Gave the army a rallying speech.
It already felt like it had less of an impact. It was the same words I told them each time before we entered into battle, just a slightly different variation.
But if that’s what I needed to do day after day until this battle was won, I’d do it.
The army still cheered, their voices rumbling the forest as they raised their weapons and fists into the air, echoing my battle cry.
But here I sat, with Luka in an open pocket in the forest, in what used to be a village but was now nothing but depleted buildings.
Our soldiers had started the rumor of our location hoursago, but still, there was no sign of Adreona or her army, so we waited.
And waited.
“What if she never comes? Do we wait here all night, or do we go back to camp?” I kicked at a rock, sending it scattering into the rubble.
“It’s still early.”
“But—”
I turned my gaze skyward at the sound of flapping wings. My hair blew around my face as Declan landed with a thud.
“There’s a group of soldiers coming this way, way more than we’re prepared for.”
“She brought her entire fucking army, didn’t she?”
“It looks like it. I already sent a few flyers back to get the rest of the soldiers. They should be here within the hour but?—”
“But Adreona’s army will be here before then, won’t they?”
The harpy nodded.
“So we hold them off until then, hope we can get to Adreona and Keziq before it’s too late.”
“I’ll tell my scouts to keep an eye out for her, but we’re going to have to hold them back until backup gets here.”
I unsheathed my sword. “What are we waiting for?”
A cry tore from my throat as we ran through the forest, weapons raised as we crashed head-first into our enemy.
The clang of steel rang out over the forest.
Blood splattered across my face, I didn’t even have time to wipe it away as I thrust my sword upwards into the soldier’s chest. I leapt out of the way as they fell toward me, removing my sword as I turned toward my next opponent.
There were so many of them. Declan had warned us but—we were severely outnumbered. They hadn’t brought their army, they had brought Dhampirs too. They ripped through the forest with vicious growls. Swords alone wouldn’t cut it today.
“Luka!”
“Yeah?” I cut down opponents as I moved in the direction of his voice.
“I need you to cover me.” I slid my sword across a female’s neck, blood gurgled from her lips as she slumped to the ground.
“I’m here. I’ve got you.”
I sheathed my sword and closed my eyes. I outstretched my palms, sending out my magic. The fighting had just begun, our soldiers hadn’t managed to infiltrate their frontlines yet past the Dhampirs. My magic snaked along the ground, past the soldiers facing off, shifting until it met the soldiers farther back in their lines.
I closed my hands into fists.
The ground rumbled beneath me, but I held firm. I tugged at my magic watching as the ground crumbled beneath half of Adreona’s army.
