“We will kill it. Wefinishwhat should have been done that day.” His voice was raw with fury. “I lost my sister, myfamily. Drought has overtaken the Red Phoenix. And now we are under attack. Our people are dying. We end this today.”
Vidor sneered. “It would be easier to just give the demons what they desire.” His eyes flickered to me. “We all know it wants the Azure woman. Her sacrifice could save millions.”
Auron’s fire flared. “There is no discussion here. We protect Rubi. We save the hostage. We end this. There is no guarantee that the Serpent Lord would halt the demon attacks even if he was given her. It has been decided. We repair the Anchors.”
Blake crossed his arms over his chest like a wall of iron. “The Silver Tyger Dominion agrees.”
Jace placed his hand on my shoulder, his silver cuff glinting in the light. “I would rather die than give Rubi to that creature.” His voice rang with sincerity.
A lump rose in my throat.
Malissa folded her arms but stayed silent.
“The Azures stand behind her.” Calla spoke, standing tall with her sky blue hair gleaming.
Behind her, Quinn said, “She is one of our own, even if she’s a tygress rider now. She’s our ribbon girl.” I looked gratefully at my loyal friend.
I took a deep breath, forcing down the storm of emotions threatening to consume me.
“More important than my life—or even Edith’s—is repairing the Anchors before the solstice in the twelfth month, starting with this one. The Reds are battling the Serpent Lord’s demons as we speak, and they need our help. This is for all the dominions. We need a plan.” My voice didn’t waver. “And if the plan fails, I will trade my life gladly—for Edith’s, and for the Anchor.”
Auron’s eyes burned. “There shall be no trading of lives.”
“We cannot trust a word that demon says,” Blake gritted out. I heard what he didn’t say. That he would not allow me to sacrifice my life.
The Diviner appeared, her mask as impassive as ever. “The time has come. To restore the balance. To mend the Anchor. And for you all, We bring gifts for the battle to come.”
A shimmer swept over the field like heat rising off stone. I blinked as the light passed through me, then looked down.
Every warrior was suddenly holding their weapon, only different. Better. Stronger. Blake stared at the sword in his hand, the same familiar shape, but now forged entirely of precious storm-green thundervein. Jace turned his wrist and his quiver flashed: His arrows gleamed with the same unmistakable glint, each one crackling faintly with contained energy. Auron ran a finger along the shaft of one of his fire arrows. The flames flickered as always, but now the arrowhead shimmered with the same mineral glow. Even Quinn held up his hands in amazement. The tips of his fingernails lengthened, then shimmered. Calla swung a giant war hammer proudly. Vidor stared at his weapons, the blades now edged in dark shadowsteel. Beside him, the other Onyx man summoned a whip of water, and the shards of ice swirling within it glistened with the same unnatural darkness, shadowsteel running through every jagged edge.
I looked down at myself and stopped breathing. Gauntlets shimmered up to my elbows, sleek and seamless, fitted like they’dbeen made for me alone. Thundervein. They pulsed faintly with a quiet, living energy. I raised my hands, and the metal responded to my thoughts. It melted downward, flowing into my palms and reshaping itself into two slender ribbon wands, smooth and perfectly balanced. I recognized the intricate carvings. These were the same wands Blake had given me, only better.
As I flicked my wrists, the ribbons unfurled in the air.
I gasped.
The phoenix silk blazed to life, lighting with a golden fire that surged down the length of each ribbon. Flames rippled through the air in vibrant waves. And at the edges, thundervein shimmered, as sharp as a blade.
We were ready to fight.
Whether it would be demons or each other, that was the question.
Vidor looked at me again as we stepped toward the incline of the mountain peak.
No one is giving you up, Flame’s voice whispered.The silver woman in the sky said to restore the balance. We shall do that—but you do not have my permission to die.
My heart felt heavy and I leaned into her fur.I love you.
Flame’s chest purred.
I looked back up just as the crimson Diviner flickered back into nothing but light. Flame had saidsilver woman…
My brow furrowed. She probably appeared differently to everyone. A small trick of perception, a subtle manipulation—just like everything else in this twisted reality we were in.
The Silver Dominion—faster on our tygers—would be the lead and act as scouts, and the Azure Dominion would make up the rear vanguard. I waited to mount Flame. Stepping to Blake, I quietly offered, “Thank you, for all of this.”
The planning, sharing my vision of Edith with the others andgetting them all to agree—he’d done all of it for me. To protect me when he felt like he couldn’t, though I knew he would try.
