Chapter 101

Barely a beat after Darius had been dragged from my back by Tharix, two Griffins had descended from the sky and a bloody fight had ensued. I'd ended up victorious but with a torn wing, tumbling down onto the battlefield where I'd been caught since, fighting enemy after enemy. I had no time to shift and heal myself, the painful gouges growing keener the longer I fought.

My Phoenix fire horn was doing beautiful, ruinous work, cutting through the Fae who were trying to bring me down. I was among a group of allied Fae; water Elementals working with the shifters of the ocean who had joined us from the Academy of Hydros. The Elementals had cast pods of bulging water that rolled out into the enemy ranks, sucking Lionel's soldiers into them where they found themselves at the jaws of Acheilus Shark shifters, the vicious swipes of Dolphins' tails, and at the mercy of all other sea creatures within.

A roaring cry was building in our army, but I couldn't see what was causing it from my position in the middle of the battle, the crush of the fight too thick.

Something was coming. Something that was striking fear into our enemies, more and more lines of them retreating, finding themselves stumbling into the deadly pods of water which were turning red with blood. One of the pods came rolling my way and I reared up to avoid it, letting it pass, watching it slam into the row of enemies ahead of me. Their screams turned to streams of bubbles as they swam, trying to break the surface of the water, but there was no way out.

With the space opened up around me and the water Elementals holding back the lines of enemies ahead, I shifted, gasping as I slapped a hand to my chest and healed away my injuries. I took the Phoenix horn from my head, gripping it tight and casting clothes over my body made from my earth magic, along with several thick metal plates of armour.

My gaze turned to the mountainside where I'd last seen Darius, fearing what had become of him. There was no sign of his Dragon in the sky, and I hoped that meant he was still on his journey to the castle, keeping himself hidden from our father.

Behind me, a flood of our enemies were racing our way, turning from some terror ahead of them and I readied my horn, Phoenix flames flaring along its length while my other hand raised to cast.

With a twist of my fingers, I forged sharp wooden stakes which blasted from the earth at our adversaries' backs, and cries of agony filled the air as a hundred of them found themselves skewered. I rose up on a plinth of earth, knowing I was making myself a target, but I had to see. I had to know what was coming.

My breaths stalled at the sight of the charging army that had joined the fray, their weapons glittering with light. They were closing in on this very spot, and my heart raced as I recognised the faces among them. The Savage King and Merissa Vega fought alongside Tory, leading thousands of Fae deeper into the battle. It was impossible, and my mind scrambled to make sense of it.

A cry went up from the water Elementals and I twisted around, my heart stammering at the sight of the stampede of beasts racing through them with guns mounted on their backs. The very weapons I'd learned of and had been trying to come up with a solution for alongside the other Spares.

A sizzling blast of magic exploded from one of the machines and I ducked as it went whizzing overhead, turning to watch in horror. It collided with the Savage King's army, and instead of torn limbs and spilled blood, shattered clay was left in its wake.

A strange golden mist rose from the destroyed bodies then disappeared at once. I didn't know what I was witnessing, only that more blasts of that terrifying power were flying through the air. I threw myself to the ground, the charge of the explosions making the hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention, a whoosh of wind signalling their passage overhead.

When the gunfire stopped, I shoved to my feet, my pulse thrashing as I realised what I needed to do. What I had planned to do with the Spares if these weapons ever came into play in the battle.

I cast the effigy of a Pegasus with my fire magic and sent it up into the sky, flying higher and higher with molten sparks cascading from its wings to draw the attention of the Fae I needed, hoping on everything that they were still alive. Then I sent the Pegasus out towards the mountainside to my left, perching it there for my friends to see.

I let the shift ripple over me, my earth-made armour pinging off of my body, abandoned as I raced into the sky. I flew as fast as possible, the boom of thunder in the clouds above telling of Dante's fury.

Sofia and Tyler were up there somewhere in their own slice of hell, and I swore to return to them soon, not even entertaining the idea that they hadn't made it this far in the battle.

A fireball blasted my way and I banked to avoid it, then another and another. Some asshole was targeting me from down in the battle. But just as I located him, he was mowed down by our army, and I whinnied in triumph.

I flew on, landing on the mountainside close to the flaming Pegasus, waiting for the Spares to appear, the tension rising in my body as I watched those mounted weapons taking down more and more of our people.

Deep in the western flank, Lavinia was causing chaos, her shadows pouring from her in floods, so thick, I couldn't see her within them at all. But I could hear the screams and scent the blood, and that was enough to know the terror she was causing.

Hadley burst into view carrying Grayson and Athena under his arms, both of them wearing make-shift clothes and armour created by the power of earth. Hadley placed them down, his mouth wet with blood and his eyes dark with horrors.

Athena and Grayson rushed to hug me, nuzzling my neck, and I stole the sweetly brief moment of relief with my friends. When they pulled away, I found Hadley taking the defuser from where it was strapped to his back. The long, pointed metal contraption resembled a harpoon and contained a rare glacia diamond along with several other crystals in the cage of metal near one end.

