Chapter Forty-Four
Saoirse
Saoirse felt the creatures before anyone ever saw them.
All the warriors from Brónach did. She paused mid-movement, glancing toward her brother from across the field.
Alec buried his blade into the chest of a Dark Fae, then kicked it aside before turning to meet her gaze.
Her heart pounded. The ground trembled beneath their feet, then the earth bubbled up directly in front of her, blotting out her elder sibling, rising, rising, rising until creatures burst from the mound like animals rushing to escape a fire.
She took a single step back before leaping into the fray, magic and steel tearing down enemy after enemy.
Saoirse couldn’t let their line falter. The dark creatures had already successfully scattered their defenses a handful of times, but between her, Alec, her mother, and several other seasoned warriors, they’d always managed to recoup.
But this—seven hells, what was she supposed to do with this?
Trees rose up, caging in the surging beasts and funneling them through a single narrow opening.
She summoned those same poisonous plants that had surrounded her mother in the forest and let them sprout in the center of the chaos, wrapping around the creatures in the hopes that it would slow their movements.
A group of warriors to her left were blasted back when one of the Dark Fae loosed a spray of molten fire.
The acrid stench of burning flesh permeated the air.
One female clutched a blackened arm while her comrade yanked her back, sword out and magic flailing.
Saoirse buried a tree trunk through the beast’s chest and smirked when that same fire leaked from its side.
The beast writhed and fell, consumed by its own foul abilities. Served it right.
“Hold steady,” Saoirse roared above the madness. Her second was at her side moments later, his subordinates layering their magic with her own, battling the monsters back with the hope of keeping them contained.
Large creatures with worm-like bodies exploded on impact, leaving a nasty greenish fluid behind that nearly had Saoirse gagging. She hated bugs. Hated worms even more.
Terrified screams echoed across the field. Commanders bellowed orders. She spun again, ready to intervene, then gaped. The mound of monsters she’d barely managed to contain wasn’t the only one. Dozens upon dozens had sprouted up, breaking through their defenses all across the area.
They were being overrun. Their warriors were scrambling. She swallowed hard. Saoirse had thought they might stand a chance. The battle had been going well. Difficult, but manageable.
But now—now, holy gods.
Half delirious, Saoirse threw herself into the frenzy, slashing at anything within her blade’s reach. She pivoted. Fire spun toward her. With a roar, Saoirse tore a thick tree from the ground to block. It shattered on impact, embers flying in all directions.
Saoirse yanked vines up from the bowels of the earth and wrapped their thick woody stems around all four legs of the creature that had set its eyes on her.
She honestly wasn’t sure which enemy she preferred to face.
These beasts with their hulking bodies and spitting fire, or the ice wielders that froze everything with a single touch.
The creature roared and opened its gaping maw, but Saoirse sent another thick trunk straight down the Dark Fae’s throat.
It gagged and whimpered, trying to step back and claw at the protruding object.
She left it to suffer and spun to confront another worm.
Saoirse grimaced at the rows of razor-sharp fangs lining the inside of its mouth. They’d sever a limb in seconds.
Saoirse adjusted her slickened grip on her weapon.
The creature’s towering gray body swayed, then it lunged.
She jumped to one side and hacked the vile thing in half.
Green fluid splattered against her shirt, mixing with the rest of the blood and gore soaking her clothes.
Disgusting. She’d always hoped to meet her end after a warm bath and a luxurious bottle of wine.
She’d never given much thought to exactly how it would come about, only that she wanted to be warm and comfortable.
To hell with a glorious end on the battlefield.
Everyone else could have it if they wanted.
But glory was the Fae’s way, she supposed.
Stupid ancestors. She sighed and hacked through another creature, watching in disgust as another with short, scaly legs lapped up the contents of its comrade’s stomach.
Saoirse glanced up, searching for Alec amidst the chaos.
Two mounds had formed around him. He was spinning, fighting with so much strength that she briefly wondered how he’d fare against their father now.
She smirked. If she had to go out fighting, then her pride certainly wouldn’t allow her brother to outmatch her.
Their lines reformed, but everyone was being driven back. Their ranks thinned, spreading too far. Fae fell. Enemies fell. Her sword kept moving, eliminating anything that stood in her way. Because there was no other option. It was either fight or be devoured.
Sweat trickled down her temples. She kept one eye on the mound closest to her, then her gaze lifted to the sky. Saoirse’s heart lodged in her throat. Not only were there new creatures pouring from the ground, but she could see another horde flying straight for them.
Gods, what the hell had happened? Was Vairik dead? Had some spell been unleashed as a result? It had happened when Niall had been pierced with iron. It looked as though hell was rising to meet them rather than waiting for their souls in the underworld.
