Page 189 of Wrath of the Fae

thirty-four

Weappearinthemanor’s courtyard and look on, stunned, at the destruction caused in such a short time.

Minutes. They’ve been here minutes, and the manor is half collapsed and on fire. The streets of the Kingdom are littered with the dead and dying. Homes have been levelled. The stench of petrol chokes the air as it feeds the fires the drones continue to set.

Flame throwers streak across the sky from those spherical machines. Iron bullets cut through the air in a constant bombardment. Some expel a mist, choking those who breathe it in. Small shiny fragments mingle with it.

Iron in the mist, choking us.

Each drone is a weapon. Each one is made to kill and destroy.

The boys fall into battle mode in an instant. Sword in one hand and their powers seeping from the other. I jump as Lucca’s beast leaps to their side, snarling and roaring with its curved teeth bared at those machines.

‘Quit daydreaming!’ Cyrus thrusts my dagger back into my hand. ‘You want to fight, then fight.’

‘No. You fight.’ I spread my wings. ‘I’ll distract.’

‘WAIT!’ he calls after me, but I’m already in the sky.

I soar and dive towards the machines. My wings thrust me forward with each heavy beat I give. It works. Some of the machines see me. They stop slaughtering and give chase, beeping as they summon others to follow. They’re fast, but I’m sure they need me alive, so they won’t blow me apart or set me ablaze.

I’m also aware they don’t need me in one piece. If I step foot in Ivan’s machine, my body will fade, so it doesn’t matter what state it’s in.

I’m flanked by others with wings, and they attack the machines with weapons and powers. Below is a raging battle.

Lucca! Tell them to get into the tunnels!I call out as I see him below.

I lead them away from the others and dive, soaring to the ground with speed. As I land, I rest my hand on the floor and carve the ancient markings into the stone. Not all the machines don’t have time to stop, and many fly through before the rest divert.

I cut off the portal and take to the skies again.

The wind howls in my ears as I fly, and I use my powers to send them crashing into one another, making them explode into small fireballs.

I look over my shoulder to see three more heading my way.

But they’re not like the others.

These are far bigger, with more weapons. With steel tentacles and blinking eyes. Their iron bodies shine as they fly towards me.

I hear nothing but my breath leave my body as they reach for me.

With an ear-piercing screech, a dark swarm of twisted bodies and razor-sharp wings swamp them. It’s those creatures I summoned and controlled before.

On the ground, howling carries across the kingdom.

The dark beasts come. They come to defend their queen. I feel my pull on them and can’t stop it. I can’t sever the call!

From the woods, monsters pour from the tree line and run into the city.

Wolves. Hounds. Snakes. Creatures so frightening and malevolent in appearance that they make me shudder.

And they fight for me.

Thousands of them work as one as they claw and tear at the machines.

As more machines come for me, the swarm encircles me like a swirling shield of darkness, protecting me.

I look at my body.

---