He wrapped a hand around my hip and pulled me closer, dropping a kiss to my temple before whispering, “You know I’d never let you go after Edith alone. And I won’t allow you to sacrifice yourself.”
“Then we do this together.”
“Always,” he agreed. He grinned as I mounted Flame, perching himself atop Kingsolver. “You’re not dead yet, Rubi.”
53
The ascent was beautiful but tough, my leg muscles straining. We’d ridden our tygers at first, but then had dismounted, putting any extra weight the various dominions were carrying upon our tygers and climbing beside them. Ire’s Wrath stayed at camp. Flame lent me her energy, like balm for my tired muscles, making them feel fresh, though I chided her to keep her strength. We’d all need it later.
It took hours. We rested when we needed, aware of what we would face, but continued to move together as one group with one goal.
And then the Starborn Peak loomed immediately above us.
We stopped a moment to take it in, the visible veins of metal running through the mountaintop’s face like a delicate filigree, hinting at the power and magic held there. We caught our breath and took in the view, the Silver Dominion spread out around us. To the west stretched the glittering Fang Sea, and to the east lay the calm expanse of the Argent Gulf. Undulating hills rolled intothe distance, showing signs of spring now that we were entering the fifth month. The beauty of the land and seas caught me by surprise. My heart filled, determination invigorating my tired body. We would protect this magnificence. We would destroy the Starved, save Edith, and repair this Anchor.
“There.” Blake pointed at an opening just a bit farther up the mountain pass: a jagged opening carved into the stone. Shadows pooled at its entrance. “I can feel a great source of metal magic there. It’s…pulsing.”
Malissa’s eyes gleamed, her fingers twitching as if the magic called to her. “I feel it, too.”
A sharp whistle cut through the air. Quinn jerked his chin back down the path we had ascended, his voice tight. “What is that?”
I turned. And my stomach dropped.
A shifting white wave crested, maybe a half mile behind us, spilling toward us with unnatural speed.
Demons.
Blake swore, stepping closer to me instinctually.
“So much for stealth.” Jace shook his head with a deep sigh.
“Stay safe, ribbon girl,” Quinn said, looking at me, his slate blue hair falling in his eyes. “Get ready to party.”
I gave him a shaky smile. “You, too, my friend.”
“All riders on their tygers! Everyone, get to that cave as quickly as you can. Now!” Blake shouted the commands.
Now, Rubi, Flame said, taut with urgency.Get on!
With a fluid leap, I swung onto her back. Blake vaulted onto Kingsolver, who let out a thunderous snarl.
Malissa climbed onto Venom, and Jace onto Xane, his brown eyes scanning the swarm.
The ground rumbled beneath us when the tygers sprang into motion, their powerful strides devouring the distance between us and the cave. The firens were a blur of red and gold. They didn’trun. It was more like they glided over the ground, flames sparking at their heels. Every stride they took seemed to propel them forward like an arrow fired from a bow.
Lian and Auron took off, flames bursting forth from their backs. Wings, they had wings of fire. I gaped, breathless. They shot upward and flew toward the crack. Streams of phoenix phire poured from their palms, scorching the earth in their wake.
“Rubi,” Blake shouted. “Focus!”
Flame took off beside Kingsolver.
With a snarl, Quinn shifted mid-stride into his giant tan wolf, his body rippling. Calla exploded into an enormous bear, towering over the others, a behemoth of muscle and fury that tore up the ground as she ran. Another Azure became an eagle, one a leopard, all of us heading toward the cave. Vidor and the other male Onyx moved forward as if riding on water, Una and the other two women in tow.
The wind howled, carrying the eerie susurration of the approaching swarm.
We were running out of time.
The tygers pounded across the ground side by side, their enormous paws hammering against the earth. The ground shook under their force, and for a moment, I believed they might outrun the wind itself.
