Chapter 16
Ava took a deep breath and knelt, urging herself to focus.
As she had with the ocean drakes, she spoke into her mind for help, seeking the elusive fyreleopards. Much more in tune with her magic, she followed its call, pushing it into the ground, as if the animals could hear her through her connection with the earth.
The noise of battle rose nearby—shrieks of monsters, shouts of daemon and fae—hovering like an ominous warning. But she ignored it, letting her power flow from her palm.
Please. If any creatures are still alive or still here. We need your help, she pleaded.
After several minutes, she stood and faced her friends.
“Anything?” Quinn asked, brown eyes filled with worry.
“I don’t know.”
Casimir addressed Quinn and Pax. “Go back and oversee the battle. We’ll keep searching for the weapons.”
Pax nodded. “We’ll ensure our victory, general.”
A muscle ticked in Casimir’s jaw, the only sign he was concerned, but he dipped his head as he clapped Pax on the shoulder before he and Quinn took off in the direction of the town.
“We must hurry," Casimir said, leading them up the steps.
A feline snarl echoed from overhead.
They whipped their heads skyward as a flying creature passed above, circled, and landed before them.
The fyreleopard was massive, larger than Quinn’s panther. Its golden fur shimmered with a translucent layer of flames, like a blazing coat of armor protecting its soft fur. Tucking in its feathered wings, it approached, tilting its head with piercing yellow eyes.
Maeryn gasped, her eyes welling with tears. “Beautiful.”
The cat padded forward on giant paws and Ava extended her hand. “Have you come to help, friend? Are you by yourself?”
“Ava,” Casimir cautioned. “It’s going to burn you.”
“No, it won’t.”
The cat stepped closer, withdrawing the flames from its body before it nuzzled her fingers. Ava scratched behind its ears, eliciting a loud purr from its throat.
“One of them won’t be enough,” said Raine. “It will just get hurt.”
As if animals could glare, the cat stared him down when dozens of growls and snarls sounded from above.
“Holy Earth Mother,” Raine said, looking to the sky.
Ava followed his gaze as a flock of fyreleopards flew over the castle, headed toward the battle. Flames shot from their mouths as they joined the chaos, attacking the daemons and monsters with ferocious roars.
“We must get back to our task,” Maeryn said.
Ava turned to follow the others inside the castle, when the fyreleopard trotted in front of them, blocking their way.
“Uhhh…” said Raine. “Let us through kitty cat.”
It growled at him, then looked pointedly at Ava.
“What does he want?” Casimir asked.
Ava stepped toward the cat, scratching its head again. “We need to find the weapons the daemons have stolen. We think they’re in the castle. Can we get by?”
The cat growled and shook his head, as if saying no.
“I can’t understand everything. But I think he’s trying to tell us they’re not there.”
“How would he know that? He just got here,” Raine said, and the cat snarled at him again. “Why doesn’t he like me?” Raine whispered harshly.
“Maybe he can sense your silliness,” Maeryn teased. A reassuring chirp from the leopard. “See? An accurate guess.”
“If the weapons aren’t there, where are they?” Ava asked. “Do you know?”
The animal nodded.
“Can you show us?”
The leopard glanced toward the battle—where the fae were now making headway against the daemons and their monsters with the help of their feline assistants—then let out an echoing snarl. Three fyreleopards broke from the others and returned, landing next to their friend.
The cat padded up to Ava and lowered itself. She climbed on its back and gestured to the other leopards. “Well, get on.”
“What?” Raine balked. “I swear to the Mother, if this thing eats me…”
“Hurry up,” Casimir barked at Raine, already mounted.
Raine grumbled, approaching his steed. “Please be nice, kitty cat.”
It growled, but lowered itself just the same.
“Stop calling them that,” Ava said. “They don’t like it.”
Raine climbed on, settling himself in between the creature’s wings. Ava’s stomach lurched when they took off into the sky, Raine’s curses echoing as they flew over the castle toward the back of the city.
“Where are they taking us?” Ava yelled at Maeryn.
“I’m not sure. I believe the forges are back here!”
“Look!” Casimir shouted, pointing at the edge of the city.
Lava flowed from the nearest volcano outside the city wall, splitting into small rivers, a massive building sitting over them. But that wasn’t what he was pointing to.
It was a caravan of three wagons filled with obsidian weapons and arrows, guarded by a group of daemon soldiers. Their enemies were attempting to escape with the very weapons they’d been searching for.
“We must stop them!” Maeryn shouted.
The leopards flew on, upping their speed. As they closed in, Ava’s eyes caught on someone familiar. A woman with long white hair.
Deidamia.
“What’s she doing here?” Raine exclaimed, but the rest of their conversation was cut short as a ball of purple flames shot toward them from Deidamia’s hand.
Ava’s leopard dove out of the way. The heat of the daemon queen’s fire was so intense Ava would have thought it had grazed her arm had she not seen with her own eyes that her skin was intact.
