Page 186 of A Queen This Fierce and Deadly

“We need to kill the terrovians fast.”

“We do,” Demos said. He nodded at Vynthar and the other Drakoryx prowling toward the terrovians. “And we will.”

Nearby, Lorian was speaking with Galon and Marth.

“For Cavis,” he said.

“For Cavis.” Marth’s voice was hoarse.

“For Cavis,” Galon agreed. “And for us.” His gaze drifted over the soldiers before landing on Natan’s body, Tibris and Vicer still at his side. “For all of us.”

31

Prisca

Soldiers marched toward their enemies, weapons in their hands, shields raised.

“Fire!” someone roared, and our archers let loose, the sky filling with black arrows. Some of those arrows belonged to Asinia, and I let myself take a single moment to beg the gods to keep her safe.

The arrows landed. Some of our wards buckled, and where they fell, our people died. But the same was true for Regner’s army.

Demos had ordered any fae, human, or hybrid wielding enough long-distance power to aim for the terrovians first. Our wards would protect us from magic and would guard against fae-iron tipped arrows for some time, but only Regner’s ward offered protection from physical attacks.

The two armies smashed into each other in a clash of steel and power and blood.

Both Demos and Lorian had told me to wait. To use my power sparingly. Strategically. I could have overruled them, but their logic was sound. So I was forced to watch as our people died violently, so close to their homeland.

Behind us, anyone who wasn’t fightingor caring for the wounded was building a large barricade out of wood from the forest. If we had to fall back, it would offer at least a little protection.

We’d sent our messages to Tymriel and the other elders. At some point during this battle, we would have to move the hybrids from the caves to the tunnels. Because it was only a matter of time before Regner learned they were there. And because if we lost this battle, there would be no one standing between the hybrids and the Eprothans.

“The older hybrids and fae talked of war as if it was something teeming with adventure. A saga brimming with heroism and thrill,” a voice said behind me, interrupting my dark thoughts. I turned. Ameri stepped close, her gaze on the battle.

“They have to,” I said. “Or no one who had lived through it would ever step onto a battlefield again.”

She nodded, and when her gaze met mine, her eyes were wet. “Part of me wishes I’d trained like the soldiers. So I could make a difference.”

“You’ve saved more lives during this war than almost anyone else.”

Ameri’s power wasn’t made for the harsh daylight of battle. It was made for dark alleys and the shadowy silence of night. For quiet exchanges cloaked under the cover of darkness, where a single message could kill an enemy or a stealthy rescue could save a life. She might have been destined to be one of the unsung heroes of this war. Except I knew how she’d worked with Vicer in the city, smuggling out hybrids and feeding us information. If we lived through this, I would ensure everyone knew just how much she had contributed.

Her gaze lingered on one man near the front. And there was so much longing in her eyes, I found myself turning my head.

Ah.

The only way for Vicer to have used his power effectively would have been if we could have somehow snuck him into one of Regner’s generals’ tents. Since that was impossible, he fought sword-to-sword in the center lines, Dashiel at his side. I knew every soldier Dashiel felled was for his brother Thayer, who hadn’t had a chance once his power erupted.

But Vicer fought for every hybrid and human. For the lives he couldn’t save, and the ones he might save today.

“You should tell him how you feel.”

“If we live through this, perhaps I will,” Ameri said softly. She turned and walked away.

ASINIA

Arrow after arrow flew from my new crossbow. Next to me, Cryton nocked his own bolts just a hair slower. But what he lacked in speed, he made up for in distance, his muscular upper body giving him incredible power.

We aimed over our own lines, hitting as many of Regner’s soldiers as we could while our more powerful hybrids continued to focus their own power on the terrovians.

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