It’s truly amazing what the Humans have built—and terrifying.
White, blue, and red tents are camped down the large hill. Trees overshadow everyone here but the sun shines bright and campfiresblaze happily. A few men cheer, and in the far distance, some kept women wash laundry or cook meals.
My stomach clenches in disgust. They’ve not changed at all.
We set to work, dumping the oil quietly and cautiously around the camp. We have to be close enough for the shock and fire to hurt their forces, but not too close to be detected. It’s slow going, and tedious, but when the last vial is empty, we return to the meeting place.
ThankAzure, everyone else is there.
“Everything go well?” Kaden asks, clapping a hand on Reid’s shoulder. He’s holding his side, blood seeping between his fingers.
“A little fight, nothing I couldn’t handle.”
Turning to Fee, I touch her arm. “Your turn.”
She shakes out her hands, shifting her weight. What we’re asking of her is big—and for someone so new to magic, it’s nearly impossible. But it’s the only way to set it off without being caught in the crossfire.
Mal grabs her hand and I slap my fist to Kaden as he growls in warning.Now is not the time for the protective big brother shit.
“You can do this,” he murmurs, seemingly for her ears only. She glances into his eyes, a vulnerability passing there not usually seen on Fee. But it’s beautiful, and I find myself biting back a smile. “Just concentrate. Use what we went over.”
“You think I can do this?” she asks, rare nerves showing.
I can’t help the smile now, even as Kaden snorts and Reid widens his eyes in shock. Having brothers is the worst.
“I know you can.”
He lifts her hand, mere breaths from his mouth when a voice whispers from behind us. I turn, lowering my shields and hear the beating of drums. They’re not close, but they will be here soon.
“If you could stop wooing my sister, now would be the time to finish the plan,” Kaden mutters, pulling me and shoving Reid to the far trees. Zeke and Samkien helps us hide, covering us with their bodies and swords. Only Fee stands in the middle, a warrior who will end this.
The flames grow in her hands, a dragon of fire, and she exhales, pushing it higher. It gets bigger, longer, until it circles in a ring. Transfixed, my mouth parts in awe at her ability.
Then with a flick of her wrist, she sends it out into the world.
The oil ignites and there’s a pause before a boom rocks the earth. The trees shatter closest to the impact and the branches over us sway with the release.
Gripping to Kaden, I hold tight, burying my head. Mal wraps Fee back, pressing of their bodies to a trunk.
Then, the yelling.
All shouts of anger, confusion, and pain fill the air, screaming to the Gods for help. We don’t bother to check, but run through the brush to find the horses. The plan rests on us getting back to our army as soon as possible to fight their assault.
At least now, we should be more even.
Before we reach the horses, soldiers stumble onto the path, cutting us off. They glare, holding swords and daggers of silver malice, skin covered in blood from the blast. Within moments, the path is crowded as they escape the flames and I gasp.
In the far back, Griffin sits on a white horse.
“He’s here,” Kaden mutters, turning to take a blade. The melee is wild, and chaotic, as the soldiers recognize us and begin to swing their swords.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. We weren’t prepared for this.
Zeke and Samkien spilt up, each protecting our flanks, but we quickly have to pull our weapons to survive. If we want to make it back, we have to hack our way through.
I have a better plan.
Releasing my shields, I let my magic rise with the beating of their hearts. They hammer into my skull, tiny drums thattap-tap-tapwith an odd familiar quality.
