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I felt it so acutely, like a knife stabbing me between the ribs. Like a slice through my stomach. Like an arrow through the shoulder.
The shock of arriving lengths away from the bloody battlefield froze me in place, and the reality of what had been set in motion when I made my choice was laid bare for me to see.
Ruslan wrapped me in a protective embrace immediately, and Zuriel stepped in front of us, creating a semi-shield with his body. “Put up your mental barrier, now!” my cousin barked at me, and Ruslan squeezed me tighter, reassuring me that I was safe so I could focus on building up the wall around my mind.
Stone by stone, I reinforced that wall until the screams did not pierce my soul and the pounding of fear was only my own instead of that of the entire battlefield in front of us.
Already, the Iron Realm’s army sprang into action, joining ranks with what appeared to be the Day Fae’s army. “What are those?” I gasped out, eyes landing on massive gray beasts outfitted with gleaming golden armor.
“Olyphants. Don’t get tangled up beneath their feet or they’ll crush you,” Ruslan warned, his arms tightening a fraction before releasing me.
“How are they already here?” Liliana blurted out, her sword glinting in the sunlight as she drew it from its sheath.
A massive red horse barrelled toward us, and Ruslan stepped protectively in front of me, drawing black fire to his palms. White flames licked up my arms as I readied myself to fight, not wanting to be left out of the action. But as the rider closed in on us, I noticed a familiar bulky form with a wide, warm smile.
“King Consort Geza!” I called out as he pulled up in front of us.
“Nice to see you awake and vibrant as ever, Izidora,” he grinned back. “Thank you again for your assistance in returning our daughter.”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “She didn’t deserve to suffer as I did.”
“And because of you, she did not,” Geza replied, dipping his head.
“You did not tell me you had moved the Day Realm’s army north,” Ruslan growled, but there was no animosity in his tone. If anything, a hint of gratitude peeked through.
“After you rescued Gizela and told us we needed to prepare the army, we decided to get a head start,” the large male shrugged. “You can’t blame a father for wanting to take vengeance for his daughter.”
A pang of sadness traveled through me at his words. My true father, Ithuriel, never got that opportunity, and my supposed father, King Zalan, was the one who had colluded with King Azim to chain me in a cave and abuse me.
Ruslan squeezed my hand, our flames joining together and blending into a smoky gray - the color of his eyes.
“I am glad you are here, King Consort Geza. Let’s crush the Night Fae once and for all,” my mate swore.
“I am more than ready,” he snarled, refocusing his attention on the battle. “Stay whole.” With those parting words, he clucked his tongue, spinning his mount and racing toward a group of olyphants. His golden braids bounced off his back as he crouched low on his horse’s neck, and he truly looked like a fast-moving sun as he rejoined the fray.
Already, Artur and the other leaders shouted orders to their units, and one by one, the Félvér gulped down the shifting potion or called on their other forms, ready to wage war against the oncoming Night Fae. Black dots flew through the blue sky above, and below, horses whinnied and reared as what looked like massive, feral dogs raced in their direction. One launched itself at a dark bay mare, locking its jaws around her neck and tearing.
“Kutya,” Liliana whispered, following my gaze.
The horse and rider fell, and the ones behind them barely managed to dodge their bodies before being attacked by more kutya. The male blasted it with a wave of silver before his attention turned to a second kutya using the opening to strike. The dog-like creature sank its teeth into the male’s leg, tearing a howl of pain from his chest.
Liliana and I sucked in a simultaneous breath when he drew an axe and smacked the beast. Because that wasn’t any random axe-wielding Night Fae.
It was Endre.
Liliana froze, not even blinking as Endre’s leg bled a ruby river. Fingers curling inward, she appeared to be on the verge of moving, but ripped her gaze away and returned her attention to me.
“Do you want to–” I started, but she cut me off.
“Endre made his decision, and it wasn’t me. Drazen, however, is barricaded in the mountain, possibly injured, and we are here to aid him,” she snapped, teeth digging into her bottom lip. She glanced at the sky, and I offered her a moment of privacy to collect herself.
Ruslan too was watching the battle, and I addressed him now that my own emotions were under control. “Where is Drazen? We have more than enough soldiers fighting here to end the Night Realm if we all band together. We’ve got them surrounded.”
He nodded. “We do, especially with the Day Fae and their beasts. Take my hand,” he snapped, and Zuriel, Liliana, and I did as instructed. Moments later, we were whisked across the battlefield and into the mountain, where the energy was frantic and the sound of battle was still audible. I reinforced my barrier, just in case.
“Oh thank fuck,” Drazen said from behind us, and I whipped around, meeting the eyes of the Dragon Shifter. Blood spattered his armor as if a painter had tossed a brush in his direction repeatedly, but he looked otherwise unharmed. Liliana released Ruslan and raced to Drazen. She threw her arms around his neck, and he lifted her in the air, arms tightening protectively around her.
The sight warmed my heart in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. War was upon us, and the reality was so much worse than I could have ever imagined. The ones we loved most were in danger, and a life after the war wasn’t promised. Amid the chaosof battle, anything could happen. I squeezed Ruslan’s hand, seeking more comfort from him.
