“Reclaim from who?” a man blurted.
In response, the scream of a dragon piercedthe night a second before the monstrous creature soared over theland. It released a wave of fire as it swooped down on them.
The dark fae threw aside their food anddrinks as they screamed and leapt to their feet. Many of them racedfor the portal as another dragon soared into view.
“Run! Go!” Brokk shouted.
He recognized the second dragon as the bigred beast who had entered the Gloaming and flown to Underhillbefore. It was also the one who’d sat behind the Lord’s throne.
He suspected it was one of the Lord’s mostfavored pets. Because of that, Cole would do everything he could todestroy it.
“Go!” Cole bellowed.
Some of the fae opened their own portals andfled the realm, while others continued to run into Niall’s. The redbeast scanned the land but didn’t unleash its fire on them.
It swung to the side as the Lord’s men cameover the top of one of the hills. They stood, silhouetted againstthe glow of the moons before they lifted their swords and releaseda battle cry before rushing down the hill.
Another dragon appeared, but the fae’sscreams faded as their numbers lessened. Cole looked to the palace,but the helots had to have seen what was happening. They all wouldhave fled by now.
“I have to go to Underhill and the otherareas of the Gloaming before the dragons do,” Cole said to Niall.“I also have to get to Torigon.”
“I’m coming with you,” Niall said. “I’m inthis until the end.”
Cole nodded before opening a portal leadinginto the stable. When he looked back, the red dragon had turnedtoward them and was coming fast.
Cole didn’t look back as he entered theportal with Niall and Brokk.
CHAPTER 64
Lexi raced through the tunnels beneath themanor and toward the stable as Orin, complaining the entire time,followed close on her heels. Her dad ran beside her. Behind him,Maverick, Varo, Kaylia, and Sahira sprinted through thetunnels.
“This is the dumbest thing anyone has everconsidered doing,” Orin grumbled.
“No, that would be anyone who has doneyou,” Sahira retorted.
“All of them left happier than when theycame.”
“I doubt they came.”
“Look at you with all the jokes!” Orinretorted.
Lexi would have laughed if every rapid beatof her heart wasn’t screaming at her togo faster!
“You’re risking your life for horses!” Orinexclaimed.
He would never understand they were more thanhorses to her. They were also her friends, and she’d be damned ifshe left them to die in such a horrible way.
“You might think it’s dumb, but it’shappening,” Lexi told him.
“Don’t you have anything to say, Del?” Orindemanded.
“Fuck off,” Del replied, and Mavericklaughed.
Lexi skidded to a halt at the stairs leadingup to the barn’s feed room. No light crept around the edges of thedoor, but she’d never seen any before either. She also didn’t knowif any smoke would get through.
When her dad built these tunnels, he did afantastic job ensuring they were completely secure and well hidden.But she also didn’t know if someone above would see thememerging.
That man had been heading toward the barnwith a torch; she assumed it was to set the building on fire, butmaybe they had entered the stables instead. Either way, she had toknow what was happening with the horses.
