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“You have, with Galina,” Thane reminded me.
The memories returned in a flood, and I cringed as the onslaught of accompanying emotions swept through me. I almost wished I could forget that day.
“Imitation is the highest form of flattery.” Xavier’s white fangs glinted as he grinned. “Plus, it worked the last time, didn’t it?”
It did, and I hoped and prayed that it would work again.
It had to.
Dwelling on the fact that we lost Pavel, among too many other lives, in the last battle against William and Galina would lead nowhere good.
After Xavier wandered away to round up his minions, Edric and Thane agreed they didn’t want to waste any more time. The sooner they freed the queen, the better for everyone.
I understood, but I tugged Thane to me for a quick goodbye. Rising onto my tiptoes, I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my body against his, relishing in the heat I felt only with him—my mate.
His hands gripped my hips as he leaned down to kiss me. As soon as our lips touched, an inferno of desire swept through me, intensified through our bond. I never wanted to let him go; just stay here and melt into him forever.
We separated much too soon, and I gazed up at him through damp eyelashes. “Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I think that warning is better directed at one stubborn phoenix,” he said with a grin.
We’d said these exact words only a few months ago before facing William and my subsequent discovery of Mirognya. “Hell hath no fury like this stubborn phoenix. I’ve kept myself alive and free despite repeated attempts to fix that problem.”
“Seriously, Veronica.” My heart skipped a beat when he said my name, as it always did. His soulful gaze danced between my eyes. “I love you, and I need you. No heroics.”
I was so tired of not getting to enjoy a normal life with this man, but after today, I would get my happily ever after or die trying. “I love you, too. If anyone’s the hero here, it’s you.”
I let him go and watched as he, Edric, and Angela clasped hands and disappeared.
Heaving a sigh, I turned my attention to the palace as shouts of alarm rang out.
My eyes widened a second before a sphere of writhing black shadows slammed into me. I flew backward, my breath whooshing out as my body jackknifed until I slammed into a group of Community members with the force of a well-thrown bowling ball.
The shadows wrapped around our arms and legs as we tumbled and tangled together, utter darkness and frigid air engulfing us. I winced as an elbow or knee jabbed into my side, and a shrill scream came from somewhere within our pileup. It was quickly drowned out by the sounds of rising snarls and shouts.
If this fae spell was anything like the Reaper’s Shadow, then we didn’t have long before it destroyed our lives—and possibly our souls. My pulse quickened as I called up my fire and latched onto the closest shadowy tendril binding my arms. The dark thread crackled and shriveled into ash, releasing one arm.
Hoping I didn’t burn anyone, I set more of the shadows on fire. The black magic writhed as my flames raced through it, devouring the shadows. Hands reached into the pileup and pulled us to our feet.
Panting, I gripped the arms of the person who helped me up, coming face to face with Xavier.
I yanked my hands from his and glared at the vampire. “Don’t expect thanks.”
His grin was lecherous. “I always knew you’d end up in my arms.”
Ugh. My upper lip curled into a snarl, but there was no time to come up with a good retort.
All across the hill, Community members were on the move as Adam’s booming voice called for the attack, and other Community leaders echoed the command. Shifters, wolves, and vampires sped down the slope toward the city while witches and warlocks set up ranged offensive spells from the hilltop.
Glittering white and blue-tinged feathers mixed with black, red, blue, and gold scales as a squadron of angels and the dragon horde spread their wings and launched into the grey sky. Reapers teleported to and from different spots against the dome’s base, slicing at the shield with their scythes and magic.
Spells, bullets, and even arrows flew back and forth, but everything we sent at them bounced harmlessly off the dome shield protecting those within. There had to be a way to bring it down.
An earthshaking boom roared across the field as the fae within the city detonated a magical bomb. The spell shot through the dome as if it didn’t exist and landed on a group of shifters, exploding with icy shrapnel. Debris and crystalized body parts flew in all directions.
The first casualties had arrived, along with the first wave of grief. It wasn’t a big surprise that the Winter Court fae had sided with Colin, but they would soon regret that decision.
I drew Lisa from her sheath and unfurled my fiery wings. Beside me, Lena shifted into falcon form and loosed a defiant screech. We left the ground and followed the swooping falcons, bellowing dragons, and soaring angels as we all raced for the dome.
