Noc
The harsh clang of metal screamed through the air as blades smashed against armor. There was no slowing the onslaught of Varek’s army. They had numbers we simply did not. Arrows whizzed overhead, their deadly song ending with a definitive thud as their pointed tips met flesh or muck. Shields cracked. Beasts roared. Charmers, assassins, Rhynelanders, Lendrians—we all fought side by side against the power of the throne. Our battlefield was a sea of blood and carnage, the stink of copper heavy around us. But as valiantly as we fought, it was evident that we were losing.
Felled mounts and bodies marred the terrain, and Varek’s tremendous forces had outmaneuvered us. They encircled us entirely, giving us no option for retreat. And still we fought. Still we raged against the Sentinels, the riders, the infantry. A few times I tried to call out to them, to prove that I was the rightful king, but Varek had ordered them to keep their distance until the battle had begun. And now, as we thrust our blades against one another, the only thing that mattered was survival. Blinding columns of white light detonated around me, decimating my assassins’ ability to summon shadows. But not my blood blades. Deep gashes ran the length of my forearms, and I carried twin swords, unbreakable and devastating.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
“On your left!” someone shouted, and suddenly a near-black war hammer came swinging through the air. The end of it smashed through the skull of a Sentinel I hadn’t noticed in my peripheral, and Dez rushed forward. He gave his weapon a good yank, freeing it from the mangled helm of the downed soldier.
I nodded once in thanks before thrusting one of my blades into an enemy fighter. It cut clean through him, and he helplessly grabbed at my weapon until the life fled his eyes. Nearby, Ozias and his beast, Jax, battled against several soldiers. Bruises and swollen cuts obstructed Ozias’s face, but he still cleaved into a man with the heavy swing of his sword. Jax protected his back, erecting a wall of volcanic rock that scraped and burned flesh.
Everywhere I turned there was chaos. Raven had summoned her legendary feline, Mika, and slender, slate-gray copies with the same power and ferocity as the original tore through the troops. Their numbers were dwindling, though, and many Charmers were sending their own beasts back to the realm to heal. The rainbow prism of colors as they opened the beast realm door showered over us, and even though they summoned new beasts to aid in the effort, their powers were waning. They couldn’t keep up the endless stream of beasts forever.
Another Sentinel charged toward me, and I dropped to my knees, sliding across the muck and slicing one of my blades along the backs of his heels. He screamed and toppled forward, leaving him open to Boo’s monstrous paws. One heavy swipe, and the man was dead. Gaige had managed to remain atop his Kitska beast, and Boo roared loud enough to send a few enemy soldiers scurrying backward. Not that it mattered—one nod from Gaige and the beast summoned a beam of moonlight that scorched a path right through them.
Gaige jerked his attention back to me. “What now?”
What now? My gaze raced over our surroundings. I didn’t know. I couldn’t see a way out of this. I couldn’t—
An unexpected blade careened through the air and lodged itself in my shoulder. Hot blood spurted over my chest, and I screamed. Wildly, I flung my sword in the direction of the enemy soldier, scraping his armor. He took a step back, extracting the blade as he moved, and white-hot agony seared through my very bones. But before I could turn the dripping blood into a weapon that would certainly end his life, a vibrant orb of sparking magic flew right by my face. It cooked my cheek beneath my helm before exploding against the man before me.
Craning my neck, I tracked the trail of burnt grass to the feet of Isla. With her legs spread and hands thrust out before her, she flexed tense fingers that were still coated in what looked like hundreds of electrical currents. She’d projected the same type of magic as the mage I’d faced the day I died. I’d never been more thankful to see that devastating move again.
Without uttering a word, she summoned another orb of lightning and directed her attack at the approaching army. This time, though, instead of a single orb, she let loose an endless stream of crackling, electric-blue magic, and she mowed down the approaching line with ease—until her power ran out, and she fell to the ground on one knee, heavy breaths racking her frame.
One minute she was alone and the next, one of Darrien’s assassins had appeared in flurry of shadows, blade held high. Isla only had the strength to lift her head in defiance. Before the blade could land, a vein of burning red streaked across the earth. And then a wall of rock and heat erupted before her. The assassin’s blade struck stone. Then Ozias manifested behind him and thrust his blade deep into the man’s neck.
