50. Ayna
Ayna
I can’t think at the sight of blood spilling from Myron’s mouth. Whoever fired that arrow will die. I’ll pick out their eyes with my beak and feast on them.
The Fairy King is standing over him, defending him, but he misses that the Matrone he disarmed is scrambling to her feet again.
My caw of warning comes too late when I spot Jeseida pull a small vial from the pocket of her armor. She uncorks it and tosses the contents into Recienne’s face.
“ Get them out, Tori,” I beg. He hears me, but his focus is on his king, who stumbles under the influence of the serum Jeseida dumped on him. The drug, I realize. His movements are sluggish, and it’s a matter of moments before a blade will pierce him.
Herinor and Royad are both on their feet, but their strength is gone, their blows weak like those of human soldiers.
Tori is barely standing upright, but he’s still wielding his sword and his magic. A general to the last moment. And Clio?—
“Take Clio and get out of here,” Recienne’s shout reverberates in my mind.
I blink as Tori follows the order without hesitation, grabbing Clio by the arm and disappearing into thin air.
The Flame they’d been fighting stares into blank space for a moment, which Silas uses to take his opponent’s head off with a swing of his hatchet.
Tata unceremoniously kicks the head out of her path as she steps around the Crow to face the next guard.
Only three more Flames are standing, plus the Matrone. Three of them and six of us—not counting Myron whose eyes have closed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
I can still feel him but barely.
My chest aches where the arrow is perching into Myron’s, my heart beats too fast, and my wings lose strength with every beat. If I don’t make it down there in time, there will be nothing I can do to help.
Herinor stumbles next, landing on hands and knees mid-fight, and vomits onto the ground. Royad blocks the blow meant for him, driving the Flame back, but his strength is faltering, and he stumbles, nearly losing his footing in the mud. And that’s when they start using their fire .
It winks out the moment it meets the soaked leathers, but the steam rising where it touches draws a scream from Royad’s bleeding lips.
Thank Vala, Silas reaches him in time to hack into the Flame’s shoulder. Royad embeds his sword in the opponent’s chest, and we’re down to two soldiers.
I trust Silas, Tata, and Royad to take them down. What I’m worried about is Jeseida turning to Recienne, who’s shaking under the full dose of magic-nullifying serum. In her hands, she’s holding a black dagger with wisps of fire dancing along the blade.
So close. I’m so close it will take only a few seconds to get to them.
Jeseida readies to strike.
I beat my wings harder.
Recienne spots the dagger just in time to block it, but he tries with his magic instead of his blade.
Jeseida grins as she pulls the dagger back, aiming.
One more beat.
The dagger sinks into Recienne’s shoulder as my claws reach Jeseida first, digging deep into her eyes.
A scream tears from her throat, hands sliding off the hilt of her blade and flames dissipating into smoke and ash. Like a mad female, she bats at me with both hands, trying to grab me, but I’m small and agile. My feathers slip through her grasp as I wiggle and buck before I spread my wings and take flight.
The wail hatching from her mouth is almost pitiful, but I don’t know pity. This female had my mate on his knees, and there will be no tomorrow for her .
I don’t need to think as I dive for her throat: Easy like I’ve never done anything else in my life, I slip between her forearms where she’s pressing her palms into the empty sockets in her skull. And when my claws rip into her skin, opening her artery, I don’t balk at the feel of hot, thick blood soaking my feathers. I welcome it with the satisfaction of the monster I’ve become.
Only when a shout of warning hits me do I beat my wings and flutter high up into the air.
I don’t know where the arrow comes from, but it pierces my wing just when I’m high enough that I can no longer shift without risking breaking all my bones.
A tortured caw escapes my beak, and I can feel Myron stir through the bond.
The world is a blur of moonlight and blood as I plummet from the skies.