Total pages in book: 248
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236909 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1185(@200wpm)___ 948(@250wpm)___ 790(@300wpm)
A scream of rage, of ruin tore from me as the corners of my vision turned white—pure white.
All across the courtyard, the dakkais reared, jerking their heads toward me. And the power inside me built and swelled until nothing could hold it back.
I didn’t even try as the other sword shattered in my hand. A pulse of power rolled out from me, leaving me dizzy as it swept into a wave of dakkais, knocking them away from Saion and Rhain and into the air, where they simply vanished.
Were obliterated.
A bone-deep exhaustion sank in, the kind I’d never felt before as the wave of power retracted. I stumbled a step forward, panting. Something warm and wet dripped from my nose, hitting my arm. Blood. My blood. I looked down and saw the silvery sheen fade from my hands as a swarm of dakkais crested the wall.
I heard my name being called, heard calls for retreat, but the voices were dull as Rhain ran for me. He grabbed my arm, my waist, but I couldn’t feel his touch. I didn’t feel connected to my body at all. It was like I was floating. I blinked slowly, my vision going out…
And then coming back in.
“Sera!” Rhain shouted, his voice loud enough to cause me to wince. “Are you all right?”
“I-I don’t know.” Sensation returned to my body as Rhain turned my head to his. Some strength filled me, but not a lot. I swallowed the blood that had gathered in my mouth. “I think so.”
He didn’t look like he believed me as he quickly wiped the blood from my nose.
“We need to get inside,” Saion said, breathing heavily. A dakkai had clawed the front of his chest. I saw that Rhahar was with him.
We turned, but there was no path to the palace—to safety. No matter which direction we turned, there were snapping jaws and flat, flared nostrils, heads without features, and bloodied claws.
Dakkais surrounded us.
“Damn it,” seethed Rhahar, dragging the back of his hand over his bleeding cheek. “Godsdamn it.”
“Sounds about right,” Saion remarked, lifting his sword as he glanced over his shoulder at me. “You think you can do that thing again? It’ll draw more, but it may clear enough of a path.”
“I…” I searched for the embers but felt no flare. No wiggle. Nothing. My gaze met Saion’s as my throat started to close off. I couldn’t feel them. I couldn’t—
A draken suddenly crashed into the Rise, cracking it and taking out a large chunk. Shimmery light cascaded over Davon’s body as he fell to the courtyard, shifting into his mortal form.
And then the air turned frigid. Our breaths puffed out in small clouds as tiny bumps rose all over my skin. Rhahar slowly turned to our right.
To where a Primal hovered, shadowy wings spread wide and body encased in wisps of crackling eather.
Mist poured from Ash, out of Ash. Primal mist. It spilled to the ground, full of churning streaks of essence.
The dakkais’ heads swiveled and lifted, lips peeling back as they sniffed the air. Scented. Traced.
Tracked.
“Shit,” Rhain breathed behind me. “Shit.”
Ash’s silvery eyes locked on me for a moment, and I swore I heard his voice like a whisper among my thoughts.
The dakkais took off, one after the other, heading straight for Ash, just as he wanted. For a moment, those silvery eyes locked onto mine, and I swore I felt him—a cool brush of tendrils against my cheek like I had felt the night he’d been in my bedchamber. A shiver of awareness skated over the nape of my neck.
Run, liessa. Run.
I jerked into Rhain as I stared back at Ash. His voice. I’d heard his voice in my thoughts—
A dakkai cut in front of Ash. He caught the creature by the throat, throwing it back as he strode forward. Another raced at him as a silvery glow pulsed over his body.
Real, potent fear pounded through me, even as the mist snuffed out a line of dakkais. Dozens clamored over the fallen. Ash would be swamped. Primal or not, he would go down. What I’d seen left of Ector flashed in my mind.
“No!” I tore free of Rhain and grabbed a sword. “Help him!” I shouted, but Rhahar and Saion were already on it.
I ran, slower than before, slower than I’d ever been, but I pushed on. I’d crawl if needed. I lifted the now-heavy sword—
A funnel of fire slammed down on the ground between Ash and me. Nektas. He cut through the dakkais as he flew low. And he wasn’t alone. Orphine was with him. She released a stream of flames behind Ash as she dove.
“She’s too low!” Rhahar shouted.
A dakkai leapt as she veered, digging its claws into her side. She rolled, shaking the creature off, but another landed on her. And another—
Something blotted out the stars, darkening the ground. My gaze jerked to the Rise. Shadows gathered along the top and spilled over the wall—shadows thick and full of solid forms. Bodies.