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:My magic doesn’t work that way. I don’t need blood⁠—:

:I know,: I broke in, trying not to snap at her in my own fear. :But mine does. I’ll give you access to my fire. When Arthur attacked Gwen in New York City, I used her bond to help her push him out of the circle.:

:Won’t the scent of blood draw them to me?:

I hesitated a moment, bracing for her reaction. :They already are.:

:Goddess, Shara, I don’t think I can do this. I’m not meant for warfare and bloodshed.:

:I’ll help you. I’m not leaving you. I promise.:

She moaned. :I wish I’d brought Winnifred. She always makes me feel braver than I am.:

:Imagine her weight on your shoulder. That’s me, now. I’m with you, every step of the way.:

Focused so intently on Carys, I was barely aware of Rik lumbering down the sidewalk. The startled looks and curses as my group raced past tired humans leaving work or wrapping up their day. Scuffle. On my left. A dark alley loomed. Guillaume’s blade glinted in the dim twilight as the sun began to set. The sharp clatter of steel cutting through bone. Over and over.

:Bought us a little time,: he said in the bond, trotting to catch up. :They’ll feast on each other before coming after us. They’ll always take the quickest meal.:

:Stay away from the shadows and alleyways,: I told Carys. :Get in the middle of the street if you have to.:

“Take a left!” Gina called out behind us. “The cars are down that side street!”

The road narrowed, the buildings looming tall on either side, boxing us in. Casting longer shadows for the thralls to attack. Getting braver as twilight thickened, they hissed and clacked their teeth, making me shudder. That fucking awful sound had the power to wake me up in a cold sweat. So many. Goddess. I’d never heard such a terrible clatter. Shaking, I clung to Rik’s neck, trying not to listen.

The ushi-oni made a brutal swipe through them, darting side to side, forcing them away from the center of the street. In the relative seclusion of the abandoned street, more of my Blood shifted. Sekh joined the fight, tearing into thralls with eager abandon. My dragon filled the narrow street with his bulk, using his wings to corral the snarling, gnashing monsters away as Rik ran past.

Closing my eyes, I focused on their bonds. Using their eyes to pick targets. Lighting thralls up like torches, willing the fire to spread. Hopefully I didn’t burn the whole city down.

:Shara!: Carys’ voice quivered with dread.

I swung my attention to her bond. Kevin backed away from half a dozen snarling, crouched monsters. Blocking the street. More coming, flocking to cut them off from escape. Cunning despite their destroyed humanity. Dead skin hanging in strips, pale and grayed. Blood-red eyes. Broken, dirty teeth, clicking together with hunger. Their clothes now only tattered, stained rags. They reeked of death and decay, as if they’d crawled up from the bowels of hell.

:How do we fight them?: Leonie asked. :They’re not dead. My power isn’t working.:

:Use my fire.:

:But I don’t⁠—:

I pulled her into me. Into my bond. My consciousness. Carys too. We stood back-to-back-to-back, arms linked, power flowing. Tied together by my blood.

:Like this.: I willed fire to explode out of the gathered thralls blocking the street. Bathing them in waves of fire. A stream of endless crackling heat in three directions at once. Using my siblings’ eyes and focus.

Rik pushed me into the car and climbed in after me, though I was only distantly aware. Sirens blared in the distance, likely from the fires. Heat dampened my skin, my face hot. Strands of hair clung to my face.

Leonie. Inside the other car. Safe. Gina too. Roars and thumps echoed outside. Ground tearing. Stones crumbling from nearby shops, battered by wings and beasts attacking the thralls.

But for every dozen we killed, another hundred filled the alley. Blocking our retreat. Cutting off the road for Carys and my humans to reach us.

Unused to wielding such power, even with my help, Carys leaned hard on Julie and Regina both. Kevin stood firm, feet planted wide, trying to shield them even though he didn’t have a weapon.

Their pale faces and terror-filled eyes filled me with rage.

I swore to keep them safe.

Tearing my lip open, I opened the door fully to my power. Filling myself to the brim. A crushing flood of power overflowing the banks of the Nile.

A drop of blood splattered on the street as Carys passed. My blood. She carried Isador inside her. I pulled a drop of blood from the ushi-oni. Another from Guillaume, fighting on the other side of the street. Reaching back, straining to connect them. Almost too far. Thin. Quivering with strain, I found Carys’ drop nearly a quarter of a mile away.