While we had a brief moment of peace, Sebastian closed in on me, pulling my helmet off so he could brush his hand over my cheek. His fingers grazed over my jewels. “That shouldn't turn me on, but fucking hell,that was badass.” He pulled his own helmet up enough to crush his lips to mine in athank you for saving my lifekind of kiss.
The moment of tranquility was short lived. Sawyer showed up out of nowhere, gesturing for us to come with him. “Let's move!” he yelled through his helmet, his eyes darting around frantically.
We followed him along the border of the castle, clinging to the walls as we crept our way to the back end of the tower. Sunlight broke through the murkiness of dust, scorching my skin as I leaned against the stone. Shockingly, no Draemornians were over here, which allowed us a moment to catch our breath.
“Where's Pia and Kohen?” I asked Sawyer, my voice shaking from adrenaline.
“Haven't seen them in over an hour. Last I knew they were helping to barricade the castle's entrance. It didn't look like itwas going well, though. I wouldn't be surprised if the Draemornians break in soon.”
I dropped my helmet into the dirt to drink from my canteen, rehydrating my cells so they could help me continue on. The past few hours of battle had been relentless, and it wouldn't be letting up anytime soon.
“So much for making history,” I teased, out of breath.
“Ha-ha,” Sawyer snarked.
“There's way more of them than I’d expected,” Sebastian panted, hunched over on his knees.
I had to agree. The Draemornians greatly outnumbered us, which came as a shock. We were all under the impression that Caelestis had the bigger army.
“Was there this many of them back in Craterra?” Sawyer asked.
Sebastian shook his head. “No. They must have been holding back like we were. I know it's only just begun, but I honestly have no idea how we are going to win this if it keeps up like this.”
My heart sank. “Please don't say that,” I pleaded. “We can't lose this battle. My family is dead and it's my fault. This is all my fault and if we lose, I?—”
Sawyer put a gloved hand on my metal shoulder. “It's not your fault. I should have never said that. We’re going to do everything we can, Maevey baby.”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “Maevey baby?”
I was about to explain the nickname when a fiery beam flew through the fucking air. The ball of fire skimmed my upper arm on its course to hit the tower behind me. It absorbed into the brick, leaving only a black ring of soot.
I cried out in pain, forcing my eyes down at the hole in my sleeve. Blackened flesh painted my arm. The wound, though mostly cauterized, still smoked and steamed as fresh blood leaked out. “Fucking hell,” I cursed through a clenched jaw,poking the charred skin. Of course, my armor stopped right after my shoulders.
Without even hesitating, Sebastian ripped my canteen from my hands, pouring the cool water on the burn. The liquid relieved some of the burning, but when he tore a piece of his undershirt off to tie around the wound, a whole new kind of pain overcame me.
I screamed and tried to bite my lip to suppress the noise, but he slapped his free hand over my mouth to silence me. “I know it hurts, but try to keep quiet. We don’t want to give away our?—”
“King Beaumont is going to be thrilled when I deliver you to him.” A Draemornian soldier flashed us his blazing hands, his eyes focused on my gemstones.
Sawyer raised his sword, ready to lunge while I stood back in shock.
“We all figured you would be hidden away. Quite interesting that Aldous Hawthorne let his most prized possession fight his battles for him.”
Sebastian tapped into his power, freezing the Draemornian’s flaming hands before he could throw another bomb of fire at us.
Sawyer then charged, stabbing his sword into the gap in the side of the soldier's armor. He twisted the blade, ensuring it mangled the muscles of his heart before pulling it out with force. Blood spurted from the hole, hitting me in the face.
Another man, dead.
“Are you okay?” both men asked me in sync.
I raised my injured arm to wipe the splattered blood off my face. The skin was tight and hurt like a bitch when I moved it. “It's not that bad.”
“Don’t lie. It looks like shit,” Sawyer commented as he took my canteen to refill it with his water magic.
I scrunched my nose. “Gee, thanks.”
“Let me look at it again.” Sebastian reached out for me.
