“They’re coming,” Rafe announced. Not a soul beside him moved. The king’s mages were practiced in the art of self-control, and their focus was absolute. He could hear a pin drop as they waited for instruction, a fact he begrudgingly respected. True, there was no love lost between them, but with Malek and Lyana deep in their magic, it had fallen on Rafe to lead them. “The shadow and earth creatures are approaching from the north. Kal, stay close and I’ll tell you when. The water creature is moving more slowly but gaining speed. It’s coming from the west. So far, no dragons, but I suspect that will change. I’d say we have five, ten minutes tops to prepare for their arrival. Go.”
The mages dispersed. Spouts of water erupted near the western edge of Da’Kin, a symbol to the fighters stationed around the perimeter of the city. Shoots of green and black arched toward the northern edge. Horns blared, a signal for the rest of the citizens without magic to get to as safe a place indoors as possible. Unlike during the first attack, they were prepared.
Still, Rafe feared it wouldn’t be enough.
He pressed his hands to the stone parapets as he studied the fog. The view from atop the castle was the best in the city, but he didn’t search with his eyes. Spirits lingered in the back of his thoughts, fueled by fire and hate, cutting closer. There was nothing Rafe could do to stop them, so he didn’t waste his energy trying. The other souls, though, more animalistic and simmering with flames, were a battleground.
Stay away. He sent the warning down the bonds, along with images of dragons falling beneath swarms of magic and their hides being pierced by ferro’kine-directed arrows as they screeched in pain. Don’t come here today. Stay away. For your safety, for your protection, stay away.
He could feel the creatures fighting back, urging the dragons to eat and destroy, their orders competing with his for space inside those beastly minds.
Go.
Leave.
Go.
Leave.
Back and forth they warred, a fight no one aside from him could see. The invisible combat would only last so long. They were getting closer…and closer…and—
They were here.
The water rippled, a pulse that grew larger as it approached. Whitecaps sloshed as the wave grew, as tall as a building—then twice that, maybe more. Nyomi sent her magic across the city, more a signal than anything else. Other streams of sapphire flecks rose to join it. The aura of sparkling blue crashed into the sea, holding back the rising tide. From deep within the murky water, a creature with cobalt scales burst forth, a cry upon its lips. Two serpentine shoots of water erupted from the surface and slammed into the outer edge of Da’Kin.
A thunderous boom from the other side of the city stole Rafe’s attention. By the time he spun, nothing but dust clouds filled the fog. A moment later, another wooden building was blasted apart, green magic shimmering in the aftermath as the earthen creature ripped the city to shreds piece by piece. Already, the stones beneath him quaked as the air filled with subtle hints of magic. The king’s geo’kines fought to keep the castle steady.
Where’s the shadow?
Where is it?
Rafe gripped the stones, their scratching against his palms keeping him grounded as he searched the mental connection.
“There!” He pointed to the right. “Kal, there!”
A beam of pure white light arched over the rooftops, followed by a wail. The mages could handle the other two creatures, but the shadow beast was different—fast and quiet, easy to overlook and as sneaky as the coming night, slipping across the sky unseen while all eyes were drawn to the vivid sunset. Rafe needed complete focus to stick with it.
“There, again!”
The photo’kine obliged.
“Again!”
This time, Rafe vaulted over the rim of the castle. Wings carving through the air, he dove for the black silhouette currently writhing in the light. The creature swerved to escape. Rafe caught it by the shoulders and dug his fingers into razor-sharp scales, not caring if they cut deep wounds into his fragile skin. They wrestled together in the sky, neither letting go. Claws scraped his biceps, eliciting a hiss of pain. The creature’s white teeth snapped with fury.
“Kal!” he shouted. “Now!”
His world went ivory. Rafe winced and closed his eyes, but it did little to stop the burn. Pure, potent energy bit into his skin. The monster thrashed in his arms, a cry of pain and frustration seeping from deep in its throat. Using the opening, Rafe swung the creature around and latched his arms around its chest, using its body as a shield. Kal’s magic barreled into them. He turned his face away, protecting his eyes as he felt his flesh melt beneath the piercing glow. This was far different from the diluted balls Brighty used to light dark passages or the subtle beams she sometimes bounced between her fingers. This was the sun brought down to earth. Even his newfound affinity for fire couldn’t save him from the burn.