"We can't all ride you, we'll slow you down," Grayson said, his face thick with grime and a look of exhaustion about him. "Had, Athena. You go. I'll return to the fight.'

"We can't split up," Athena said in horror, gripping her brother's hand. "Besides, we need as many Fae as possible for this. The more magic, the better."

I snorted, stamping my foot and taking hold of Grayson's sleeve with my teeth, pushing him towards my back. I could carry all three of them. I was strong. Stronger than I'd ever given myself credit for, and carrying my friends was no burden at all.

I stamped my foot again, glaring at each of them.

"Are you sure?" Hadley asked and I nodded my head.

Athena climbed up onto my back and Grayson followed, holding her waist before Hadley got up behind him.

I flexed my wings and sprang into the sky, feeling the tingle of concealment spells as all three of them worked to blend us in with the mountain and the sky. I set my sights on the Jade Castle, our plan riding on one crazy notion, but if it worked, we could take out those awful weapons and protect our army from more slaughter.

It was a long flight, and the roar of battle was deafening as we flew above the carnage. There had once been rows of enemy shifters that guarded this path, stopping any flying Orders from making it by, but no one attacked us now, and I had to wonder if Darius was responsible for destroying them.

Phoenix fire flared among a sea of Nymphs and my heart lifted at the sight of Darcy there riding the Shadow Beast and leaving a trail of death in her wake. Orion was with them, weaving through the throng, and I bid them good luck as they forged a path towards Lavinia and her writhing swell of shadows.

Finally, we descended at the far end of the rocky basin between the mountains at the foot of the green castle, away from the entrances in a shadowy corner where the jade met with the ground and no guards lingered to slow us.

I landed lightly and the Spares leapt from my back before I shifted into my Fae form, cladding myself in clothes and armour again as I turned to the empty expanse of rocky land here. The battle raged on ahead of us, but large boulders and slabs of jagged rock hid most of it from view.

My pulse ticked faster, magic crackling at my fingertips at the sound of someone grunting close by.

I moved away from the Spares, leaving them to drive the defuser deep into the wall of jade, my footsteps concealed by a silencing bubble. Rounding the wall, I found someone climbing out of the window, legs dangling before they dropped and hit the ground at my feet. I grabbed them by the throat, my Phoenix fire horn raised to kill, but then my eyes met with those of Ellis Rigel and I found myself hesitating.

"Please, wait. Don't kill me," she gasped in terror, and I dropped the concealment spells and silencing bubble, revealing myself to her.

Her eyes widened, recognition racing over her soft features.

"Xavier," she rasped. "Are you alright?"

I guessed I looked like shit, because the way her eyes tracked over my face said I was bloodied and worn by battle. But she was perfectly clean, untouched by war. And that stirred a rage in me that was murderous.

I shoved her against the wall, pinning her there by her throat. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you for what you've done. For choosing my father, for supporting him and turning your back on us."

Tears welled in her eyes and she shook her head. My fingers flexed as I gave her room to speak. "I was afraid. I've been so afraid for so long, Xavier. I wanted to do what was right for my mom. I wanted to stick by her. But the king…he's awful," she whispered, eyes darting left and right like she expected him to appear at any second. "He's going to kill me if he catches me. It took me hours to break through the spells shielding that window so I could escape – I thought I was going to be found-"

"You're already captured and in the hands of your death. It's not him you should fear now," I warned.

A shaky breath passed her lips and she reached into her pocket, making me stiffen, preparing to kill her before she struck at me with some weapon. But then she held up a large bag of stardust in a velvet green pouch.

"It's the last of his supply," she said with a bitter delight in her gaze. "He can't escape the castle without it unless he leaves on foot or wing."

I frowned at the offering, her hand shaking as she held it out to me. Then I stared up at the high walls of the castle, and back to the open window.

"How far is it to his chamber?"

"You'll never make it. And you can't take this path into the castle, the wards would kill you before you even stepped inside," Ellis said frantically. "Plus guards are crawling all over the place. He probably has people searching for me. So kill me if you have to, but you have to get this away from here." She pressed the pouch against my side, and I took it with my free hand, my brow drawing tight.

"Why now?" I asked darkly.

She gulped, her throat bobbing against my palm. "Because I've been a coward for too long. And… I want to be brave. I want to make a choice which is entirely my own. If only once."

I saw the truth in her eyes, but I was unsure if I could really trust her. This pouch of stardust seemed like proof of her words though.

"Are you going to run?" I asked, removing my hand from her neck. "I assume you planned to take this stardust somewhere you could use it, away from the castle's wards. You'd still be running if I hadn't found you now."

"What use am I?" she breathed, bowing her head. "I was going to flee and take his escape with me. What more can I do than that?"

"I have a role for you, if you dare to take it," I offered, wondering if I was a fool. But I didn't want to be hardened by this war. I didn't want to be cold and unforgiving of those looking to be brave. After all, I'd had to be brave often enough to escape my father's clutches once upon a time, and I'd be a hypocrite not to give Ellis that chance.

"And if I refuse?" she asked, her lips quivering, telling me she expected me to promise her death.

