64. Chapter 64
Chapter 64
A gius called out orders to his archers, loosing arrows at will as demons rushed the walls of the palace.
Blue cloaks held the gates shut, but they were no match against the undying strength of the drugar. Wraiths collided with them, the spellmasters casting protections to delay the inevitable as more orbs of Aurelia’s contained magick spilled over the walls, blasts of amber and silver piercing the black veil of night.
Thunder rumbled overhead as Aurelia called to her power. Streaks of white and gold branched across the sky as she threw blast after blast of her magick. Power seared her fingertips as it left her veins, sending dozens of demons scattering in the wind, only to be replaced by more. So many more.
Ven stood beside her, black flame erupting from his hands, setting the hides of the demons ablaze as whips of shadow cut others in two.
Whatever fear of the immortals the blue cloaks had was gone now as they fought back to back with the Allokin and the Blood Folk. Agius and some of his men jumped from the wall, joining the blue cloaks on the ground of the courtyard, attempting to cut off the demons that poured through the crack.
A shadow the size of a grizzly stood at the gates, helping the humans hold back the flood of demons. Hathos had one mighty shoulder heaved against the splintering wood, a heavy blade in his other hand as he growled with the effort of keeping the doors shut. The other smiths had taken up swords as well, fighting in the midst of the spellmasters and the blue cloaks.
Nira and a handful of Wraiths held back a horde of demons from one of the palace doorways, the only thing standing between the women and children inside and death. The flame of the Allokin prince’s red hair cut through the bodies as Agius took up the place beside her. His silver cloak whipping like a storm as his blade sliced through the air with brutal precision.
It was survival now.
“Asher!” Aurelia shouted over the clamor.
Her brother twisted around to face her, the grime of battle smeared across his brow, darkening the copper strands of his hair.
She clenched her jaw, hating the nod that she gave him—the despair that washed over his green eyes for only a moment before he was moving again.
And she thanked the Unnamed he didn’t question it. Didn’t hesitate.
Wraiths and humans and Allokin fell as the wall of demons crashed over them, but Aurelia didn’t tear her eyes away from her brother until his red hair disappeared from view, dread clenching like a fist around her as she whipped her head toward the courtyard.
To the massive silhouette that loomed at its center.