We couldn’t keep this up. Everywhere we turned, there was a new enemy with fresher legs and clean weapons and enough skill to beat us down. But I wouldn’t give in. Couldn’t give in. Somewhere in the castle, Leena, Kost, Calem, and our brethren were risking their lives to take down Yazmin. There was no other option but to press forward. If we wanted peace, then we had to keep fighting.
Preparing to lunge at a Sentinel, I pulled my blood sword back and held it parallel to my chest.
I never got the chance to strike. Instead, a chilling, other-worldly roar crested over the battle, silencing all our cries and bringing everyone to a standstill. An agonizing sense of dread flooded my limbs. Slowly, I turned toward the sound.
A massive black cloud covered the horizon, and at its swirling center was a column of fire that seemed to sear a hole right into the sky itself. Again, that horrifying roar bellowed from the depths of the maelstrom, and suddenly the outline of a massive dragon bled against the smoke.
I took one look at Gaige’s stricken face and I knew: Yazmin had raised Ocnolog.
The beast’s powerful wings thrust the cloud outward, and it crawled across the earth toward us like snakes in the grass. Soon, the sun was obscured behind a thick layer of charcoal smoke, a rusted-orange light barely illuminating the earth.
“Gods help us all,” Gaige said, his hands going limp in his lap.
Ocnolog rose higher in the sky. As large as the mountain that Hireath was built into—and the same, alabaster shade—he soared toward the capital. In no time at all, he’d be upon us. What had taken us hours—days—to travel he conquered in minutes. Horns framed his skull and cut through the billowing smoke, leaving a thin trail of almost-clear sky in his wake. His jeweled, ruby eyes burned fear into my bones. And as he drew closer, he opened his maw. Roiling orange and red lit up the underside of his belly, speeding along his throat and forming a blast of horrendous fire that streamed from his mouth. He aimed his attack directly at us. That torrent of insatiable flame destroyed a third of our men in the blink of an eye, along with a large chunk of Varek’s army. Ocnolog didn’t care. He let out a roar that sounded more like a malicious laugh, and he flew over the scorched earth in the direction of Wilheim.
He circled the castle once before landing, crushing the marble and diamond walls with his monstrous, clawed feet. Extending his head to the ground, his snout temporarily disappeared from view, only to return a moment later with a tiny, humanlike figure standing between his horns.
Yazmin.
An excited shout erupted from the enemy forces, and for the first time since Ocnolog rose, I dragged my gaze back to the war at our feet. Varek had pushed to the front of the line and raised his sword high, a deranged grin visible thanks to the cut of his helm.
“The great dragon beast has chosen to aid Wilheim!” He turned his wild gaze on me. “You will not win this.”
Maybe not, but I wouldn’t let him win, either. Taking advantage of the stunned soldiers, I summoned more blood blades to my side and sent them flying through the air, directly at the king. He lifted his shield just in time, but the force of the hits knocked him off his steed. He rolled in the dirt, armor squelching against the blood and soil, and howled with rage.
Standing, he extracted his sword and directed his fury at me. He took several, threatening steps forward when a peculiar umber and gold mist gathered about his feet. So focused on me, he didn’t notice the deadly warning. And then, the cloud billowed around him in earnest, and a rogue feline beast emerged. It sank its fangs deep into Varek’s thigh, and he let out a pained cry. Releasing its hold, the beast stepped back and exhaled a deadly, gold-flaked mist. Varek stared in horror as his hands fumbled over the mangled flesh. But that damning mist easily seeped between his fingers, settling deep into the wound. His breaths turned ragged as the color drained from his face. Wild eyes raced across the battlefield, and he let out a scream as if to call for help, but his words ended in a wet gurgle. Stumbling forward, he reached toward his forces only to crumble in a heap. He let out one last shuddering breath, and then went still. Dead. My gaze riveted to the lingering beast.
Yazmin’s Cumulo Leo. After witnessing what it’d done to Gaige, I’d recognize that creature anywhere. It disappeared as quickly as it’d come, slipping into the beast realm and escaping to safety.
