Page 77 of A Heart of Crimson Flames
“Sawyn didn’t live forever,” I said, exchanging looks with Calla. My fingertips twitched by my side and I saw them take note. It was all we needed to say. If we all charged the King at once, we might be able to overpower him. If he hadn’t grown his power too strong already, we might be able to fight him from sheer numbers alone.
“Sawyn made a grave mistake from what I heard,” Nero said, smiling at me. “She let you get within striking distance.”
Before I could even reach for the hilt of the dagger on my belt, the room exploded in bright green light.
Sadie
“THE SONGS! NOW!” I SHOUTED AS I HELD MY KNIVES UP.
I dropped into a fighting stance and braced for the onslaught of Silver Wolves barreling toward us like a pewter tidal wave. I remained in my human form, standing at the front of the group as the musicians behind me frantically began to play. Their music was more powerful now, the attack on the Onyx Wolves and the vengeance for Asha laden upon every note. I felt the heady tug of it even in my human form.
“Stop,” the music commanded. “Don’t move an inch.”
The line of advancing Wolves slowed, some stalling entirely, while others battled forward against invisible hands. Navin seized the opportunity, breaking from the songs to attack. For a split second, I watched, impressed as he moved his dagger with lethal efficiency.
“Sadie!” Navin shouted and I fought against the pull of music, snapping out of it. I ran forward to join him in cutting down our frozen foes.
Some Wolves dropped before we even had a chance to reach them, the music commanding them in more and more violent ways: “Don’t move. Don’t breathe. Die.”
How horrifying must it feel to have your own heart betrayyou, to stop beating at the command of another? But right now, we needed all the brutality we could get.
Some Wolves didn’t have the fortitude to do anything but obey, while others fought the commands. None were a threat to us, though, their movements slower than swimming through mud. A few Wolves had the good sense to shift back and flee into the palace with their fingers in their ears. But a naked human soldier with their ears covered was still an easy target.
When each and every one of the remaining Wolves was cut down, the music stopped. Blood coated the silver-flecked stones, trailing between the cracks and crevices.
Navin turned to survey the rest of the Songkeepers. “Everyone okay?” He quickly examined them one by one, but none were harmed. They didn’t seem all that particularly rattled and I gave them approving nods. Once again, they reminded me how formidable they truly were. Even with the dragon being chased off into the night, perhaps we were still at a great advantage.
That thought was bolstered when a flare of green magic beamed through the far windows and my heart soared further. Maez was here. She came. I would get to see my best friend again. Victory was well and truly in hand now.
“Let’s go!” I called, my spirits buoyed as I waved the Songkeepers onward.
We ran into the castle and turned toward the great hall, when the doors flew open and the screams erupted. I locked glances with the horrified faces of Calla and Grae who dragged an unfamiliar soldier between them. A bolt of green lightning hit him square in the chest, carving a hole straight through him. The mates dropped the body and continued to dash forward.
“Nero’s a sorcerer!” Calla screamed. “Run!”
I didn’t have time to fully process what they said; I was too busy moving. When my Queen shouted “Run!” I ran.
The soldiers pouring from the great hall scattered in every direction, through corridors and leaping out windows.
We whirled back in the direction we came only to be greeted with a fresh retinue of Silver Wolves guarding the door and blocking us in. Svenja lifted her violin, but I held up a hand. We might be able to fight these Wolves, but not with a sorcerer headed our way.
Moreover, my friends hadn’t had the chance to inure themselves to the song, so they could be vulnerable as well.
“Stairs!” I shouted, grabbing Timon by the arm and shoving him toward the staircase. One by one, I ushered the Songkeepers up the steps with Navin and I taking the rear. Calla, Mina, and Grae closed the distance and followed hot on our heels as screams and cracks of lightning filled the air.
We circled up to the third floor and sprinted down the hallway.
“Here,” Grae shouted, grabbing the corner of a painting and swinging it open. “Quiet.”
We rushed inside the room, the dozen of us cramming inside. I could see the shadows of the Silver Wolves rising up the stairwell as we pulled the painting back in place.
“Quiet,” I hissed at the panting, whimpering breaths of my comrades.
I listened keenly, pressing an ear to the canvas, but upon not seeing us, the Wolves didn’t even bother stalking down the corridor. With their heightened senses, they should’ve been able to smell us, and they certainly would’ve heard our thundering hearts. But instead they turned tail. Why?
The unknown was truly frightening.
I found Grae’s gaze in the darkness and he shook his head—he didn’t know, either. Everything had turned upside down. And the worst, most horrible part of it all was that Maezwasn’there. She hadn’t come to our aid. I’d traveled through the most unforgiving lands, forsaken my court and king, was beaten to near death on my quest to rescue her from Sawyn’s imprisonment. I would’ve died trying to save her all over again... and she didn’t come.
