I was always surprised during battle that soldiers did not use more of their magic, but then again, stabbing someone to death was just faster.
I stepped around her body, picking my pace up to a run as I made for the main gate to find Kohen and Sawyer, hopefully Pia, too. As far as I knew, Maeve hadn't used her magic on them. I could send one of them after her. She was capable of protecting herself, especially armed, but for my own sanity, I needed someone with her.
There were things she didn't know—things Iwishedthat I didn’t know. I'd kept them from her, not wanting to add to the piles of worries she kept harbored inside. It was wrong of me, but I really planned to tell her when the time was right. The moment just never came.
Aside from that, I overheard things in Craterra that to this day made my skin crawl. Beaumont’s plans for Maeve were far worse than just using her for her powers. I should have told her that as well—almost did when I got home, but she’d already been through so much. I didn't want to scare her even more over something that I was sure I could protect her from. But she wouldn't let me, and now she was alone out there. I shuddered at the thought of what could happen to her.
I didn't allow myself to panic often, but right now, it was a feeling that couldn’t be fought no matter how hard I tried. I had to find Kohen or Sawyer. Soon. Before one of those Draemornian fucks got their hands on her.
I barreled through the patio, my sword still clutched tightly in my fist. The main gate of the castle came into view, encased in insane fucking turmoil. There must have been at least fifty soldiers—a mix of Caelestians and Draemornians—battling each other on the balcony, fighting to break through the wards to gain entry to the castle.
I stopped briefly to scan my eyes over the crowd, searching for one of my friends, but it was just an array of clanging metal and spraying blood.
My legs carried me up the steps towards the chaos where I was immediately met by a blast of blazing white light. My enemy's magic shot past me, blinding me for a few seconds. My eyes didn't have time to fully adjust before there was another soldier on the step above me, his dagger raised and pointed at my chest.
The soldier jammed the tip of his dagger into my sternum before I could block him, but the weapon was no match for the steel of my chest plate.
Idiot.
Everyone knew you aimed for the throat when using a dagger against armor.
I caught his wrist before he could pull it back. My grip was firm as I twisted his arm so hard that I felt his bone snap underneath my glove.
The soldier shouted out in agony and I raised my leg, kicking him in the stomach with the sole of my boot. He fell backward, his head ricocheting off of the cement while the rest of his body went limp on the steps.
My body cast a shadow as I leaned over his bleeding head. I thought for sure he was dead, but he lay paralyzed on the stone, gasping for the air I kicked out of his lungs.
“Should have worn a helmet,” I taunted, tilting my head as I raised my sword and stabbed it through his open mouth.
I didn't give the Draemornian another glance as I stepped onto the curved stone platform, looking around desperatelyfor a sign of anyone familiar. I raised my sword to block an attack from another asshole's weapon as it swung at my face. It fell from his hand, and I bent down to pick it up before he could. Then I used the two blades together to do something brutally lethal to the man before me. His body separated into halves, and I would be lying if I said that the sight of his organs spilling out in a flood didn't make me want to vomit at least a little.
I stared for a heartbeat, in total awe that I was capable of doing something so horrific to a man. My stomach lurched.
Get it together.
There was no time to show weakness. I had to find?—
“Holy shit, Seb, that was harsh.”
Pia.
Relief washed over me.
She looked exactly how I’d expect—covered in dirt and ash, blood crusted over a cut on her neck.
I dropped the extra sword and she grabbed my hand, dragging me out of the chaos of combat and to a side door on the castle.
“Open up, Kohen, it's me.” She banged a gloved fist on the door, and it swung open to allow us entry.
I knocked one soldier back with the blunt force of my elbow as he tried to follow us in. Pia finished the job with her dagger, not killing the man but injuring him enough to back off.
Kohen pulled her inside, and I followed after her, pushing my back against the barricades to keep the door from bursting open.
I glanced around the space, bloody and reeking from the corpses scattered about. There were a few other soldiers guarding various entrances, but Kohen sent them down the hall once we arrived.
“Why are they trying so hard to get in?” Pia gasped.
Kohen shrugged. “Dunno. Probablylooking for your father to persuade him to surrender.” He gestured at me with his head.