And then Yazmin screamed at the top of her lungs. “They’ve killed your king! Fight! Show them the power of Wilheim!”
The enraged roar that bellowed from the enemy forces rivaled Ocnolog’s call, and the soldiers surged forward with renewed energy and pure hatred in their gazes. I couldn’t see Yazmin, but I swore I heard her malicious chuckle threading through the shouts. She’d killed their king and effectively taken command in the span of a breath. And no one questioned her. Ocnolog stretched his head to the heavens and then took to the skies. A disastrous, orange glow colored the underside of his belly. Soon, his fires would rain down upon us. Charmers and their beasts scattered, barely avoiding the destructive stream of flames as they ate away at the earth.
Unable to tear my eyes away from the sight, I shouted to Gaige, “How do we stop him?”
“You don’t.” His defeated tone destroyed what little hope I’d still harbored. We were surrounded by death and hellfire, bodies burning, beasts shrieking, people crying. I had no ability to restore my troops’ morale. We’d given this war everything we had, and we were still shorthanded. And now, with Ocnolog flying lower over us all, there wasn’t a damn thing that could save us.
Just then, a streak of black raced across the sky. A small, lithe form in the shadow of Ocnolog, but one I recognized all too well—Onyx. He let out a roar of his own, and I caught a glimpse of Leena pressed low to his back. Rosewood light exploded around her, somehow chasing away the smog that clouded the air. Sunlight streamed through the hole she’d created. The beast realm door was thrust open wide, the heady groaning angry and undeniable, and suddenly beasts manifested on the ground all around us. Aeon. Reine. Dominus. Iky. Kinana and Kapro, the ice and water serpent beasts she’d first summoned to battle Calem so long ago. And even more I didn’t recognize.
She did one last circle, bringing herself just close enough that I was able to catch sight of her face. Rosewood vines, petals, and flowers had completely covered her skin, and she glared at the horde of enemy forces threatening to end our lives.
“For Celeste!” she shouted, her voice ringing out and reinvigorating us in a way I never could have. Her creatures roared, and Aeon grew to his full size. Mist poured out of his sieved body, and electricity brewed in his chest. He sent a streak of lightning directly toward the dragon beast, but Ocnolog hissed and jerked to the side before the hit could land.
And Leena rocketed after him in a streak of rosewood light like the damn beacon of hope that she was.
Pride and love filled my chest, and I shouted at the top of my lungs while raising my blood sword high. “For Celeste! For Lendria! For us!”
The answering shouts from my troops blended with bestial cries, and we once again stormed toward our enemy. Determination bright in their eyes, Charmers thrust their hands outward and pulled from whatever reserves of magic they had left. Beasts crawled out of the realm, their angry, violent snarls striking fear into the enemies before us. They stalled, and Cruor dashed ahead—shadows carrying their feet—and sailed through the air to take down the nearest brigade of Lendrian soldiers. Cruor’s blades came away slick with blood, and they once again propelled themselves forward with shadows, targeting another set of soldiers. Rhyne’s army thundered a breath behind them. Their heavy footsteps shook the earth beneath our feet, creating a cadence of hope that pulsed through our limbs. We were strong. We were united. We would prevail.
I charged forward, joining my brethren, when a gleaming, onyx blade found its home in my side. Crying out, I tumbled to the ground. I yanked the damn thing out and then watched it dissipate in my fingers as a haughty, laughing Darrien stood tall over me.
“Too long have I waited for this.” He sneered and summoned a shadow, forming it with ease into a scythe. Gripping it with both hands, he chuckled. “I decided to take your advice and get my hands dirty this time. Save the arrows for someone else. I want a front row seat when you die, Noc.”
I backed up quickly and stood, all the rage I’d felt now targeted directly at my former brother. The man who’d abandoned me when I’d needed him to help save the woman I loved. The man who’d attempted to kidnap Leena and steal Cruor right out from under me. The blood oozing from my waist responded to my anger, and I fashioned a two-handed sword as long and broad as my body. Even in the sickly light of the sun, my weapon shined like liquid.
“This ends here and now,” I seethed.
“Agreed.”
And with that we lunged at each other, knowing full well we wouldn’t stop until one of us was dead.