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“Hades,” I whispered, my voice lost in the wind.
I couldn’t help him from here. All I could do was hope and pray that the darkness that had become so familiar to me would prevail against the blinding light.
CHAPTER 19
Helheim
Aria
The battle raged for hours with no end in sight.
From my vantage point on the ridge, I could see the ebb and flow of the fight below, the Dark King’s forces holding their ground against the relentless advance of the Sun King’s army. But the soldiers of Sungard were like a golden tide, their ranks seemingly endless as they pushed forward with brutal efficiency. Despite the bravery of Hades’ men, I could see the strain in their lines as they fought to keep their enemies at bay.
I couldn’t just sit there and watch. Not when the balance was tipping so dangerously.
My gaze swept over the battlefield, searching for a way to help, for something—anything—that could turn the tide in our favor.
And then I saw him.
One of the Sun King’s men was cutting a path through Hades’ forces with terrifying ease. His sword was a blur of golden light, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake. The Dark King’s men fell before him like wheat to a scythe, their attempts to stop him futile against his sheer strength and skill.
This was no ordinary soldier. He was a commander. If I could take him down, it might weaken their resolve, might give Hades’ men the edge they desperately needed.
This was it—my chance to make a difference. To prove that I was more than just a bystander, more than just a weak human girl who needed a man to protect her.
I looked down at the dagger still clutched in my hand, the blade dark and deadly. I tightened my grip on the hellhound’s fur and nudged it with my knees.
“Take me down there,” I whispered urgently.
The hellhound huffed in response, but it seemed to understand. With a powerful surge, it bounded down the ridge, carrying me back toward the heart of the battle. The wind whipped through my hair, the ground rushing up to meet us as the sounds of the fight grew louder, more intense.
We wove through the chaos, the hellhound’s agility and speed allowing us to avoid the worst of the fray. The commander was focused on the soldiers in front of him, unaware of the threat approaching from behind. I knew I had only one shot at this—one chance to take him down before he realized what was happening.
The hellhound skidded to a stop just a few paces away from the commander, and I slid off its back, landing softly on the ground.My heart raced as I moved forward, each step bringing me closer to the enemy who towered over everyone around him.
I raised the dagger, my hand steady despite the fear coursing through me. I had to get close—close enough to strike, close enough to end this.
The commander’s back was to me, his focus entirely on the battle ahead of him. Maybe he was overconfident that no one would approach him this way, and I took advantage of that. I was so close now, I could see the gleam of his golden armor and the way the light of the battlefield reflected off the blade of his sword. He was a warrior, a cold-blooded killer, but right now, he was vulnerable. He didn’t know I was there.
I took a deep breath, my muscles coiled like a spring, ready to strike at any given second.
This was it.
With all the strength I could muster, I lunged. The world seemed to slow around me, the sounds of battle fading into the background as I focused on the single, deadly task before me. The commander, his back still turned, had no idea what was coming.
The dagger in my hand gleamed darkly as I aimed for the exposed gap in his armor between his shoulder and neck. I could see the rise and fall of his chest, the way his muscles tensed as he swung his sword at yet another of Hades’ soldiers. My breath hitched, my heart pounding in my ears as I closed the distance.
Just a few more steps…
I thrust the dagger forward with all my strength, aiming for that vulnerable spot. But at the last second, he twisted, turningjust enough to deflect the worst of the blow. The blade grazed his shoulder instead of plunging into his neck, the force of the impact sending a jolt up my arm.
The commander roared in pain and fury, his golden eyes locking onto mine as he realized what had happened. He bared his teeth in a snarl, the wound already bleeding through the gleaming armor. I stumbled back, the dagger still in my hand, but before I could regain my balance, he was on me.
With a kind of speed and strength I hadn’t anticipated, the commander swung his massive sword, the blade slicing through the air toward me. I barely had time to raise the dagger in a desperate attempt to block the blow, but the force of it was too much. His sword crashed against mine, the impact sending me sprawling to the ground, the dagger flying from my grasp.
I hit the dirt hard, the breath knocked out of me as I skidded across the ground. Pain flared in my side, but I forced myself to roll onto my back, just in time to see the commander bearing down on me, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Maybe this was a bad idea…
