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For a moment I thought one of the shadow creatures had stabbed him, but I followed his gaze just in time to see ChloethrowDestruction—the most bloodthirsty weapon I’d ever handled. It scissored across the rooftop and struck a wall that supported an upper level of the Cloisters.
Chloe pumped her fist at Destruction—as if it was a coworker she was encouraging—before she zipped across the roof after it.
“Did she seriously justthrowDestruction?” Ker asked. “Or was my sight also affected by the spell?”
“She threw it,” I confirmed—shouting so she could hear me.
“What did you tell her about heirlooms?” Aristide asked.
“Not enough, apparently,” I said.
“I told her it was a partnership,” Ker said. “Maybe that gave her the wrong idea.”
“I can’t believe her luck—or lack of it. Of all the weapons she could pull, she gets Destruction.” Aristide casually leaned backwards, narrowly avoiding a swipe one of the shadow creatures made for him. He then rebalanced and lunged forward, stabbing the monster through with his daggers, making it evaporate and disappear.
Isolated on the roof as we were—where there were no civilians or other fighters—Aristide could fight with less worry, and despite the creatures’ lack of a heartbeat their gurgles and snarls were more than enough noise for the deadly vampire to track.
It had taken a few hits before Aristide had figured out exactly how low to stab from their crunching maws, but now he was more effective than Charon, who’d run out of bullets and was down to a single dagger.
“I’ve got to go after her.” I raised my twin swords, then lunged forward, stabbing a shadow creature in the chest. I yanked my swords free before it could begin to fade and dodged a second creature, ducking under its arm. Using the easier maneuverability of my shorter blades, I stabbed them up into the monster, instantly ending it. “She’s going after the spear.”
Ker grabbed a shadow creature by the wrist, threw it over her shoulder, then stomped through its chest. “She could save us all.”
“And die in the process,” I said. “Destruction can destroy anything, but that close, with the initial blast contained by the barriers? That much raw power will burn her alive. Besides, I might be able to draw the fae out.”
“And do what?” Aristide snorted. “He’s obviously prepared to die with the rest of us.”
“He’s got an escape route, or he wouldn’t keep hiding behind the barrier whenever I get close.” I glanced up at Chloe—she was climbing onto the next level of the Cloisters, using Destruction as a handhold.
Fear—an emotion I hadn’t felt incenturies—uncurled in my gut. Chloe—my Amalourne—was in so much danger, I was nearly out of my mind.
Aristide tilted his head, listening carefully before he lunged forward, stabbing a shadow creature in the gut. He listened to the rattling hiss that escaped its face, then stabbed it again, this time landing a hit in its chest. “A fair argument.”
“We’ll cover you.” Charon—using one of his emptied handguns—pistol whipped a shadow creature in the face, then shoved his bare hand through its chest cavity. “Go with blessings, Your Majesty.”
I ducked out of the perimeter we’d established and raced across the roof after Chloe, but while the monsters seemed to ignore her—the bonus of being a shadow even if she was decked out in elven armor and holding the strongest weapon I owned—they were drawn to me.
With my twin swords it was easy to carve a whirlwind path through them—stabbing ahead of me while simultaneously swiping behind me. But it was soslow.
Meanwhile, Chloe had cleared another section of the roof and had—insanely—thrown Destruction again.
I must reach her. Now!
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chloe
Istood at the base of the dome and stared up at the flickering barrier.
Despite everything—the armor, that my magic literally ate a curse, all the training I’d been through—my knees were still shaking.
I can feel the power pulsing from the spear, even with barriers screening it. This is…a lot. I’m scared.
I fixed my grasp on Destruction.
But I’m going to fight anyway.
“The barrier, Truck.” I raised the weapon high over my head, and it made its spooky agreeing noise.