Saoirse yanked at her magic again, summoning a wall of living trunks that braided together.
Her second shouted orders. Their line reformed.
She grimaced, bracing, watching the beasts claw their way through the thick bark.
Their numbers were too thin. They needed reinforcements, but everyone already knew none were coming.
She glanced to her right. They could move toward the center and merge with her mother’s forces, but if she did that, she’d be leaving Alec vulnerable.
She’d have to get his attention first. She’d never abandon a member of her family.
Even if he fell, she’d rather die dragging his body back to Nàdair than leave him to be consumed by these foul creatures. She knew he’d do the same.
The ground shook again. Saoirse cursed and stepped back, her breath hitching when another mound began rising to her left.
No. No, they couldn’t handle another surge.
She adjusted her weapon anyway and planted her feet, already spiraling magic around the growing mound, ready to funnel them straight toward herself.
She could handle it. She could conquer the world.
Her legs shook, and Saoirse clenched her jaw.
There was no time for rest.
The creatures burst out and Saoirse roared, both hands gripping her sword as she charged.
In a fury of movements, she hacked through body after body, shoving her magic in all directions at once.
Sharp pain lanced through her side. She gasped, but pivoted, tugging on her magic again.
Another bout of pain, this time in her left arm.
She cursed again, ignoring the depletion in her body.
Her magic, once a well full and overflowing, had turned to nothing more than a husk, the edges dry and cracking.
She still didn’t stop.
Her skin crawled, the magic grating against her bones. She needed more. Just a few hours, then maybe she’d discover whether Vairik had actually fallen. Once that male was gone, maybe her soul would be able to rest in death, wherever it was headed.
A Dark Fae no bigger than a dog lunged for Saoirse’s throat.
She impaled its body with a woody vine. It had gotten far too close.
The beast struggled and whimpered, suspended in the air.
Another leapt at her from the other side, and she brought her blade down, severing the strange bluish snout.
The canine jumped back, pawing at the wound. She panted in triumph.
Saoirse’s body jerked to one side, and pain exploded through her back.
She hit the ground hard and rolled, turning to come face to face with a beast that stood just as tall as herself.
Its armored horn was clearly made for crushing bones, among other things.
She tried to stand and winced when pain radiated down her spine. Saoirse forced herself to rise anyway.
“I’ll send you to hell,” she growled. The creature snarled, then lunged, but a gust of violent wind tore through the area, sending every single Dark Fae crashing into their comrades. They toppled together in a mass of snapping teeth.
Saoirse’s heart stuttered.
She knew that scent.
Saoirse spun, heart pounding, and located the female standing just a few feet away. She wore a warrior’s face, body outlined in armor and outfitted with weapons. Her eyes shone with a fiery determination she’d never once tried to hide.
Zylah.
Saoirse’s body moved of its own accord, crossing the distance in a few strides before grabbing the female by her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
Zylah’s eyes widened a moment, taking Saoirse in. Fear threatened to drown Saoirse’s mind. Fear and pride and something she couldn’t quite name.
“You always have such a nice way of saying thank you.”
Saoirse might have laughed if not for the creatures righting themselves. Her second was ready to hold them at bay, his warriors at his sides. “You should be at the palace.”
Zylah gritted her teeth. “I will not be remembered as a feeble half-breed who sat back while the rest of the Fae fought for our existence.”
“Zylah.”
“And I will not be remembered as the half-breed who left her mate to meet death on her own.”
Saoirse’s lips parted. She couldn’t rein her emotions back.
Not this time. She thought she’d never lay eyes on this female ever again.
She thought her final image had been of Zylah furiously scribbling in a notebook.
She thought the female would remain underground.
Safe. Saoirse’s eyes misted over, then she grabbed the back of Zylah’s neck, and right there, in the middle of the chaos and fire, and blood, she kissed her.
It was deep and unrelenting. The kind of kiss that could shatter the universe itself.
Saoirse’s heart soared, ready to follow Zylah to the heavens and break down the gates if they denied her access.
She pressed her forehead to Zylah’s, both females breathless.
“Did you have to wait until we’re about to die? ”
Zylah smiled. “Maybe I finally realized I was making a mistake.” She remained close, her arms on Saoirse’s now. “Survive this and I’ll give you a date.”
“Are you bribing me into living?”
“Maybe.”
“And I only get one?”
Zylah smirked. “You’ll have to earn the second.”
Saoirse kissed her again, pulling her close, wrapping her so tight she knew they’d never be separated again.
And the mating bond soared.
“I think this is the best motivation I’ve ever been given to live.”
Zylah’s magic whipped through the air, ready to tackle the horde already overwhelming their line. Both females turned to face them, their determination shifting to steady resolve.
Saoirse cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders. “Here’s to the best future date of my life.”