As soon as he left—shifting back into a fly—I gestured for Lilia to follow me. If I was going to do this, I had to make it believable.
I was thankful for the thick leather uniform we were wearing and that my markings only spanned across my chest and stomach as I called to my abilities. Because Lilia didn’t notice my skin changing colors, as golden swirls spanned across me, the Tennebrisian telltale sign I was actively using my powers.
I entered her mind easily with my illusion, making it seem like she was fighting guards, but in reality, and to everyone else, she was attacking nothing—just air.
Yeah, she was going to fucking murder me once she found out.
I kept half my mind focused on her, on making her imaginary battles believable and keeping her occupied at the border of the tree line, while I actually fought off whoever came our way.
There was no way I was letting anyone get within a foot radius of her.
SIXTY-SIX
SCOTLIND
What are you doing here?Tezya seethed into my mind. He was down the hall fighting his way through four guards. I saw Peter for a split second on my way up here. He shifted back into himself to tell me not to hold back. The guards were loyal to Synder.
Apparently, during the two hours it took Kallon and I to portal all five groups into the snow-laden territory, wave one tried to reason with them. Sie said that his brother mentioned people might not be loyal to Synder, that not everyone was happy about the drastic changes they’d been making in Tennebris after they sent me to Lux. But after too many of our own men and women were killed, they resorted to plan B.
I tried not to think about how many of us were already dead, tried not to dwell on whether I knew any of them. All Peter said was that Vallie was okay before he shifted into his now-new-favorite bear form and went back into the throes of fighting.
Vallie was fine. I knew Kallon was okay because I just left her. But who wasn’t? I sagged the first moment I saw Tezya. He was fighting alongside a few people I recognized from the camp, but I didn’t know their names. Tennebrisian guards werefalling to the floor beside him like moths trapped in fire. One moment, they were fine, then the next, they were gurgling as their throats were slit. I knew immediately it was Dovelyn fighting under her invisibility. Even if I couldn’t use my enhancement to feel her powers, I knew she’d never leave her brother alone.
She, like me, was terrified for Tezya. It was stupid. Her visions showed her the King staying in Lux. He was safe, for now, but seeing him fight, seeing blood splattered across his chest and onto his face and over his scar… I knew I made the right decision to come inside and fight.
I’m helping,I shot back as I dodged a sword to my chest.
You were supposed to stay with Kallon outside the castle,Tezya said a moment later. A quick glance up, and I saw he was slowly making his way toward me.She needs to create a portal because we can’t risk the time it’d take to walk back through the woods if we need to retreat.
I know. She already created the portal.
Scotlind, creating portals are more taxing for her than transporting people through them, and you’re both already tapped out. You need to focus on refueling your reserves, not using more of your powers.
No, what I’m supposed to be doing is helping.I stayed outside with Kallon and the rest of the fifth wave for ten minutes before I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to help. I couldn’t stand around while the people I loved were fighting inside. I couldn’t listen to the screams and not know if it was someone I knew.
You aren’t helping us if your reserves stay depleted.
They won’t.I hissed as a blade nicked my arm.
Do not tell me you’re fighting without abilities.I could hear the menace in his voice through my head.
I shrugged even though neither of us were looking at the other.I’ve been doing it my whole life.
I had two short swords in either hand—I used one to take out a guard in front of me as I blocked with the other. Tezya wasstill across the hall, trying to make his way to me, but there were too many guards.
Fire exploded in a circle as two more guards charged me. It took me a second to realize what was happening.Tezya, drop the fire. I can handle myself.
I know you can handle yourself,he said, but he still wasn’t dropping the fire.I realize I can’t talk you out of fighting inside the castle, but if you’re staying, you’re fighting with me.
I looked around, still protected by Tezya’s flames and saw too many lifeless bodies in piles on the floor. The Tennebrisian twin pink moons were embedded onto their chests—they were all guards.
Where’s the High Council?I asked him.
They’re hiding like cowards. Sie went to find them.
Sie. My chest ached thinking about him. Anyone that saw him would be out to get him, but we were spread too thin to do anything about it now.
Dovelyn’s scream brought me back to the battle. I couldn’t focus on him right now. Sie would have to protect himself. I had to stay in the moment. I had to force myself not to get distracted, to stop thinking about everything at once and only focus on this.
