The Solheart raised his blade and took a step toward me.
He didn't make it any further.
A blazing streak of fire tore through the trees and crashed into the Solheart. I shielded my eyes as flame and light burned against the night. Brilliant wings erupted from the flame as a Paragon in white armor rose from the embers.
The Solheart rolled away, ripping off his burning cloak. Reese glanced at him, then me.
His molten gold eyes burned when they noticed my wound. Radiant light intensified around the wings sprouting from his back.
The Solheart laughed, struggling to his feet. "Look who's on the wrong fucking side."
Recognition shone in Reese's eyes. "Alistair?" He hissed.
A wicked grin tore across the Solheart's mouth—and then I saw something soaring through the trees toward Reese's back.
A javelin ripped through the glade, tearing Reese's left arm. It thudded into the tree behind me and shattered into a thousand stones.
Earthborn magic?
These men—they weren't just Solhearts.
Enemies tore through the woods, surrounding us—as though this had been an ambush they'd planned for.
Pain ripped through my side. I was going to die. Falling to my knees, I watched the blood stream down Reese's arm.
And learned what he had meant by 'let go.'
He spun. Light streaked through the air as he summoned his rapier and threw it. Fire flared around the rapier as it transformed midair, lengthening into a powerful spear. It slammed into an oncoming foe, tearing a hole in his chest and throwing him to the ground. A blaze consumed his body instantly—and terrible screams followed.
The wings on Reese's back erupted. Razor-sharp pinions tore through the air like a hail of arrows, ripping through bodies before soaring back to Reese. Light plumed around him as the wings burst from his back again and his rapier shunted back to his grip.
He flew at those who remained—and I learned just why he'd earned his reputation.
Sunlight streamed from his rapier, forging into three golden blades. They floated at his side, spinning in time with his swings as though wielded by his shadow. Nothing could break through to him—every man who rushed his side clashed against the phantom blades, every arrow was scorched midair by the fire burning around him. His weapon shifted seamlessly, from a rapier he thrust through one man's throat, into a flaming spear he threw at an archer.
Fire plumed across the glade, licking my face. I heard the wings burst again as radiant daggers tore through the woods.
I flinched as a body flew away from him and landed beside me with a sickening thud.
Hollow green eyes peered out from the man's helm.
A Stormborn. One of my people, here?
Why?
Gasping, I turned to look behind me.
The Solheart who'd attacked me had found his feet. He was badly burned, armor scorched. His hand reached for his blade, golden-green eyes searing through my skin.
A flaming spear soared over my head. The Solheart barely managed to raise his blade before it reached him. Steel clashed against steel, throwing Alistair backward against a tree.
Reese stalked past me. He flicked his wrist, and his rapier appeared in his grip again.
The Solheart—Alistair—mimicked Reese's motions. The golden blade floating at his side rushed toward my head.
I ducked—fully expecting it to tear through my skull and kill me instantly.
The world fell away, and pain pounded through my body.
