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“Take me to the gates,” I said, my voice strong and steady. Commanding. I wouldn’t be kept up on this terrace like some wallflower, forced to watch my court fall from the safety of the palace walls.No.It was time for Liana,Queenof the Night Court to show her worth.
Alaric’s adams apple bobbled in his throat. His light eyes darkened.
“Take me to—”
The sound of the horn blaring out over the palace preceded the finalcrackthat cleaved the gate in two. But it wasn’t the swarm of Alchemists flooding into my inner courtyard, or the clang of steel on steel, or the cries of Fae and man as they were met with killing blows that drew my attention.
To the south, at the crest of the hill, a woman with hair as black as coal sat atop a brilliant white mare. She blew through the curved horn again, and Ricon’s army turned toward the sound. The Draconians taking wing to get a better look. Suriel raised her sword high above her head. And the cries of a thousand voices became one unified roar as the Day Court army followed their queen to battle.
Sitting astride his own steed, Edris rode up alongside her. Armored and looking more like a king than I ever thought him. He’d done it. Myfatherhad done it!
The sight shocked tears from my eyes. Made my blood sing.
Alaric, Kade, and Finn stared agape.
And as one, Ricon’s army trembled. Reforming a second line to face their new threat.
Suriel caught sight of me on the terrace, and I jumped to stand atop the balcony. Raising my clenched fist in the air before bringing it down to pound hard against my chest. Knocking the tears from my face and the wind from my lungs.
She called out the charge. Spurring her mare onwards faster and harder. Edris joined her, leading the charge with the Queen of Day. His battle cry rang out over the land like the mighty roar of a dragon. The Day Court army swept in behind them, clad in white and gold, they broke over the reformed front line of the Alchemists in black, like light over shadow.
The Horde had shoved through the thinned force at the gates, driving them back. A head of golden hair was my singular focus. And I watched as Tiernan danced through the chaos like a leaf caught on the wind. His sword cutting down foe after foe after foe without rest. Without stopping. His jade eyes wild, and his movements precise. Anticipating the moves of those around him long before their blades could fall.
It’s time to fight.
The Day Court hadn’t managed to muster their full force—that was clear form their numbers. Perhaps one and a half thousand Fae had come to our aid. This was the deciding moment. We had to hit hard and fast with everything we had or risk losing the matriarchs of two courts on this day, plunging all Meloran into darkness.
Alaric kissed me on the forehead, crushing his lips to my flesh before he pressed me into the waiting arms of Kade. “You’re right,” he said, “It’s time to fight.”
He stepped close to Finn, and the Draconian took him by the arm. He was at war with himself. Knowing he couldn’t stop me from fighting but wanting so desperately for it to not be necessary. But he knew as well as I did; there was a reason Morgana blessed me with my Graces, and this was that purpose.
“I’ll see you when it’s over,” Alaric said, his voice gruff as though he’d swallowed stones.
“When it’s over,” I replied.
Finn tipped his head to me, “Be careful,” was all he said, conveying so much more than the mere two words in his gaze before he jumped from the terrace with Alaric in his clutches.
I spun to Kade, breathing hard. My muscles twitching in anticipation. The place in my core where my Graces emanated from roiling and bubbling and freezing and burning. Clawing at the cage of my bones and flesh, growling. Begging to be set loose.
Kade’s eyes glowed yellow, fierce and piercing as he drew me in close. The flames on our skin intertwining, growing stronger as they fed from each other. “Are you ready,” he asked through the crackle and pop of sparks, and the dull whooshing of fire as it licked up to my shoulders and spread over my hair.
My throat went dry. Was I? Against their better wishes I’d worn no armor save for a breastplate and gauntlets and held no weapons save for a dagger in my right boot. I wouldn’t need a sword or leathers. I didn’t plan for anyone to get that close to me.
“I’m ready.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Liana
The moment my feet touched the earth, I sprang from Kade’s arms and a blade swung for my head. I dodged the attack, turned to reduce the male who wielded the weapon to ashes. “Go,” I shouted back to Kade, as the other Draconians took flight. We needed him in the air, not on the ground.
“I’ll be fine, go!”
I didn’t turn to see if he’d listened. I didn’t want for him to look at me the way the others did before I lost sight of them—like it was the last time they would. As though they were saying goodbye. I couldn’t stand another look like that. I sprinted away from him, readying my Graces for a glorious release.
Men tried to stop me, swinging at me, chanting, casting spells, drawing sigils in the air. But none were fast enough, and none were prepared for what I threw at them. I bowled through them. Throwing out ribbons of flame and shards of ice. I heard their cries. Saw their anguished faces as they fell. But I roared through it. Kept going. Slaying men and Fae in a torrent of fire and ice.
I didn’t have time tofeelit. Not the way I thought I would. The loss of life. The small tears in my soul with each life I took. I felt nothing. Only fury for what they’d done to my court. And it drove me near madness. The building of flame near bursting even though I kept letting it loose from my skin. And the ice shot out of me in bolts the size of jousting lances, butstillthere was no true release.
