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But as I tore the room to shreds with the fury of the wind, they joined forces and the rocketing gusts shot out from under me just as quickly as they’d come. I went crashing to the floor, along with everything else caught in my maelstrom. Landing hard, I felt something in my side strain, but I ignored it as I tried to scramble to my feet, only managing to send myself into a dizzying stagger. Lainule grabbed me by the shoulders and gazed deep into my eyes.
“Clear.” She whispered so low only I could hear her, but within seconds my mind cleared and I found myself blinking, trying to make sense of what was happening. The sounds of shrieking, the sounds of dying, crowded in on me and my head began to pound. I whimpered, collapsing into her arms.
She pushed me back. “You have no time for this. We have work to do.”
I forced back my tears and looked in the direction in which she pointed me. The remaining Shadow Hunters were fighting tooth and nail. The dead—from both their side and ours—lay scattered on the ground, blood painting the floor red.
Lainule forced a dagger into my hands. I glanced at it—not the obsidian blade, but a fine silver dagger with inlaid sapphires on the hilt. She pushed me forward and turned to join two of her knights who were battling it out with a particularly tough Shadow Hunter.>We headed toward the door, filing out in order. As we waited for the others to leave, I turned to Peyton.
“We haven’t had a chance to talk and I guess now isn’t the time, but how’s it going with your father? And has Anadey shown her face?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t heard a peep out of her, or about her. That’s just as well for now. As for my father…Rex is a good man. I really resent the fact that my mother kept us apart all these years. He made mistakes, but he was willing to try and compensate for them. She wouldn’t listen. I guess I understand—he hurt her—but sometimes…not often, but now and then a person can change.”
I nodded. “We killed Heather while we were out in the woods,” I said softly so that Rhiannon didn’t hear me. “The snow hag warned us she was there. Rhia and I…we staked her together.”
Peyton blinked, ducking her head. “Ouch.”
“Ouch is right. But she’s out of the picture now. She can rest, and Myst can never control her again.” I hadn’t mentioned Heather much since we got back. Rhia had been through a lot—more hell than she was used to—and I didn’t want to compound it by ripping open the still-bleeding wound. “I just thought you should know.”
“Thanks. I don’t want to step on delicate territory.” Peyton fell silent as we swung into line, filing out the ballroom door last. As we headed to the foyer, behind the others, there was a noise and a vampire—one of the guards—staggered in through the grand double doors. He was bleeding, with several stakes thrust into his body, but none had managed to reach his heart.
Lannan stopped short, motioning for his guards to close the door. “What happened?”
But before the guard could speak, before the men could reach the door, all hell broke loose. A flurry of activity hit the foyer, as Myst’s Shadow Hunters spilled into the hallway. Screams echoed around the large room, as they went into action, attacking whoever was closest.
I turned to the others. Myst had decided to take the offensive. She’d come to us and all our plans were so much spilled milk. Frantic, I waved at the others. “Spread out! Whatever you do, don’t let them corner you.”
Wrath whirled around. He held out his hand and there was my obsidian blade. “Take it,” he said hoarsely. “We have no choice. This is going to be bloody.”
I laid hands on the blade and felt the tingle stir within me. As I sought for the winds, whispering a prayer to Ulean that she might help me, the Shadow Hunters continued to pour through the door.
And with that, the battle was on.
Chapter 16
“Holy crap.” Rex’s voice echoed from somewhere to the side as the horde of Shadow Hunters pushed through the doors. There must have been twenty or more—it was hard to count in the milling throng. I heard a scream but couldn’t see who had cried out in the sudden flurry of chaos.
The vampires were flying into battle—everywhere I heard their snarls, as they fell upon Myst’s brigade. They were a vision in black, snapshots of carnage, and there in the front, Lannan and Regina led the way. At least the pair didn’t lack for bravery. And then I saw them take on one of the Vampiric Fae; they closed in on the cerulean-skinned man, fangs down, hissing as they approached from both front and back.
They toyed with him, like cats with a mouse, Regina shoving him into Lannan’s arms even as he shoved the man back into her embrace. She dipped her head and struck, fangs sinking deep into the flesh, as the creature screamed and flailed. He didn’t have time to defend himself. They had taken the offense. Then Lannan fell on him. He sank his fangs deep into flesh at the base of the throat, ripping down through the skin, leaving two long gashes in his wake. The blood flowed freely and Lannan pulled away, laughing hoarsely before licking his way up the man’s chest.
The Shadow Hunter was screaming, still alive, as Regina held him fast, sucking deeply. I could hear the gurgle of blood in her mouth as she drank him down, and the smell of copper filled the air. As the Shadow Hunter quit struggling, dropping limply in her arms, Lannan grabbed him and thrust him up, bench pressing him over his head.
“We do not take prisoners!” He turned and, with a mighty throw, sent the Shadow Hunter hurtling into the crowd at the door. The look on his face was triumphant, and he grabbed Regina, kissing her deeply as the turmoil raged on.
In the chaos, I stumbled back, turning to find myself facing one of Myst’s guards. His eyes glittered and he began to unhinge his jaw. I screamed, first out of fear, then out of outrage. I brought the knife up, staring at it, feeling the tingle race through my hand. It would be so easy to give in…to let the rage overtake me.
The Shadow Hunter saw the blade and a streak of fear fled across his face. He started to back away, and I followed, arm still upraised, the blade urging me on. Kill them, kill them, take their blood, take their bodies, feast on their souls, drink their spirits…
And why not? They are intent on feasting on us. The thought sprang to mind, and I laughed, slow and easy, as I leaped on him. He rolled to the side, though, before I could reach him, and my blade shrieked, cheated out of its offering. I turned, altering my position to match his. As he once again dodged to the side, I anticipated his move and was there waiting.
“Surprise! I’m not so unobservant, after all.” I swiped the knife at him, stabbing for his shoulder, and the tip of the dagger kissed cloth, ripping through his shirt. He howled, and once again his jaw stretched as he tried to transform. But I struck again, this time with the edge of the blade, and sliced a thin weal across his face. Blood began to drip down from the gash, and my blade sang to me.
Thirsty, thirsty, thirsty, take him now, take him for me.
I wanted to obey, but reason caught the little part of me that was actually listening, and whispered, No, you must control the blade—you cannot let it to continue to control you.
Fighting to retain mastery, I forced away the drive to wantonly strike back.
