Battle cries rose from the two armies as they collided.
“Stay focused!” Qeb bellowed, his intensity rumbling through my core.
My head snapped back to the walls of sand closing around us. Niyol maneuvered me into the center, hovering at least a hundred feet above the battle. I stretched my hands towards the slow-moving walls and pulled them together, trapping us inside a violent storm. I briefly wondered if this was what the eye of a hurricane looked like, without all the sand.
The temperature and humidity inside our prison rose dramatically from the ongoing magical fight. Göksu’s constant barrage of lightning was the only source of light besides the lines of fire racing through the armies. I searched for familiar faces, finding Victor’s enormous wolf easily. He battled against two vampires, keeping pace with their enhanced speed. As he pinned one and ripped the throat from the other, I was grateful he was my ally.
A large black cat leapt over him, tackling yet another vampire trying to flank Victor. I wondered briefly who it was. Its jaws clamped over the vampire’s face and peeled it away. Bile rose in my throat when the vampire’s body fell to the ground.
Matt’s familiar wolf barreled into two more vampires racing towards Victor. Their limbs tangled together as they rolled, but when they stopped, Matt didn’t get up. I waited, holding my breath. No one seemed to even notice their fallen friend, too tied up in their own fight.
Please not Matt, I pleaded.
My eyes grazed over the goblins climbing rock walls to get to the dark-skinned mages who fired spells at the ogres. Was that Jim? Another set of goblins jumped in their path, intercepting their brethren. Were they the ones I’d introduced to my snake? I hoped so. I also hoped they’d convince their buddies to stand down.
I shook my head and scanned the other side of the carnage. I needed to find Jack. Three SUVs parked at the edge of the fighting with all the doors opened. I traced a line from them into the melee, knowing Jack had to be there somewhere.
I finally spotted him, tearing through a large bear with ease and tossing its body with the others in his wake. Their bloodied forms didn’t move. How many did we lose already? Too many. I needed to be in this fight, not hovering above it.
Two other vampires followed at Jack’s heels, one dark as the night and the other who appeared to be from the Asian clan. I tried to remember the names of the council members but couldn’t. It had to be the last two though.
They stopped and two enormous ogres batted away the wolves lunging for them, creating a small open space right below me. Braden stalked forward with Gordon and another vampire at his side. Their red and white scarves fluttered in the raging winds preventing me from hearing their conversation.
“Put me down, Niyol!”
“No! We cannot hold the wall without you.”
“Dammit! I cannot let them kill each other,” I shouted above the howling winds. “At least get me close enough to hear.”
“I’m spread too thin, princess.” His voice sounded weak and resigned. Could an elemental die? I hoped not.
“Then drop some of your cyclones. It’ll do them good to see the fate of their brethren.”
“Go, brother,” Dusha’s deep voice saturated the air. “I have her.”
A strong arm looped beneath my knees and another wrapped around my shoulders. I looked up to see his magical wings beating against the storm.
“Where the hell have you been?” I asked, holding back my relief. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing Niyol, and the fact that Dusha had waited so long to show up made my anger flare for a moment.
“I’m here now.” His warm smile was in total contrast to the violence around us, but it calmed my pounding heart and frazzled nerves. “Let’s kill Jack.”
“We can’t kill Jack. You know that as well as I do.” I thumped my finger against his chest and frowned. Just like the rest of the men I knew. Solid muscle.
“Elise’s oath was never valid,” he said, his smile widening. “We discussed her ruse, and she will not pursue you or Braden.”
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I quickly blinked them away. So that’s where Dusha had been, and for once, the elemental had good news.
“I could kiss you,” I croaked. “But I think I’ll kill a vampire instead.”
He tucked his wings, and we fell like rocks towards the desert floor. I screamed as it rushed up to meet us. At the last second, he flared those magical beauties and landed between Braden and Jack knocking everyone within twenty feet to the blood-soaked sand.
My feet hit the ground, but I clung to Dusha’s neck with trembling fingers. He knelt and took my hands in his.
