Chapter 84
KALLIE
The portion of the army that Kallie and the others had previously encountered was nothing compared to what awaited them as they rounded the corner.
Sebastian’s army flooded the streets. Hundreds of drakonises and winged guards flew above the marching soldiers.
This was the famed Frenzian army—the one Domitius had offered Kallie’s hand in marriage to secure. The one he had planned to use to conquer the seven kingdoms. And it was headed straight for them.
Behind Kallie, the clang of metal and rising shouts sent her whirling.
Her pulse quickened as Terin emerged. Beside him, a tall figure strode forward.
Based on his helmet, Kallie could only surmise he was Dani’s father, Commander Ferrios.
Medenia and Ophelia marched together, and Kallie’s heart nearly shattered at the sight behind them.
The Tetrian warriors, clad in black leather, were interspersed with the Pontian army, their dark armor absorbing the light and in stark contrast to the gleaming steel of the Pontains.
Kallie’s chest fluttered. They had come.
But as she assessed the size of the battalions, her relief was short-lived.
"We’re still outnumbered," she breathed out.
"It wouldn’t be the first time," Ellie said, squeezing Kallie’s arm. "Tetria faced worse odds during the Great War. Do not lose hope."
As if determined to prove Ellie’s point, Medenia raised her weapon and released a war-cry. At her signal, Terin and Menides pumped their swords high as did their troops.
Fingers flexing over her two weapons, Kallie glanced at the motley crew behind her.
Graeson leaned toward her. "What are your orders, Nadarean?"
"My orders?" Kallie asked.
"We are yours to command. You’ve gotten us this far. Carry us to the end."
Kallie’s gaze bounced across her face, unsure if she could do this.
Graeson gave her a curt nod in encouragement.
She rolled her shoulders back. "Let’s end this."
Then, they were charging toward the enemy.
Steel crashed against steel as the opposing forces collided in the capital’s streets. Every foe they met crumpled to the ground. Yet no matter how many enemies they slew, more stepped forth, taking their place.
Death and destruction quickly plagued the streets. Explosions rocked the capital. Claws tore through flesh. Soldiers swiped at the limbs that came from above.
They were quickly surrounded.
Soon, a shadow fell over Kallie, but there was nowhere for her to go. She ducked as the drakonis dove for her and braced for the inevitable impact. But it never came.
Before the beast had the chance to grab Kallie, it tumbled through the air, another form rolling on top of it. An angry roar filled Kallie’s ears.
Nyrri’s form was a blur as she struck the creature. Her talons ripped through the beast’s neck. The moment the drakonis fell, four winged soldiers spiraled toward Nyrri.
Kallie screamed out in horror.
A flash of metal whizzed through the air.
"Not my drakonis, you ass!" Ellie shouted, grabbing another throwing knife from her holster and taking aim.
The next blade drove into the soldier’s chest just as a flurry of stained ivory feathers whirled by, chasing after the third enemy.
Laurince swung his sword with an inhuman ferocity.
When his blade met its target, the Frenzian soldier bellowed.
The two soldiers fell from the sky, crushing a pair of unsuspecting enemies.
"Kallie!" Terin called out.
She spun and gasped as a soldier rushed toward her, his sword raised, teeth bared, and eyes crazes.
Kallie braced against the attack, but her opponent broke free. As the soldier swung, Kallie spun to the right, dodging his sword.
Kallie drove her blade through his side.
Heart pounding, she scanned the rising chaos as destruction reigned, searching for Graeson.
To her right, Terin drove his short sword through an opening in a man’s armor. As the body dropped, he parried a blow from another soldier.
On the other side, Medenia and Ophelia fought back-to-back, their swords swinging in tandem as they fought off their opponents. Their movements were fluid like water and as smooth as the breeze.
But where was Graeson? Where—
The bond hummed.
Kallie spun and found Graeson several yards ahead, clearing a path toward the castle, one winged guard at a time.
Although his strength had yet to falter, even he was slowing down.
Kallie could see it in the slight drag of his foot, the roll of his shoulder when he lifted his scimitar, the crack of his neck.
He was still alive. The Fates hadn’t won.
Yet, she reminded herself. The single word the only encouragement she needed to keep going.
Pushing past the growing ache in her bones, Kallie lifted the scimitar to block her opponent’s attack, again and again.
As sweat dripped down Kallie’s back, Rian ran past her, weaving through the masses.
"Sebastian!" he bellowed.
Kallie glanced at him, her heart thundering.
"Go, Kals!" Terin shouted over the noise. "I got him!"
Kallie turned to her brother, who had made his way toward her. "But—"
"Help Rian!"
