Page 169 of The Ryder Of the Night

I clawed at myself, fighting them, but there were too many. I blew fire in front of me as I flew and rolled through it. That took care of some of them, but any that fell off were replaced.

I looked for Octavian, but I’d lost him as every direction was obscured by the creatures. I aimed fire up and let it fall over me, repeating the action to pick them off as more and more came. The creatures had no fear of my fire. I’d never seen anything like them. I slammed myself to the ground to regroup and ripped one off my wing to look at it.

Ice ran through my veins.

It was an undead bat.

Was Octavian a…necromancer?

Those hadn’t existed since The Hundred Years War.

I pulled more of the damn creatures off me.

Fucking bastard.

I blew fire into the air, letting it rain down over me like a waterfall, burning away as many of the creatures as I could. They weren’t more than a distraction to flood the sky and throw off my pursuit.

The field would burn, but it would slow his creatures as more came out of the ground.

But now I had to find him.

I listened, spinning a slow circle. Where would he be hiding?

“Zaria?”

“I’m on the north tower. I can see you. Are you okay?”

“Fine, but I need you.”

She calmed and quieted to listen.

“He’s gone to ground, and I need to find him.”

“How can I help?”

“Can you light him up? Illuminate him, maybe? Send your power to find him in the dark?” Anything.” I didn’t even know if what I was asking was possible.

“I can try.”

I closed my eyes as more and more of the winged creatures attacked. They chipped away at my scales, digging and biting, but I gave Zaria all my energy, letting her channel through me. We had to find him.

I owed it to Kol’s memory.

I’d never forgive myself If I let him get away.

SEVENTY-ONE

NYX

“Ifeel something!”she told me, sending light to mark the place.

I breathed, shooting into the air to swoop to the place Zaria indicated. I couldn’t give him even a second.

I accessed every last ounce of power I could gather and let it flow with Zaria’s, channeling it all into my fire, blasting it at the hiding spot in the hope she was right.

It was our one shot to catch him off guard.

If she was wrong, I’d have to retreat.

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