“I’ll hold the wall, but only for you.” He released my fingers but pulled the elemental’s strength with him. A rainbow of magical tendrils stretched between us and broke off as he leapt straight up into the air. I fell to my knees. With the sudden loss of power, my body felt empty and lifeless. Did he really have to do that?
Niyol took that moment to drop his bloody cyclones. Shriveled bodies and blood rained down on both armies. The gruesome sight turned my stomach, and I wasn’t the only one unable to hold back dinner.
A low growl was my only warning before Jack charged at me. His red eyes held nothing but anger and contempt directed solely at me. Of course, I panicked with indecision. My weakened body wouldn’t move, and my brain was still stuck on Dusha’s thievery.
But Braden saved me from my stupidity and intercepted his brother. Fighting broke out around us, and helplessness overwhelmed me. How could he take my strength? Especially now when I needed to imprison Jack. The familiar red haze of my little beast surfaced, reminding me I didn’t need the elemental’s power to create my tree of death.
I dug my claws into the sand and let the fae magic sing through my mind. I planted the seed between my knees. Now, I just needed a vampire. When I looked up, my beast wavered. Jack embedded his long claws in Braden’s stomach, catching my vampire’s arm in his other hand. The feral anger on Jack’s face sent chills down my spine, but it was nothing compared to Braden’s fear.
I gasped as a dark shadow covered the two elders, a shadow created by Gordon’s body soaring towards Jack. Another dark-skinned vampire collided with him before he ever reached the elders. He had to be the one leading the African vampires. He pinned Gordon and drove both sets of claws into my friend’s chest.
My world seemed to stop as I looked around. Jack’s vampires were decimating Braden’s. The two ogres who’d cleared the path for Jack now barreled through the mages, tossing them through the air like rag dolls. Too many bodies lay motionless in the sand, all covered in blood. We couldn’t possibly win this.
A piercing cry split the air, putting everything back in full motion.
“Stop!” I bellowed, forcing every amount of magic I could into the command.
The creatures around me froze and Jack tossed Braden to the ground, a gross sucking sound following the removal of Jack’s claws. Three long slashes tore across my vampire’s face, dripping blood down his neck. My heart stuttered. Braden’s earlier comment about not being able to kill Jack made sense now. Jack was stronger than his brother.
“You think you can command me?” Jack hissed.
I pushed myself to my feet and took a step back from the seed, putting it between us. Fear ran through my veins, and I prayed to anyone who would listen that it didn’t show. The only thing that mattered was drawing this evil creature away from everyone else.
“There is no one immune to my command,” I stated. “Even you.”
He threw his head back and laughed, then lunged. I froze, mostly from fear but also determination. I’d only get one chance to make this work. I couldn’t trap Jack if he was fighting with Braden, which meant I had to draw him away. I resisted the urge to look at my vampire and confirm he understood. Jack’s clawed fingers wrapped around my neck, and I forced a smile. He frowned when I didn’t fight back.
“Checkmate,” I whispered.
My tree’s vines b
urst from the sand, wrapping around Jack’s ankles and pushing him into the air. He screamed, releasing me and clawing at the rapidly growing tree trunk as it consumed his legs and torso within seconds. The two vampires who I assumed were the remainder of the council attacked my tree.
“I said stop!” I yelled at them. “You will leave him to his fate, unless you wish to join him. I will have no guilt over killing all three of you.”
Their claws raked down the tree, but they stepped back. I looked around at the hundreds of eyes staring back at me. Blood and gore covered everyone I saw: goblin, troll, shifter, mage, and vampire. All of them waited. Jack’s agonized moan echoed in our stormy prison, and I knew the deep red flowers would be bursting to life any moment. Could I really let him die? I think I had to, especially now. The queen held nothing over us, and Jack was dangerous if he was alive.