Still, whatever he felt, the shadow monster felt tenfold.
Through the mental bond, Rafe could feel the creature’s pain, an all-consuming ache as light ate into darkness, stripping its very essence away.
It’s working.
The thought gave him the strength to keep fighting, to keep holding on despite the hurt. Invinci magic flowed through his veins, cooling the heat, but not fast enough. His fingers started to slip. The creature sensed the opening, jerking away. Rafe tightened his grip.
It’s working. Come on, it’s working.
A roar shattered his careful concentration. The photo’kine magic disappeared in a blink and the creature tore free of Rafe’s arms. He spun to find the castle engulfed in a bubbling cloud of flames as a dragon descended from the fog. Isaak stood atop the stones with his arms outstretched, red magic surging up his arms to block the fire. It wouldn’t be enough, not for everyone. Already, the acrid scent of burnt flesh carried on the wind. The mage had saved the king and queen, but in doing so, he’d left the rest to burn.
The dragon gripped the tallest spire in its talons and ripped the stones apart with a showering spray. Another inferno spilled through its lips, swathing the surrounding wall in a blanket of smoldering orange. Mages jumped into the canals to escape the flames. Forgetting the shadow monster, Rafe sped across the distance.
Leave. The command sped down the bond like an arrow toward a target. Leave!
The dragon didn’t. It wouldn’t.
Golden magic still poured from the open window in the middle of the castle, a beacon to draw hungry eyes, the potent scent of spirit making even Rafe’s stomach rumble. He ignored the base instinct. The dragon roared at him in warning, but he wasn’t afraid as the flames swept across the sky, surrounding him in a red-hot swarm. The fire sank into his wings and rolled harmlessly over his skin. Dragons couldn’t hurt him anymore.
Leave!
Rafe put his palms against simmering scales and sent the order directly into the beast’s skin. For some reason, with touch they couldn’t ignore him. They cowered. Pumping its wings, the dragon retreated into the mist.
Heavy breaths spilled through Rafe’s lips as he hovered for a moment. All around the city screams rose. Waves swallowed buildings whole. Stones and wood ripped apart. Somewhere in the darkness, the shadow beast lurked. And already Rafe sensed another dragon coming on the breeze.
They were losing.
If he didn’t do something, they were going to fail.
But what?
A swiftly moving patch of darkness caught his eye. No time to think, Rafe raced for the monster, cutting it off at the pass as it made for Lyana. They slammed into each other just outside the balcony entrance, far too close for comfort. Without Kal’s light magic, it wouldn’t be so easy to keep the creature contained. Claws ripped down his arms, shredding flesh. Anger barreled into his thoughts. It was all Rafe could do to hold on, his body screaming at him for pushing too far. Even his invinci power couldn’t keep up with the injuries. Blood loss made his grip go weak. The demon kicked him in the chest, tearing free.
An explosion of pain shocked him still.
It’s not mine, Rafe realized, whipping his head to the side. It was one of the creatures. The shadow sensed it too, its head swiveling between the castle and the city, clearly torn. It had an opening, but the creatures were a unit somehow. After spending so much time in the spell together, hundreds of years incubating in the same magic, they cared more for each other than for a human desire like revenge. Those black eyes found Rafe’s, churning with an even deeper truth—time was on its side. In a few more weeks, there would be four of them, and what would the world do then?
Dread dug into his chest like talons.
The shadow beast fled and Rafe fell from the sky, collapsing onto the castle roof as his body finally gave out. He lifted his face just in time to see the three creatures disappearing into the fog together, the earthen one being carried aloft by the other two, its left wing bent and misshapen. He dropped his head back and closed his eyes. For a few minutes, he did nothing but breathe as silver magic coursed through him.
Time, he thought. We’re running out of time.
“I’m going, Malek.”
“Lyana—”
“Those people deserve our help, too. I’m going, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
Rafe groaned and rolled to his feet as two familiar voices carried on the breeze. He already knew what they were arguing about. He’d expected it, which was why he’d taken those few precious moments to heal while he could. Two ivory wings appeared beneath him, catching the wind. Rafe leapt off the roof, ignoring his aching muscles, and raced after her.