scrambled back to my feet, gripping my bow and nocking a rubelline arrow before it was too late.
Everyone in the courtyard had crumpled.
Ronan, the soldiers, and even the winged serpent had fallen to the ground as the light settled in the air like dust. Heads lifted slowly, their faces drawn back in horror as they fell on Sintarrak.
Vander’s body pulsed with power. A sheen of ribbon-like oil emanated from his form like the heat rising from a stone surface in the middle of summer. His eyes blazed an unholy silver, like a light shining on a thousand daggers in the dark.
Sintarrak dropped the longsword Vander held and stretched his hand out to the bleeding winged serpent. A line ofblue lightencased the creature before it began to stir again.He was healing it…
The Embodied whipped his head to the side, where Ronan struggled to stand. The high steward reached into his cloak for what looked to be a rubelline dagger.