Kallie nodded and ran. She slipped through the maze of bodies as she followed Rian. She was only a few yards away from him when her attention snapped to Sebastian. He drove his sword through an unarmored soldier’s back. Blood was smeared across Sebastian’s dragon-shaped helmet.
Kallie’s lip curled in disgust.
Sebastian was no dragon.
"You traitor!" Rian yelled, shoving past a soldier.
Sebastian turned toward his brother, and a rueful grin split across his blood-splattered face. He shoved the lifeless body aside. "I was wondering if I would get to meet you on the streets or if you’d get yourself killed before I got the chance."
"How could you do this?" Rian demanded. "How could you destroy our home?"
"Sometimes one must destroy to rebuild." Sebastian twisted his sword in his hand and leaned to the side as Kallie stepped beside Rian. "I see you brought your wife. Or wait—ex-wife, is it? I’m still a little unclear as to your relationship."
"You’re a disgrace," Kallie spat, tightening her hold on her weapons.
"I must say it’s rather poetic," Sebastian said, ignoring her insult. "Your relationship started this war, and now your deaths will end it."
Kallie and Rian charged. But Kallie made it only a few steps before someone snatched her wrist and yanked her back.
A blade pressed against her spine.
"Kallie!" Rian shouted, looking back at her.
"Don’t let—" Kallie was cut off as the person swiftly wrapped his arm around her and lifted his sword to her neck.
"I was hoping I’d see you again."
Kallie’s body went rigid.
She would never forget that voice.
Myra had told her Armen had betrayed Pontia again. Kallie just didn’t think she would be lucky enough to face him on the battlefield.
Rian called out to her again, panicked and hesitant to abandon her.
"Get Sebastian!" Kallie shouted. "I got this one."
A laugh brushed her cheek. "Do you now? The way I see it—"
Kallie shoved Armen’s arm away and ducked beneath it. Spinning around, she glowered at the Ardentolian crest stamped on his new Frenzian armor. For a moment, her attention was so fixed on the crest that she barely noticed the wings sprouting from his back.
"Does loyalty mean nothing to you?" she spat.
"I am loyal, darling," Armen said, his wings flaring out behind him. "I’m loyal to myself. And I gotta say, I’m going to enjoy finally putting my blade through that cold heart of yours."
He swung, and Kallie dodged it. In the corner of her eye, she saw Rian’s and Sebastian’s swords colliding.
"You’ll have to actually hit me to do that," Kallie said as she blocked his next attack.
The serum might have increased Armen’s strength, but his moves were still predictable. Armen had always used too much momentum, too much force. Whenever she found him training in Ardentol, she always predicted his moves with ease. Some things even a serum couldn’t change.
They parried, their blades crashing against one another. In her peripheral, Rian narrowly dodge Sebastian’s attack.
Kallie fought harder.
When Armen’s sword swiped through the air, Kallie blocked it with the scimitar.
Nearby, Rian slid across the ground and jabbed, his blade slipping into the bare joint behind Sebastian’s knee brace. The prince hissed out, and Rian pushed forward.
Refocusing on Armen, Kallie fought with just as much ferocity. She could taste the end of this battle, and she would not stop until she finished it. Until they both did.
Armen braced against her attack. Spit foamed on his lip. His eyes were bloodshot and crazed. He dug his heel into the ground and leaned more of his weight against her.
His strength nearly overwhelmed her, and Kallie’s arm shook as she braced herself. The recent arrow wounds in her thigh and arm throbbed. Sweat dripped down her forehead. But Kallie had fought powerful men before, and one thing always remained true: they never knew when to give up.
She slid her weapon down and spun around him, dodging his wings as he twirled toward her. Kallie raised her dagger, and Armen blocked her attack. In his haste, he had ignored her other weapon. The curved blade slid across his thighs, and Armen collapsed, his knees striking the ground.
"You always did have a hard time kneeling," Kallie retorted. "Or at least, that’s what Myra told me."
Snarling, Armen tried to stand, but his legs folded beneath him. "That bi—"
Kallie tugged Armen’s head back, cutting him off. "Bite your tongue, or I will cut it out for you."
Armen laughed, the delirium sparkling in his eyes and twisting his mouth into a smirk. "You think you’ve won, don’t you?" he asked as Kallie pressed the point of her dagger against his chest.
"Look around you, Armen." Kallie tipped her chin toward Rian, who now held the upper hand in his battle against his brother. "Sebastian will be dead soon. You’ve lost."
Armen chuckled. "Oh, but he is just a pawn. We all are. Can’t you see that?"