Page 157 of Merciless Is My Crown

“I guess we both have eyes in our heads, because yes, I sure as fuck am.”

Lyrae wasn’t just dodging the magic; she was countering their attack with magic of her own. Sloppily enough for me to see her power was brand fucking new.

The next wave of the Oracle’s puppets straggled sloppily down the cobbled street, Lyrae charging to meet them, then Zephryn reappeared and everything disappeared in a belch of ice-blue fire. The shop beside us exploded, tile roofing crashed down over our heads, and glass sprayed like projectiles.

Lyrae hit the pavement, hands clasped over the back of her head.

I threw myself over Anaria, using my body as best I could to protect her from the punishing fire, from the glass, the wood and tile, and those shadowy serpents so desperate to reach her.

Somehow, I lost sight of Tavion and Zor in the choking smoke, ozone stinging my eyes. I might have heard Tavion screaming, but I couldn’t be sure.

Then I spotted Zor, hunched over, sneaking down the street, Cosimo at his side. I raised a hand, waved. “Over here.” I shouted. “We’re here.”

But neither of them looked our way.

Then all I saw were those twisting, liquid shadow serpents. They crawled all over the barrier now, searching for some way inside, consuming what little magic was left. They were driven by desperation, blind and demanding and unstoppable.

As if Anaria was the only thing they wanted.

And I was the only one who could stop them.

65

ANARIA

Iemerged into chaos.

The stab wound on my thigh burned like fire, my hand dripped blood, and I was crushed against a shopfront by Raziel, protecting me from something I couldn’t even see, his back straining as he cast his magic over and over again.

The choking air was nigh unbreathable, reeking of dragonfire and rotting corpses.

I shoved at Raz’s back. “Let me go. I can help.”

His head whipped around. “You…you’re back.” There was a smear of black soot across his face and a gash on his forehead leaking blood over one eye. “I thought…” He shook his head, splattering blood down the front of me. “Never mind.”

He stepped aside and I gaped at the sight before me. “What…the fuck?”

Every shadow had come alive, writhing like serpents right in front of my crumbling shield while a haze of bluish fire hung between the buildings like a glowing mist.

Debris was everywhere, the storefronts still burning.

Lyrae was halfway up the street, a long silver blade in each hand, fighting like mad, slashing and dodging. Casting magic. Bodies littered the ground, some in uniform, some of them mages.

Off in the distance, a dragon roared, followed by a wolf’s keening howl.

“What…what did I miss?”

“There was a mob of possessed mages and shopkeepers. We’re assuming the Oracle is controlling them. We tried to keep them contained to Southwell, but some…okay, a lot got loose and are in the main part of the city. Zeph, Tavion, and the others went after them.” Raziel sent his magic into the barrier and my mouth dropped open as the shadows opened their gaping mouths and swallowed down every glittering drop.

“I’m trying to keep whatever the fuck this is from getting to you.”

As if on cue, the liquidy looking creature—if it was even alive—slammed into the barrier, the impact shuddering down Raz’s arms and slamming him against the storefront.

“What is that?”

“We don’t know. We’ve thrown everything we have at the thing and it only gets stronger.” His dark eyes slid to mine. “Because it’s eating our magic.”

“Light?”

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