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“I’ll be safe. Truly.” Since the creatures couldn’t access our building, I could hide—something I hated to do while my friends and beloved mate battled to keep us safe.
No place was completely secure within the city, but short of moving far away, where the shaydes might attack instead, there was no place we could go where something dangerous might not find us.
He grumbled with indecision. “I must leave. They’re battling already, and they need me.”
“Promise me you’ll do all you can to come home to me, Jaus. I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
He lifted me up, and we kissed with desperation. He was the world to me. How could I go on if something happened to him?
With a heavy heart, I followed him down the two flights of stairs to the first floor of our home. While he secured his mace to the sheath on his spine, I slid the blade Madr gave me into the sheath at my waist.
“I have protection.” It wasn’t much against a dresalod, but I’d put up a good fight.
With a growl that told me he wanted to argue but didn’t have time, he took my hand and led me out onto the balcony. Feyla was already waiting, nervously gnashing her teeth and scraping her claws across the stone.
Dresalods shrieked on the seashore, and from the sound of it, many legions were attacking. Had they sent a huge force this time? I suspected they must’ve. As if they knew we were seeking a permanent solution, they’d come to defeat us once more.
With me in his arms, Jaus leaped onto Feyla. At his nudge, she took flight, soaring toward the wall where orcs bristling with weapons stood watching the advance of more dresalods than I’d seen in my life.
“So many,” I whispered, the wind grabbing my words and sweeping them away. “How will we fight them all off if the lindenmint doesn’t work?” A few of the orcs on the wall heard us coming and turned. One cheered, which was heartening, though maybe they were just glad to see Jaus.
He guided Feyla down until she could snatch one of them up with her claws if she wished. A jump, and he landed squarely on the stones. He lowered me to my feet and cupped my face, his stark with desperation. “Remain here where you have protection. If a dresalod makes it past the lindenmint, you run to our home. Am I making myself clear?”
I nodded. “Stay safe. Come back to me, mate.”
“Always.” He kissed me and stroked his knuckles down my cheek, staring at me as if he needed to memorize my face. Turning, he sprang onto Feyla’s back and took flight, soaring toward the attacking dresalods with his mace lifted.
I raced to the edge of the wall and peered down. Numerous creatures surged through the waves, their claws lifting and clacking. My skin prickled with fear, and the memory of one stabbing my leg raked through me, making fear crawl up my spine.
One of the orcs stood beside me, watching as well. “See? They approach the herb. Will it work? We must pray to the fates.”
I clutched the stone wall and held my breath.
The line of dresalods crossed the section where we’d scattered lindenmint on the sand.
They shrieked and started spinning, their limbs smoldering. One fell onto the herb, and it writhed, its large shell burning through. Others clambered up over their fallen brethren and scrambled toward the wall, their gazes locked on us watching. Fury darkened their eyes, and my lungs froze. They knew we’d done this, and they’d come for revenge.
Should I leave now?
Feyla and other voxes swooped down, the warriors on their back driving weapons through the dresalod legions, killing many. Jaus led them all, and I’d never been prouder of my mate. He was strong, determined, and clever.
He’d come back to me. Please.
The advancing dresalod army reached the shrubs we’d so carefully planted. We’d laid three rows, alternating the spacing, creating a wall as tall as my chin. With careful watering, they’d taken root, and if this worked, we’d make sure they not only multiplied but that they were cherished and well-tended.
When the dresalods started weaving among the shrubs, the thick leaves brushed against their hides. Instantly, their exoskeletons started smoking. They writhed, shrieking, and those coming behind them floundered, backing toward the sea.
Voxes waited, and those dresalods who weren’t dying from contact with the plant didn’t make it to the water. Jaus and his team decimated them, leaving only dead creatures behind.
Soon, there were no more dresalods attacking.
A cheer rang up from the orcs on the wall around me, and it was echoed across the city.
Feyla flew close and Jaus leaped off her back, landing beside me.
He strode over to me, slipping his mace into the sheath on his spine.
“You’re safe,” I cried.
