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“Both Underworld Courts are here. Watchers, fight back!”

My heart jumps into my throat. “No!” I yell, but my voice is drowned out by the chaos. “They are not allied!”

I reach into the pocket at my hip for a throwing star and launch it at the circle of Oksvakt. It lodges into one of the warrior’s backs, and he slumps to the ground.

I charge. A scream tears from my throat, and I can feel the power of the stars in the melody of my fury.

Ramona and Leaf join either side of me, having defeated the Underling they were fighting earlier.

“There’s something wrong with them!” Ramona shouts.

“It is like they cannot feel pain,” Leaf adds.

We charge into the circle of Underlings, and Gryphon takes the opportunity to pick up Esther over a shoulder and run. Blood seeps from a gash in her side. “She needs a healer!”

Swirls of moonlight surge toward Esther, enveloping her in myst. Castor cuts down a Jord Warrior as he jogs toward Esther, taking her from Gryphon. I turn away, knowing that between Gryphon and Castor, she’ll be okay.

My chest tightens regardless.

“You fucking sun lickers,” Leaf says as one of the Oksvakt warriors bites into his arm.

Selene channels a whip of solid white myst around the neck of the enemy and pulls. The Underling gags and falls to the ground, letting go of Leaf in the process.

“Thanks.”

Selene shrugs and retracts her whip. “Behind you!”

Leaf ducks, but Ramona is already there, crawling up the body of the Underling like a tree, and using her daggers along the way.

The ground buckles near the shore. A hand appears, followed by bulky wide shoulders covered in fur.

My body shudders, but my voice remains strong. “By the shore! More are coming!”

Prince Ladon skates across the ice, easily adapting with his water magic. He forms a sheet of ice over the hole, but the Underlings’ axes break through. Dozens more enter from below.

One charges straight at me.

I take a step back, reach into my pouch, and ready another star. Elbow straight. Release.

Thunk.

It lodges straight between the eyes. Blood the color of midnight pours down its broken face, close enough to see the small white dots that pepper its nose. The disease. They are infected!

I turn to the side and release the contents of my stomach.

Strong arms wrap around me. I’ve got you.

“Atlys!” I wipe the corner of my mouth. “You need to go. They think this is coordinated between the Underworld Courts.”

“I’ve already been seen.”

The battle rages on around us.

“They’re infected,” I say.

“Which means they won’t stop. They might not be able to fully control themselves. I can stop this. Call the Erebos. They cannot be—”

“SEND A FLAIR! THE UNDERWORLD LORD IS HERE!”