I shivered and shared a look with Aeri.
This was really never where I’d expected to be. Leading a crowd of hundreds into battle. Not my scene.
Life threw curveballs at you sometimes.
“I’m going to speak to my troops briefly,” Tarron said.
I pressed a kiss to his cheek, then launched myself into the air and flew to Brielle, who waited at the back of the crowd, closest to the forest exit. I landed in front of her.
Finally, she cracked the smallest smile. “Good job.”
“Thanks. Not really my normal.”
“This is no one’s normal.”
“It is yours.” I looked back at the camp. “You’ve been keeping things going here. You should lead us into battle.”
She nodded, her jaw firm, then turned. She raised her spear and then started into the forest. I followed her. Aeri joined me, along with Tarron and Declan. The FireSouls caught up, and we moved swiftly through the woods.
Every now and then, I glanced back to see the fighters behind us. Hundreds of them, steely-eyed and determined.
We broke through the forest as the sun was rising. It shed a golden glow over the field, somehow managing to cast the city in shadow. Or perhaps that was the false queen’s influence.
We made it across the field without issue.
We were three quarters of the way across when Aeri spoke at my side. “It’s weird. None of the guards are coming to greet us.”
“They don’t want to leave the safety of the fortress,” I said.
“Not safe for long.”
“No. Not for long.” Our goal would not be to kill—just in case those we fought were under the influence of the dark queen. Brielle had passed the word around last night, and since most of these Unseelie Fae had left loved ones behind in the city, they were quick to agree.
As we neared the city walls, shouts sounded from behind it. Fae guards gathered at the top of the walls, pointing toward us.
I could hear the shock in their voices, and it surprised me. “I’d have thought they’d expect this.”
“Brainwashing is powerful,” Brielle said. “They may not even realize there is a Resistance.”
Spears began to fly, blasts of magic following. Our core guard rushed to the front, holding up massive shields in front of the troops. Weapons and blasts of magic exploded against the shields, throwing some of the guards back. Others replaced them.
Tarron launched himself into the air, a shield covering his body as he threw out his hand. His magic surged, and an enormous gust of wind exploded from his palm. It drove the flying weapons and spells back at the Unseelie who had fired them.
They shouted and dived, taking cover behind the walls. The blasts of magic—all colors of the rainbow—exploded against the castle walls. Huge holes appeared, and sections of rock tumbled to the ground.
Tarron turned back to his troops and shouted, “Earth powers!”
He waved his arm, and his magic swelled on the air. Other Seelie joined him, stepping forward, their magic swelling. There had to be at least two dozen of them, all with the power of manipulating the earth. They joined their king, and a massive wave of magic exploded from them, rushing toward the city wall.
The ground beneath the wall began to shake, an enormous crevasse opening up right underneath.
The stone gatehouse was the first to fall, tumbling into the giant pit. A dozen Unseelie guards launched themselves off the top of the gatehouse, flying to the safety of the air.
Connor raced forward, shouting, “Stunners, attack!”
His troop of Fae—all of whom had been chosen for their excellent aim—followed him to the front, stopping right behind the line of shields. The guards shifted to get lower, giving the stunners room to throw. They hurled potion bombs into the air, aiming for the Unseelie who flew above the collapsing wall.
Glass potion bombs exploded against the Unseelies’ chests, and they swayed, flying clumsily into the city, their wings faltering as the stunning bombs took effect. Connor had modified them so the Fae wouldn’t drop on the spot. Falling could be deadly, even for one with wings.
Within minutes, a huge section of castle wall had fallen into the earth, and dozens of Unseelie guards had been taken out by Connor’s stunning potions.
“Go!” Brielle shouted. She ran forward, and the troops followed.
Time to storm the castle.
Tarron flew toward the city, moving his arm in an arc. The crevasse began to close up, forming a bridge for the land bound to walk across. Though most of our troops were Fae and could fly, our plan revolved around sticking together on the ground.
We reached the edge of the city and raced over the uneven ground. Ahead of us, a huge avenue stretched into the city, all the way up to the palace steps.
Like a red carpet that would be made crimson by blood. I shook away the terrible thought. We’d avoid that fate. I’d see to it.
Unseelie guards and citizens alike rushed toward the avenue, appearing on sidewalks and at the front of their homes.
“Declan, lightning!” Brielle shouted.
Declan launched himself into the air, his feathered angel wings carrying him high. He raised his hands, and his magic surged. Lightning struck, hundreds of bolts shooting straight into the ground on either side of the avenue.
Declan had amazing control, because not a single bolt hit a Fae—Seelie or Unseelie. They did cut them off from the avenue, however, giving us mostly unobstructed access to the palace beyond.
“Forward!” Brielle shouted.
Our side surged ahead, racing down the massive street. Some of the Unseelie had been trapped with us in the street, but Connor and his troops took care of them with potion bombs. Nix followed behind, conjuring protective cages over their unconscious bodies—we didn't need anyone getting trampled.
No doubt some of these Unseelie fought with the false queen because they wanted to. There were a few bad apples in every group. But we’d sort that out after the battle.
We were halfway down the avenue when Aeri muttered, “Too easy.”
“The false queen will be here soon,” Brielle said. “You won’t be saying that then.”
As if she’d heard us, a scream rent the air. Though I couldn’t see her anywhere, it was so loud that my ears rang. The noise brought with it a massive wind that blasted Declan’s lightning away. Unseelie surged into the street, their weapons raised.
Shit.
We’d planned for this—not how it would happen, but what could happen. Still, it was terrifying. This wasn’t an enemy we could just kill.
“Barriers!” Brielle shouted.
Nix raced forward, her dark hair flying behind her and her magic surging. She raised her hands, and barriers appeared on the side of the street. Tarron’s magic joined hers, and the fences grew up in an arc over the street.
The Unseelie launched themselves into the air, shooting magic down into the street. I raised my shield, covering my head from an aerial attack. Next to me, Aeri and Brielle did the same.
Connor and his crew threw potion bombs up into the air, stunning some of the attacking Unseelie. They lost control and fell, collapsing onto the tunnel of fencing that protected us.
Nix turned and caught Brielle’s eye. “I can’t hold it much longer!”
A few moments later, the Unseelie began to break through the barrier. We were nearly to the castle, and the fight was about to begin in earnest.