It was everything they had both ever wanted, fighting alongside one another. But he knew the moment Maerinys was dealt with, Atlas would be right back to what he set out to do, and they would be at odds once more. It was Draevyn’s worst nightmare continuing to unfold before his eyes in a horrifying twist of fate.
Then an enemy soldier lunged at Atlas’s back, blade raised high. Heart pounding, Draevyn rushed forward, deflecting a strike with a burst of flame.
Atlas whirled on him before giving a grim nod. “Thanks,” he huffed out.
Draevyn tightened his grip on his weapon, eyes remaining on the swarm of enemies closing in. “You’ve had my back our entire lives,” he said between grunts. “Just as I’ll always have yours.”
Amidst the clash of steel and the screams of dying men, that brief moment hung between them. Draevyn was thankful he was able to say those words, knowing it may be the last time his brother ever considered them on the same side of this brewing war.
Then, slowly, Atlas’s gaze softened. The hard lines of his face eased, and a faint, unspoken gratitude glimmered there. With a sharp nod, he snapped another enemy’s neck with a lash of shadows. “It’s an honor to fight with you again, Drae.”
Together, they plunged back into the storm, but when Draevyn looked up through the haze of smoke and madness, his heart halted in his chest.
There she is.
Esmyra stood just beyond the shattered throne room doors, fighting her way out of the castle.
She was free of chains, her hair wild, her clothes torn and bloodied, yet her stance was unyielding. A sword flashed in her hand, ruthlessly cutting down any man who came too close, before she ripped a pistol from her belt. Firing it, the shot split the air, dropping another soldier where he stood.
Esmyra was fierce and untamed as every strike of her blade and every squeeze of the trigger became a declaration that she was nobody to fuck with. Even without using her magic, she was dangerous.
Absolutely fucking lethal.And gods, did he love her for it.
The sight of her ignited something in his chest, and with a battle cry of his own, he lunged forward, his sword tearing through soldiers as he carved a path toward her. Every swing was fueled by the need to fight alongside his Wildfire.
His brother’s shadows lashed out at their enemies nearby, and Draevyn was barely able to realize that Atlas washelpingthem escape.
He finally broke through the wall of soldiers, and Esmyra turned at the last second, meeting his gaze. Sweat streaked her brow and blood splattered across her cheek as she grinned up at him.
“You took your time I see,” she shouted over the madness, driving her blade through a guard’s chest.
Draevyn then realized everyone in the entire godsdamn castle was after her right now, and even he was no exception to that.
I have to get her out of here.
He smirked, cutting down another as they all crept closer to the main doors of the palace. “Someone had to clean up the mess you made, Wildfire.”
She ducked under a swing and fired her pistol into the attacker’s face. “Mess? You call thisarta mess?” A wicked cackle slipped from her, and it was the most glorious sound he’d ever heard.
They moved like they’d never been apart. Esmyra’s strikes balanced his relentless flames. Where he struck, she followed, finishing any kills he left in his wake. Where she faltered, he was there, fire roaring to push enemies back.
“I know you two are having a moment, but we need to get the fuck out of here!” Jak shouted.
Esmyra glanced toward the opening, but instead of bolting, she threw her head back andlaughed. The sound was wild and breathless, her glacial eyes gleaming. “Run? You’ve lost your damn mind? I’m not done yet!” She spun and cut down another soldier with a vicious swipe of her blade. “Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had this much fun?”
Oh, for fuck’s sake.
Draevyn and Jak’s stares locked, and in that single exchange, he made his choice. Esmyra watched them through narrowed eyes as she continued to fight alongside them.
“I’m not sure what’s happening between the two of you,” she yelled between blows, “but what Iamsure of is that I don’t like it. Not one bit.”
A break in the attacks came, and Draevyn scanned his surroundings, spotting Sam and Tommy several feet away in their own fights. He let out a sharp whistle, warning them it was time to leave.
“Forgive me, love,” he said.
Esmyra’s eyes flared as she took a step back. “Draevyn, don’t you fucking dare!”
Before she could react, he charged at her, closing the shortdistance between them as he bent down, hooked an arm around her waist, and swung her up over his shoulder in one powerful motion.
