Chapter 83

The stardust spat us out above the battle, the clash of Fae in and out of shifted form causing a roar of noise which was deafening even from so far above them.

I looked to my twin, my jaw set with determination as Phoenix fire bloomed across my body and I readied for what we had to do now. Clydinius was gone so we just had to deal with the big, bad asshole who had started all of this – and his army of monsters and hellions.

"Love you," I said.

"Love you too," Darcy replied.

Then we were gone, her flying to the left of the army, me to the right, fire blazing red and blue over our bodies and trailing us through the sky like we were stars plummeting from the heavens.

A cry went up from beneath us as our army spotted our approach, cheers, songs of war and bellows of pride meeting my ears between the crash of steel and screams of the dying.

I slammed into a Griffin who was flying through the air coated in Lionel's colours, the stench of burning flesh overwhelming me as his cries of agony punctured the atmosphere. I launched him away from me with magic and sent his considerable bulk crashing into the ranks of his own army, crushing those who hadn't shielded in time.

A chorus of moos met my ears and I spotted Milton and his herd fighting on the front line and made a beeline for them, drawing my sword.

I slammed to the ground in the centre of the enemy line in front of the herd of Minotaurs, my flames racing from me and devouring at least ten of Lionel's men. Their deaths set my blood pounding and adrenaline soaring to a tempo I knew all too well. Then I was lost to the call of the battle, the swing of my sword and the endless rush of my magic tearing from me to collide with my enemies.

Milton and his herd closed in around me, fighting at my back, and between us we punched a brutal hole into Lionel's front line, opening up the path for more and more of our soldiers to break through.

My enemies balked at the sight of me, many turning and running instead of daring to come at me, their cowardice met with swords and magic striking them in the backs while those who fought with me mowed them down.

The tang of blood coated my lips, the roar of combat enveloped me and as I fought shoulder to shoulder with my comrades, I gave myself to the thrill of it, to the slash and parry, thrust and blast.

The price The Ferryman had put on my head was going to be paid in full this day. I would send so many rotten souls his way that he would be the one indebted to me by the time the sun set.

Bolstered by our arrival on the battlefield, our army surged forward, forcing Lionel's men to defend and defend while we cut, tore, burned and blasted our way deeper into their ranks.

I dared a glance at the mountainside far to my left, knowing that I would be needed there soon. But not yet. For now, I had time to give myself to this. And today, vengeance would be my name.