“I feel like I’m repeating myself uselessly, but look around you,” I said, motioning at the scene. “What part of this doesn’t invite a nuclear warhead? Do you really believe the humans won’t use one against us?” I turned a slow circle, taking in all their faces. “Is your life so bad that you would risk everything? Especially you stupid fricking vampires! You have to be the dumbest, most selfish bunch of assholes I’ve ever seen.”
I pointed a clawed finger at the nearest troll and glared at the group of bloody vampires in front of me. “At least you can hang out with humanity and live a comfortable life. Other creatures have to hide in the farthest reaches of our shrinking planet and hope they aren’t discovered.”
Braden squeezed my shoulder, and I closed my eyes, taking deep breaths. How was he even standing? It didn’t matter. We needed to finish this and leave. Dusha couldn’t hold on forever.
“Jack will die here today,” I said. “Any who wish to die with him, feel free to stay. Everyone else, get your asses in the trucks and leave before the news crews show up.”
“No one is leaving,” the dark-skinned vampire said.
I rolled my eyes. “What a dumbass.” Another tree sprouted at his feet, wrapping him up before he could react. He screamed and fought against the vines, but it was a senseless battle.
“What about you?” I asked the Asian man. “You joining the dumbasses or packing up your shit? Because I’m done playing with you bastards.”
He thrust his arm in the air and made a circular motion with his hand, then walked away. At least one of them had a brain. The crowd split as he left, and what remained of Jack’s vampires followed the Asian without a backward glance. Relief washed over me, and I looked up at the spirit elemental above me. His body glowed with the beat of his wings. The human Mr. Universe didn’t really compare. Dusha was marvelous.
A gap appeared in the southern wall as several truck engines roared to life. The trolls and goblins eyed me warily as they trudged towards their escape, taking their fallen with them. The ogres left last, slowly following the line of trucks. Countless bodies were left behind, some still alive but most not. Sorrow and guilt crept to the surface and I pushed them away. Not yet.
“AJ?” Kellen’s tentative voice drew my attention.
Victor stood next to him in a pair of shorts. Dear God, he was enormous. Numerous wolves, bears, and large cats prowled to his side, more than I could possibly count. Kate, her new partner, and Sammy filled the space to his left along with Zahur and dozens of men who appeared to belong to the desert. None of them approached me. They just stood there, gaping at my full monster form: teeth, claws and all.
“We need to get the wounded to Fadil’s and burn the dead,” I said, still keeping my emotions under lock and key. “The vampires who…” I paused and squeezed my eyes shut. “They all need to be burned, regardless of who they are. And quickly. My elementals can’t hold the wall much longer.”
I didn’t know if they could or not, but Niyol’s weakened voice from earlier suggested not.
“We’ll gather them,” Braden offered.
I couldn’t look at him, knowing the wounds he sustained a few moments ago. My emotional barrier was barely intact. “Thank you.”
As soon as his hand left my shoulder, I fell to the ground. Exhaustion swept over me in waves, but I couldn’t quit yet. We still had to get out of here without being seen. I pulled my backpack off my shoulder and dug around until I found a granola bar and water bottle.
My eyes searched the field for Gordon and found him lying a few yards away. A female vampire knelt over him, helping him sit up. Blood oozed from his chest, right over his heart. Would he live? I hoped so. His eyes met mine, but their hollow gaze wasn’t very encouraging.
“You better make it,” I whispered, knowing he would hear me.
His lips pulled into a smile that immediately faltered. I swallowed my pain and grief with effort. There would be too much loss today.
I watched the mages gather the wounded, human and shifter alike, into trucks while I chewed on the raisin filled granola. The remaining vampires raced around the field, pulling the dead into large piles. My eyes found Braden, who was obviously favoring the side Jack impaled. Only a vampire could survive something like that.
Göksu, can we create another healing dome to help them?
No, child, my elemental replied. You have nothing left, and my own strength is not endless.
I didn’t like it, but I understood. How many would die on their way back home? Too many.