“Burn them all!” Ava commanded the creatures.
The group swooped low as flames spouted from the cats’ mouths, catching most of the soldiers on fire. They circled back, avoiding another burst of purple flame, and dove again for the remaining daemons. It wasn’t long before they were smoldering corpses crumpled on the ground.
But despite Deidamia being hit with fire multiple times, she was still standing. Untouched.
The fyreleopards snarled and dove for the daemon queen, sending her running toward the building.
They landed near the wagons with a shudder and Ava dismounted. Before she had a chance to thank them, the animals returned to the sky, rejoining the battle.
“What do we do?” Ava asked.
Casimir stopped before her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I know this wasn’t the plan. But can you make a portal to send her back now?”
Ava shook her head, drained and helpless. “Not enough magic left.”
“She wasn’t supposed to be here,” Maeryn muttered.
“We can’t leave her there,” Casimir said. “Though she cannot be killed, we may still be able to drive her away. She’s alone with no help.”
“What, we just attack and make her run?” Raine asked.
Casimir turned to Ava. “Do you have enough magic to make a basic portal to get us away quickly if we need to? One that’ll only stay open briefly?”
“Yes.”
“Alright then. Ava, trap her in a flower. We’ll reinforce it with vines. Maeryn, you and I will burn it. Hopefully, it will be enough to injure or scare her away. If at any point we’re in over our heads, we escape through a portal back to the castle entrance.”
Ava took a breath. “I’m only going to leave it open for about five seconds so you have to get through it in time. We all need to be standing close.”
They approached the looming ebony fortress, entering an arched doorway. Keeping their steps light, they crept down a short hallway, the black walls lit by the glow of iron torches.
It didn’t take long before they heard the daemon queen cursing to herself in frustration, her volatile temper on display.
Casimir signaled for them to halt with a raised fist. Ava pressed her back against the wall, listening to the queen muttering in the room around the corner. The four of them remained silent, preparing to begin their plan.
Casimir squeezed her hand, indicating it was time. Ava took a step away from the wall, about to round the corner, when another voice spoke.
“My queen. I must ask you to calm down.”
Andras.
Ava’s blood ran cold. Her friends’ eyes were wide with fear and confusion, all of them listening to the daemon queen and her consort.
“Calm down?” Deidamia shrieked. “You lied to me. Manipulated me. Everything you promised is ruined!”
Ava furrowed her brow. Promised?
“You sought me out. Came to my realm in search of my armies. Promised we would rule together. Promised I could lead and you would remain at my side. We’re losing this kingdom. This shouldn’t have happened!”
Ava’s wide eyes met the others, dread settling over her like a heavy blanket. Raine mouthed ‘what the fuck?’
Maeryn motioned for them to follow, leading them to an open door. It was an observation room, a wide window providing a view into the large space where their enemies were speaking.
“They can’t see through the glass, but we can see out,” Maeryn whispered so low Ava almost couldn’t hear her.
It was like a two-way mirror. Perhaps for the king or queen to watch the smiths without being noticed or disturbed. Deidamia paced back and forth while Andras stood unbothered, his hands in his pockets, face a mask of calm.
“It seems like your commander wasn’t strong enough to fight off the fae. Igneothenia belongs to them again. At least for now,” Andras said with boredom.
“No,” she seethed. “I’m done. I’ve let you put my creatures through experiments. Let you use my army. For what? Power? Vengeance? Because your brethren trapped and punished you?”
Ava’s heart raced, pounding so loud she heard it in her ears. What in the world were they talking about? Deidamia brought Andras with her from their daemon realm. He came with her. That’s the story they knew.
But something wasn’t right.
Ava glanced at her friends again, their expressions as confused as she felt. And it felt dangerous. Like they were missing a giant piece of the puzzle. What was it Andras had said when he’d had a hold of her back in Oakshire? Something about him being ancient and eternal…
Ava clenched her fist, trying to ignore the increasing trepidation clawing its way into her gut.
Andras sauntered toward Deidamia, gently cupping her face.
“Listen, my queen,” he said, his voice low and seductive.
Ava could feel his power, even from behind the glass.
Could feel the way it skittered across her skin.
“Everything’s going to be alright.” He stepped closer, pulling her flush against him.
“The fae don’t know, which works in our favor. I have a plan. You can trust me.”
He leaned in, planting a sensual kiss on her lips as he clutched her face. One of his hands moved lower and squeezed her breast. She moaned. Andras kissed her deeply, then trailed his lips down her neck. Deidamia gasped, her head falling back as she clutched his biceps.
“My beautiful queen. You’ve done so well,” he murmured into her skin. “Let me show you just how much I appreciate you.”
Deidamia whimpered as his hand massaged her breast again, while the other moved down her back and gripped her behind.
“But…” He leaned in close, lips brushing her ear. “I don’t need you anymore.”
Then Andras shoved his hand through her chest and ripped out her heart.