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23
BREE
When Bree returned to the castle battlements, the world had been transformed into chaos. Archers rained down arrows on the swarm of demons who were launching spears up at the nearest fae. Their impressive strength shot the weapons far up the wall. Most missed, but some hit their mark. The dying screams of warriors would haunt Bree for the rest of her life.
She swallowed, panic rising. The beast in her stirred. It itched to be released so that it could scrape its claws against the enemy. Bloodlust rose inside her, burning the inside of her mouth. It was all she could do to turn from the fighting.
Rafe rushed toward her from down the battlement, and relief sagged her shoulders. He came to a stop before her, heaving, his hands clutched around a bow and arrow. “Bree, what’s wrong? I’ve been looking for you everywhere. When I couldn’t find you...”
“I need to speak with you about something important,” she said quietly, not wanting to catch the attention of the nearby warriors. “Eurig, too.”
Rafe’s brows furrowed. “Right now, Bree? I don’t want to point out the obvious, but we’re in the middle of a battle.”
“It’s about the battle.” She jerked her head over her shoulder to where Norah was waiting for her just inside the castle walls. “Norah and I have a plan. Taveon, too.”
Confusion whispered across Rafe’s face, but he nodded, dropped his bow, and transformed into his raven to find Eurig. His fighters were on the lower levels of the battlement, and he’d reach him quicker that way.
Bree went back inside, still hating the useless feeling in the pit of her stomach. Fae were dying out there while she wandered around the castle corridors, plotting schemes that would likely end up failing. She’d agreed to this, but she knew the odds were not in her favor. She’d never been a sports fan back in the human realm, but she knew this was what football fans called a Hail Mary.
One last ditch effort to win. Most of the time, they didn’t work.
Rafe and Eurig soon appeared, and she led them into the throne room where Norah and Taveon were waiting for them. She quickly filled them in on the plan. They both looked as incredulous as she felt.
Eurig scowled. “This is the worst idea I’ve ever heard in my life.”
“They’ll know this is some kind of trick,” Rafe said. “Are they really going to believe some random demon soldier they don’t know managed to get her hands on Taveon?”
“It’s a big army,” Taveon said. “I doubt they keep track of every single fighter in their ranks.”
“I can say that I saw him sneaking out of the tunnels.” Bree shrugged. “They’re all so focused on the walls that it makes sense that no one else would have noticed.”
“I can’t believe you, of all people, are up for this, Taveon,” Eurig said, folding his arms over his massive chest. “Bree could get herself killed.”
Bree arched a brow. “I wish everyone would stop saying that. It’s my choice, and I want to do this. Besides, I can look after myself more than you think I can.”
“Is that so, Bree?” Eurig asked in a dangerous voice, no doubt thinking of their own journey together. He’d had to save her from the monsters of the forest a couple of times...a fact she was not proud of.
“I’m stronger now,” Bree said. “And I know how to use my powers more.”
“Use Taveon’s powers, you mean?” Rafe asked.
“Well, yes.” She looked at Rafe and then at Eurig. “I know this sounds insane, but I used Taveon’s healing powers to bring the dead back to life. And if I can use it on some birds, I can use it on myself. I have enough strength to survive, even if they try to kill me.”
Eurig grunted, but he didn’t argue. He’d seen what Bree could do, and he knew the full depths of Taveon’s powers.
Taveon was immortal.
Did that mean Bree was, too?
“Bree,” Rafe said roughly, grasping her hand in his. “You don’t have to do this. We can fight the demons here, at the castle.”
“And then what?” she asked. “Do you think you’ll kill them all? They’re as immortal as Taveon is. You might be able to stop them for a time, but they’ll come back.”
His lips flattened. He knew Bree was right.
“There must be another way,” Eurig said.
“You’re right. There is. I have to find out how they ripped open the realms so that I can undo it. That’s the only way we win. It’s the only way we survive.”