Several mages broke from the group and rings of fire surrounded the fallen. An eerie silence fell across the battlefield as we watched them burn. Vampires stood next to shifters, with mages mingled around them. They all lost friends today, and it surprised me that none of them argued about the funeral pyre lighting up our magical storm. My heart thudded against my ribs, and I knew I was about to lose the fight with the little box holding my emotions.
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, choking down my meager snack.
Kellen sat in the sand next to me and wrapped his fingers around mine. “What do we do about them?” he asked. I followed his pointing finger to the two trees now if full bloom, the deep red flowers reaching towards Göksu’s violent storm above us. The vampires’ bodies were completely consumed.
“I don’t know,” I muttered.
“We can’t leave them for the reporters to find.”
I turned towards him and scowled. “I have no fricking idea, Kellen. Do whatever you want with them. I’m done.” I pulled my backpack into my chest. “I don’t even have the energy to stand.”
“I’ll come get you before we leave,” he said, getting to his feet.
I didn’t reply. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go with him, but I didn’t want to go with Braden either. I needed time to have my emotional breakdown and sort out what I suspected was coming from my elementals.
Will you guys meet me at the house in LA when you’re done? I asked, projecting my thoughts to Göksu and Niyol.
Of course, child.
Niyol?
You shouldn’t even have to ask.
I grimaced and glanced around me. Several earth mages buried the smoldering bodies in the sand and the remaining survivors piled into the numerous vehicles. Kellen helped carry a wounded man to a nearby van. Victor and Elaine strode towards me and a pang of regret speared my heart. Matt’s absence at Victor’s side wasn’t lost on me.
“Matt?” I croaked.
Victor frowned and his chocolate eyes darkened. “He’s not dead yet.”
“I would heal him if I could, Victor. You know that right?” I swallowed hard and forced my emotions back in their box. “I can’t even stand.”
“I know. I’m here to say thank you,” Victor said, kneeling at my side. “I assume we won’t see you again any time soon.”
I shook my head. Yeah, thanks for killing your right-hand man.
“I need to find out who I am,” I replied, glancing at my former partner. “Don’t let Kellen fall into despair or a bottle of whiskey.”
“We won’t,” Elaine said, dropping to one knee on my other side. Was she t
he large cat fighting to protect Victor? “You’ll be missed.”
“Yeah. Hug Marissa and Yun for me.”
“Sure thing.”
They stood and walked away. I wanted a hug from them as well, some reassurance that I wouldn’t be totally alone, but I wouldn’t get it. Several vehicles started up, and I looked up at Dusha, still strong and steady as ever. Would I even know if he were tired? Probably not. What would happen to him now that he had revealed himself to the magical community?
“Step away from the trees, mage,” Braden growled from a few feet away, drawing my attention.
“We can’t leave them here,” Kellen grunted in return.
“You don’t decide their fate.”
“It’s fine, Braden. She knew all along,” I called over my shoulder, not wanting to face the living or the dead. He growled again, but I didn’t need to say more. He should know exactly what I meant. There was no reason for me to hang out any longer. Kellen could burn the trees, and the elementals already had full control of the storm. They didn’t need me.
I closed my eyes and envisioned the stone room at my house in LA. Maybe that was a bad idea. I didn’t have the energy to climb up the steps. The bedroom. Mine, not Braden’s. I landed on the tan carpet in my bedroom and didn’t even try to get in bed. My backpack made a good enough pillow, and the elementals would wake me when they arrived.
Chapter 25
I should’ve known better than think my elementals would wake me up. Because they didn’t. They let me sleep for hours on the floor with my stupid backpack as a pillow. They also let Braden in the house when he wasn’t the first person I wanted to see.
“Wake up, little goddess,” Braden’s voice whispered in my ear.
“Go away,” I mumbled.
“No.”
He picked me up off the floor and laid me on the bed. Every muscle in my back and neck screamed in agony. The blood rushing to the arm I’d been laying on for hours left burning tingles in its wake. I moaned and rolled away from the vampire.
“I said go away.”
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