Page 164 of Wrath of the Fae

Winged warriors battle in the sky.

‘He’s here for a portal.’

‘A portal?’ Cyrus’s hand tightens, and he snarls the word, ‘He?’

I take his chin and guide him to the back of the soldiers, where a smaller army surrounds a highly decorated soldier. One complete with a crown.

‘Jonah…’ Cyrus whispers with dark longing. ‘Oh, I have been aching to get some alone time with that fucker.’

I caress his cheek, and he kisses my hand. Through his eyes, I watch the fight. I watch Reid and his light sweep and soar. I see Wolf and his Valker. I see Lucca’s beast!

‘I want to suggest that we go,’ Cyrus says, softly kissing my hand as he presses it to his lips, unfazed and uncaring of the bloodshed below or the naked Fae cowering behind us. When he goes to look at me, I push his face back to the scene of the battle. I don’t want to see myself. He tuts. ‘But I know you’re not going anywhere. So tell me what you want me to do.’

‘Take me to the edge of the ravine.’

He obeys and leads me to the edge. I hold his chin and make him look where I need him to look. I reach out my free hand, feeling it below.

‘Excitement. Hmmm. Not sure how I feel about you being excited about anything right now.’

‘The Fifth Kingdom was once of fire,’ I tell him. ‘Fire and scales. Claws and wings.’ The corner of my mouth twitches.

‘Ancient creatures?’

‘Monsters. Sealed beneath miles of ice. Locked away in the cold and dark, where their fire could never be born again. So we could live in peace.’

‘Baby, your arms-’

‘I hear them. They dream. The ice is melting, and they dream of their flames.’ I let out a light laugh.

‘Raven. What are you planning?’

Power and strength courses through me. Warms me. I send it out through my extended arm, down deep, into the ravine.

‘Let’s wake them up, shall we?’

The ice cracks and the armies stop fighting to steady their footing.

Through his eyes, I watch the cracks spread and grow. Thunderous twangs echo as an orange glow emanates below the breaking ice.

Brighter. Brighter. Brighter!

‘Raven, our soldiers are down there.’

‘Do you care?’

‘Not particularly. But you will if you end up killing them.’

‘I might.’

‘You better care. Or I fear we may have a problem. Your arms are darkening again.’

‘You’ll keep me right,’ I remind him. ‘Won’t you?’

He kisses my hand again.

The ice shelf explodes, and out erupts a glorious creature. Its body black as coal with scales tainted gold. Massive talons slam into the ice, melting at its touch. The creature scrambles upwards. At its back, great leather wings stretch out. Its long neck reaches skywards. It roars, and from its mouth, fire pours, streaming upwards. The ground trembles as it cries out in anger.

The battle falls silent. The soldiers watch this ancient beast return to the world it was trapped beneath.

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