Page 176 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

Almost immediately, one of the archers brought Demos a trowth stone. He eyed it. “Report.”

“The scout who contacted you…” the voice said. “He got too close to one of the creatures. It…took him.”

I glanced away. Beneath the soldiers’ murmurings, I could hear the crash of the waves against the shore. And I watched as the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, painting the sky in strokes of soft pinks and oranges. The light illuminated Regner’s ships in the north, unable to come closer until they brought down our kingdom’s wards.

Turning my gaze back to the sunrise, I ignored the enemy ships silhouetted against the glowing backdrop ofthe sun. I ignored the staggering number of banners flying menacingly in the morning breeze. I ignored the growls of the terrovians and the way every hair on my body stood at attention.

For a brief moment, I watched the sun climb above the water. And it felt like a gift.

30

Asinia

Our people died courageously. With weapons in their hands and fury in their eyes. With bared teeth and shields held high as they protected our most vulnerable.

But still, they died.

And died.

And died.

When Demos began steadily cursing, I knew Regner had managed to shift Lyrinore’s wards. Our kingdom was defenseless.

And Regner’s ships began to sail south without repercussions—just as the terrovians attacked. Our own wards were only useful for magical attacks, and so our warders were hidden away, where they might do some good when Regner’s foot soldiers came for the hybrid children.

Cryton and I were perched on a rock about five footspans high. And together, we fired at the creatures again and again.

“They don’t like the water,” Cryton said suddenly, raising his head.

I watched. He was right. Any terrovians who came close to the seawater would instantly flee backward, far from their kin, asthey continued to attack.

My heart pounded as I picked up the trowth stone Demos had left with us.

“Drive them toward the sea!” I yelled into it. “They hate the salt water.”

Demos didn’t reply. I searched for him, my gaze finding him fighting at the front, dispatching terrovians so fast, his sword was a blur. But he must have heard my voice coming from the trowth stone in his tunic, because he began roaring instructions. Slowly, our people began pushing the terrovians toward the shoreline. More and more of the creatures began to flee.

But it wasn’t enough.

In the wide expanse of the sea, more of Regner’s fleet had arrived. They knew we were here, and they knew we had the better location, even if we were horrifyingly outnumbered. When they attacked, they would march together, wiping us out with methodical precision.

“What the fuck is that?” Cryton yelled.

I whipped my head in the direction he was pointing. A few hundred footspans from us, where Prisca had dropped into the tunnel to our kingdom…

Vynthar sprinted toward us. And at least fifteen other Drakoryx loped out with him.

My heart tripped. I remembered Telean telling me there were so few Drakoryx left, to see even one was considered a special event.

Of course, if they didn’t consider you worthy, they would also be the last sight you’d ever see.

The Drakoryx tore into the terrovians with a viciousness that made the fae creatures seem meek bycomparison. The hybrids who’d never seen them were visibly shocked, but they immediately roared their approval.

I continued firing. But I was almost out of arrows.

Fog filled my head, a heavy weight pressing on the back of my neck.

Someone began cheering hoarsely. Others joined in.

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