My attention slides to Lachlan beside me. His jaw is clenched tightly, his strong brow lowered of the familiar pools of green that take my breath away. Loving him has made me stronger—better.
“You’re wrong,” I breathe.
Julius laughs loudly, the sound encompassing the entire room. “You would think that. All you’ve known is love. From your parents to that pathetic male beside you and your court of imbeciles.”
I nod. “So I know what it feels like. The power it gives you.” My eyes slide to Odessa. Her chin lifts, resolution set in the grim line of her mouth. “And I will fight for it.”
His eyes turn steely, the turquoise slipping into a pale blue as the face of my father wavers. “No. You willdiefor it.”
He snaps his fingers again and the guards around us advance.
Our small unit converges into a circle as we meet his forces head-on. Sword against sword.
Lachlan lunges at the guard closest to us, his sword stabbing straight through his chest. But as he falls, another materializes, taking his place.
Eira swipes out with her needle-like sword and the neck of the guard closest to her rips open. A torrent of blood splashes onto the floor, splattering our legs. She steps over the crumbled corpse, breaking the line.
“Stay together,” I order. And she falls back.
A guard in front of me moves slowly, his movement stilted. He raises his sword up high above his head. The vision of him swinging down at me happens a few milliseconds before his sword comes at me. The impact of his blade against the hilt of my axe has him hurtling away from me and slamming into the stone arches nearest to us.
The chandelier above us shakes, a violent thundering roar spears over the raging battle. Giants have made it to the door. Fists slam at the carved oak. I pray to Odin that the locks hold. Bodies litter the marble floor around us, blood pools making the ground slippery as we fight in outward motions.
Heave, slash, lunge.
Block.
Over and over again. Exhaustion weighs heavily on my limbs, my movements becoming slower. Mina raises a small group of soldiers at once, and their bodies are slung across the room.
“I’m losing power,” she grits out. They slam against the stone wall. Bones crack, and flesh thwacks against the floor as they fall.
Luna doesn’t travel or is out of power already and unable to, as she stays right beside Evander. Her eyes simmering with the excitement of battle.
Blood splatters on her face, dripping down the kohl-drawn rune on her cheek. Freya moves like a dancer, spinning and slashing her way through body after body. Odr is brute force. Blasting through guard after guard.
Tane looks just as he did before his injury. His strength rivaling that of Mathilda’s as they cut down man after man.
Balthasar and Eira are mere clones of each other. Working in succinct harmony to further our line. I scan the throne room, looking for Julius and Odessa. He stands casually, watching the battle unfold before he nods at the guard. The guard hands him his dagger before jumping into the fray. He’s immediately sent flying through the stained glass window, but I can’t tell if it was from Mina or Balthasar’s wind.
Lachlan grunts, withdrawing his sword from the neck of the man in front of him.
“Go,” he urges, nodding towards Julius. “Save her.”
Odessa looks on with fearful eyes, her hands twisting as she tugs at her bindings. I slip out of the line, Eira and Lachlan converging on the vacancy my absence left. I work towards the dais.
My axe is bloody, my breathing labored as I climb the stairs. Julius yanks her roughly to his side, an arm slung low around her waist. His fingers dig into the flesh right above her hip and she grimaces.
A tear slips down her cheek.
“Lena. No,” she whispers. “Go get the gods.”
“Shut up,” Julius growls, his chin prods against her temple.
I shift my axe from hand to hand, stalking closer to him. My shoulders rise and fall rapidly as I work to slow my breathing.
My medallion has slipped in font of my armor and when therunes flare, it draws both of their eyes. Odessa’s eyes widen as she steps closer, his grip lightens infinitesimally.
The distraction my one small window of opportunity.
