“Lennox.”
Luka’s voice pierced through the sound of battle. He had stayed at my side—somehow, we had managed to stay together, fighting side by side as we made our way through the fray. “You need to do it now. We don’t know how much longer we have.”
“Cover me.” I sheathed my sword, my latest victim falling at my feet.
Luka’s arms wrapped around my waist, his fingers dusting over my hips as I reached out with my magic. I swore I could almost see it—see my magic cracking out over the battlefield, past the fallen bodies, reaching for the enemies, wrapping around their essence.
I pulled the string tight, closing my fist and feeling a slight tug, testing the connection. My magic pulled taut.
“You’ve got this, Sweetheart,” Luka’s voice echoed in my ear.
I nodded, letting his words settle.
I pulled on the string, opening my eyes as the enemies in my periphery burst into pieces, their bodies crumbling under the force of my magic.
I reached out again, continuing to crush the enemy with the simple closing of my palm.
Sweat dripped down the collum of my neck, exhaustion weighing on my limbs.
One more time, one more round and I needed to quit or risk burnout.
Burnout wasn’t an option in war.
“Fun little trick there.” My body tensed at the sound of Adreona’s voice. Luka’s grip on my waist tightening.
I called back my magic. I could end this right here and now.
Slowly, I turned toward her, Luka staying at my back as I kept control of my magic, pressing it toward her.
I could see it, the delicate roots of magic crackling across the ground. Closer and closer, it stretched toward Adreona.
Her lips were painted a deep plum, paling her already waxy complexion. Her leathers were a deep red, a drop of blood in a sea of black, pointing her out to anyone.
Stupid and reckless.
The ring in her nose glittered in the sunlight as a smile crested her lips.
I wriggled my fingers, a little closer.
“Lennox.” Luka’s voice was hardly a whisper, but there was a warning tone to it.
The roots receded as I pulled my magic back. Not yet. I reminded myself. We had a plan. We needed to cut the tie between Keziq and Luka first and then I could kill Adreona.
“I didn’t expect to run into you so soon,” I told her as I drew my hands back to my sides.
“You know me, Lennox, I do love a surprise.” Her dark eyes glimmered as Keziq appeared at her side.
I steeled my shoulders. I would no longer let that witch instill fear in me.
“Keziq has been busy preparing for this battle—for this moment—ever since she got her hands on this precious journal.”
Adreona produced the journal from her pocket and tossed it between her hands. “She was set back by your ripping out the pages, but your mate’s memories proved useful?—”
“You’ll lose this war.” I summoned as much strength into my voice as I could. “Without vampires, you lose your army.”
She shrugged. “I already told you, Lennox, I don’t care. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to ensure the safety of Lethenia for the rest of time.”
“Eliminating an entire population of people isn’t ensuring the future of Lethenia! It’s destroying it! There is no Lethenia without vampires! Don’t you understand that? They are a vital part of not only Lethenia’s history, but the fiber of its being!”
