Chapter 54
My spine snapped straight. “Shadow demons?”
Colt pulled his phone from his pocket and instantly had a call on speaker.
A male voice came over the line. “We can see them about half a mile out. Has to be at least a hundred. They look like zombies.”
I shared a look with the guys. “The dark ones. Patrick’s army.”
My stomach roiled as everyone lurched into action. Darius and Delphine called their clans to rally them for war, but it would take time for them to get here. Time we didn’t have.
Saoirse was on her phone, calling in the few dragons we knew were loyal to us.
I turned to Dash. “Get the spell.”
His eyes widened. “You haven’t trained.”
“You’ll just have to walk me through it.” I bled all the confidence I didn’t feel into my next words. “I can do this. I just need you to help me.”
Because I would give everything for my guys. Even my life.
Dash cursed but pulled something from under his tux shirt. It was a small pouch that hung on a silk cord around his neck.
“That’s the spell?” I asked in disbelief.
He nodded. “Small but mighty.”
“LeeLee,” Colt said, his voice pained.
“I have to try. If I don’t, none of it will matter anyway.”
“She’s right,” Ronan rasped. “We don’t have a prayer otherwise.”
He turned to me and kissed me soundly. “Slow and steady. Don’t do too much too fast.”
“I won’t,” I assured him.
Trace kissed me next, his lip ring cool against my skin. “You’ve got this, Little Bird. I’ve never met a bigger badass.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
Declan pressed his lips to my neck. “Come back to me.”
“Always.”
Colt stared at me for a moment before brushing his lips across my temple. “My forever safe place.”
I shoved down my sob. “I feel the exact same.”
I forced myself to turn to Dash. “Tell me how it will work.”
He stared at the pouch in his hand. “I’ll pour this over you as I say the spell. It’ll deepen our anchor bond and give you extra power to feed to us. But you have to be careful not to give too much. Keep checking in with your reserves.”
I nodded.
“Colt will stay with you since he doesn’t have a light ability. He’ll help ground you and remind you not to go too far.”
Saoirse looked in our direction. “They’re almost at the gates. I got word from a dragon who is scouting.”
I looked at Dash. “Now.”
He stared at me for a moment. “I love you.”
“I love you, too. Now help me.”
Dash jerked his head in a nod and emptied the contents of the pouch over my head. It was a fine powder mixed with dried flower petals. As he began to chant, the powder glowed and swirled around me.
A wave of energy swept through me, making me feel almost full. As if I’d overindulged on one of Baldwin’s feasts.
I reached a hand out, and Ronan steadied me.
His eyes widened. “Whoa.”
Declan jerked straight. “I feel it.”
“Me, too,” Trace said as purple lightning crackled between his fingers.
Colt clapped Dash on the shoulder. “You did it.”
Dash couldn’t take his eyes off me. “Remember. A little bit at a time.”
“I promise.”
He turned to the rest of the guys. “Go easy at first. It’s going to take time to get used to the new fire power.”
Cillian strode up with Darius alongside him. “What is the plan of attack?”
Dash looked to Colt, who nodded at him to take point. “Dragons should take to the skies, but use the house for cover. Don’t forget that the dark ones will have many of the shadow demons’ abilities. They’ll still be able to shoot venom.”
My heart hammered remembering the last attack, and I whispered a prayer of protection over all those I loved.
“Got it,” Cillian said with a jerk of his head.
Dash turned to Colt. “You’re with Leighton. You’ll have extra speed and strength, but watch your back and hers.”
“Nothing will happen to her,” Colt growled.
Dash’s jaw clenched, but he moved on to Trace. “You and I will work with Delphine to keep them off with fire from the ground. We all need to go for hits to the chest. Direct light into the heart. That is our best shot.”
The alarm sounded again, but this time, it didn’t stop.
Colt’s gaze locked on the side of the house. “They’re here.”