Page 40 of Atop the Faerie Throne
I stare at the stone with renewed urgency, searching deep inside myself for the bond to Danu. She’stherejust out of reach, and I strain for her even as the sound of heavy footsteps and clanging metal draws nearer. My thoughts are so foggy. If I could justthink.
“You might need this.” Lore slaps a dagger into my hand, the metal cool against my palm.
The implication—that he doesn’t think he alone can protect me—along with the knowledge that I have to do something, curl in my gut as I stare down the shadows of the army approaching the outer wall. It’s so hard to make them out in the darkness, but apparently the Fomorians have seen them as well. Shouts are already starting to echo over the city.
Then the horns sound.
Eerie, deep, and low, they reverberate across the distance. A shiver chases down my spine, and I have to drag my attention away before I become too caught up in a battle beyond my control.
The three minor royals can look out for themselves.
I reach for the nearest engraved name. There are thousands of them. Warriors we need on our side, now more than ever. Warriors who might save my mates now that we’re split up.
My wings flutter on my back, and I want to scream at my own stupidity.
The iron is on the ground… but I don’t have to be.
I take off, wings straining against the sluggishness in my veins. Titania rises with me, her own wings buzzing but producing no breeze.
The second I feel her hand in mine, I stop. We’re easily out of reach of the Fomorians below, but not quite out of range of the crossbows being pointed in our direction.
She shifts my grip to her shoulder, unstrapping a bow from across her chest and nocking an arrow before firing a perfect shot into the forehead of one of my attackers. Below us, Maeve and Mab flicker into being, joining the fight eagerly.
“Focus on your magic, dear heart,” she encourages calmly. “We have you.”
She’s right. They do. Drystan and Jaro are making good headway on the stairs, Wraith snapping and howling alongside them. The three of them carve through the Fomorians from one side while Lore engages them from the other. With my ability to connect to Danu restored, I reach out and funnel her magic their way once more, grimacing when I notice how heavily Bree is drawing on my power.
Is he wounded?
The fastest way to help him is to bring him and Caed some ghostly backup.
Trusting Titania and my mates to keep me safe, I reach inside me for Danu once more and bring all of her power out into my voice.
“Warriors of Elfhame, defend your home. Fight back the invaders. Open the gates to our allies.” I pause, struggling past Danu’s fury to offer a final mercy. “And let those who surrender live.”
For a moment, nothing happens. My heart stops, sinking like lead in my chest as I clutch the bonds, wondering if I accidentally channelled the magic from Danu straight to my Guard.
“Defend our city,” I demand a second time.
The first spirits are almost translucent, barely visible in the darkness.
I need more. I’m not summoning a few dozen fae. If I need an army, I need to draw deeper on Danu’s power.
Pushing past the iron-induced headache that persists even now, I fling my request to the Goddess.
Pain shoots down my spine and settles right behind my eyes. Golden dots sparkle across my vision as Danu gives me what I asked for without reservation, eagerly shoving what we need towards me. She knows how important this is, what’s at stake should we fail. She wants to protect her people as much as I do.
I have a horrible feeling the only limiting factor here will be my fragile body.
My head falls back as magic, the likes of which I’ve never known, shoves through me in waves.
Control? What control? I directed the power and gave the orders, but now it’s up to the spirits solidifying beneath me and the Goddess taking over from within.
I’m nothing more than a conduit. My focus is so far outside of my own skin that I can’t even feel my wings holding me up.
Goddess Incarnate? No.
I am Danu.