"I'm not taking you captive. I'm giving you a choice," I said. "Run or help."

I took a pinch of stardust from the pouch, offering it to her. It would be enough to secure her passage away from this war if she got herself away from the castle on foot. Though she'd have to make it through the churning masses of my father's army to achieve it. It was a mercy. One I couldn't help but afford the friend I'd grown up with, one of the few I'd had in this life. She'd made mistakes, yes. But something told me Ellis Rigel wasn't a dark soul. And I knew the power a parent could hold over a person all too well. She had light yet to claim, and she was making a stand for it now, doing what she could to right her wrongs.

She looked to the stardust, eyes hungry for escape, but then she gazed at me instead and lifted her chin. "I'll help in any way I can."

"Good." I dropped the pinch of stardust back in the pouch.

I forged a bag and shoved the pouch inside before tethering it tight to my back with vines. Then I led Ellis around the castle wall to where the other Spares had managed to embed the defuser into the wall of jade, the glacia crystal glinting at the end of it.

"What's she doing here?" Hadley spat, and a growl rolled from Grayson's throat.

"Traitor," Athena hissed.

"She's vowed to help us," I said placing myself between them and Ellis, hoping I wasn't a fool for doing so. "She stole Lionel's store of stardust. I think she means it, and we need all the help we can get right now."

Hadley's jaw ticked as he looked to me, a challenge in his eyes. But at an imploring expression from me, he backed down.

"Fine, come on," Hadley clipped.

"What is this?" Ellis whispered as she stepped closer, staring at the contraption.

"You don't need to know," Grayson said. "If you really want to help, then prove it by doing what we ask."

Ellis nodded, looking scalded, but I doubted she was surprised by the reception.

I took hold of her hand, then took Hadley's, who held Grayson's, and finally Athena finished the line, placing her palm on the defuser. I was the only one who trusted Ellis enough to be next to her, and she got the message as she met my gaze.

"Power share," I commanded, and her magic flooded against my skin in offering. But it wasn't easy to let my defences down. All she'd done made me hesitate, but I gritted my teeth and forced my heart to listen. I could trust her. I had to.

A breath escaped me as the flood of her strength met with mine, igniting a whirlpool of power in my veins. I passed it to Hadley along with my own, a groan leaving his lips as he offered it to Grayson, and he passed it to Athena. She gasped, her eyes bright with magic as she channelled it into the defuser.

The jade of the castle magnified the power of the defuser, and with the glacia crystal's amplifications qualities, the whole contraption lit up in a bright blue glow. It buzzed and hummed, the crystals all coming to life within it and the whirring of power crackled through the air.

With a surge of ferocious energy, the defuser sent a blast of energy shooting up the jade wall, right to the very top of the castle.

The resulting boom jolted my heart, and power swept out in a pulsing spiral through the air. The blue light exploded across the battlefield, then turned to fizzling raindrops. We stopped power sharing, staring out at all we'd done, but a yell of challenge announced the arrival of a squadron of Lionel's personal guard.

The five of us moved together defensively, magic sparking in our fists as a group of twenty Fae came running around the castle wall. Fire blazed along my arms, then I spotted something that made me hesitate.

A little coral-coloured sayer dragon was floating down from the sky on outstretched wings, sinking into the centre of the group of guards. My gaze met with the tiny creature's and I swear it winked at me half a second before a blast of magic erupted from it in a flash of golden light.

I threw my hands up to shield my eyes and when I opened them again, every one of the guards was screaming as the flesh melted clean off of their bones.

Hadley swore loudly and Ellis gagged as they died in a matter of moments, and I was left staring at the creature that was no bigger than a kitten as it casually took off into the sky and disappeared towards the battle again.

"What the fuck was that?" Athena breathed.

"A…friend," I said, still unable to fully process what I'd seen but unable to spare the time to think about it any further right now.

I shifted into a Pegasus, lowering my wing to let the Spares onto my back, the bag of stardust still wrapped tight to my side.

"Come on then," Athena demanded as she clung to Hadley, offering her hand to Ellis who was hesitating.

I stamped my foot in an order for her to climb on and her hesitation shattered. She let Athena tug her up at the back of the line, and Ellis wrapped her arms around her before I leapt skyward, wings beating hard as I sped away from the castle and over the battlefield once more.

The raining droplets of power hit my wings, doing nothing to me, but it was sure as fuck doing something to those weapons mounted on the backs of that legion of shifters. As the power washed over them, they exploded, the power of the defuser driving into them and breaking the mechanisms. The blasts killed the shifters wearing them, rendering the guns entirely useless. Some of the beasts fought to get free of the contraptions, but it was too late, each one reaping what they'd sowed.

The Spares whooped and a neigh of joy left me as we sailed back towards our advancing army who were quickly reforming in the places where those guns had cut through them.

Their ferocity was unmatched, their power punching through the enemy lines and starting to regain some traction. My place was waiting for me there among the True Queens' army, and I flew faster, anxious to join them and fortify their ranks.

Ellis was in the thick of it now, but she'd made her choice, and it looked like she was finally coming to fight on the side of our queens.