Tristan appeared at my side, put his arm around my waist, and gave a small squeeze. He had a way of sneaking up on me. Since my grandmother had told Tristan about her decision for us to marry, there was a new bond between us. Knowing neither of us wanted this but not having a choice had somehow brought us closer.
“Don’t look so worried, it’s not like she is going to announce your death sentence.” He didn’t smile, but his eyes held a trace of humor.
I knew he meant to lighten the mood, but I could tell he was as tense as I was. With everything that was happening with Morgana, this was not the time for a frivolous feast. On top of that, getting betrothed to each other was not a small step, and although it wasn’t a death sentence, with our choice taken away from us, it was a sentence all the same.
I swatted his arm. “That’s not why I’m so tense.” My eyes darted around the room. “Something’s wrong.”
Tristan’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t brush me off like Cade did. Immediately his stance changed and he scanned the room for threats.
I spotted Skye standing at the far corner of the hall with Brianna. I tried to get her attention and waved to her. She saw me but pretended not to and turned her face. Strange, I thought, but I had other things on my mind.
My grandmother stood up; the room quieted and the music stopped.
“I have an announcement,” she began, holding out her hand to me. “Aurora, Tristan, come here.”
I moved forward, but I could tell something was wrong. She looked pale, the light and power fading from her eyes; I could sense it. Tristan moved with me, his eyes troubled.
Then my world collapsed.
The light went out from my grandmother’s eyes as she fell to the ground.
Tristan and I ran to her. The queen of the fae lay on the floor, her eyes closed, her power cut off. I could feel the wards around the city and the rest of the hidden valley falling apart. Only Izadora’s magic held them in place, protecting Iris from the outside world.
Erik was already protecting his queen, his great sword in his hand, daring anyone to come any closer. Rhiannon and Penelope crouched beside Izadora, checking for life.
I ran onto the dais. Erik eyed me warily but let me pass.
I fell to my knees beside my grandmother’s limp body. “Is she alive?”
The dowager looked up when she heard my voice and nodded. “For now. She’s been poisoned. We must get her the antidote and fast. Werewraith poison works swiftly.”
Suddenly the High Fae ladies began screaming and the men started shouting. Chaos broke out in the grand hall as I turned to see a swirling cloud of dark mist form in the corner of the room where Skye and Brianna were standing.
A portal—someone was opening a portal inside the palace. It could be from anywhere. There were no wards protecting the city anymore.
A dark-robed figure with eyes like black pits, the eyes of a demon, stepped out of the portal and looked straight at me.
Raziel! The Drakaar were inside the Crystal Castle.
The leader of the Drakaar grinned, his sharp canines flashing, and more hooded figures followed. Terror crept up my spine as low growls sounded from the first floor gallery and the stench of darkness grew, werewraiths appearing in the grand hall and pouncing on the unsuspecting High Fae.
All hell broke loose.
Penelope took over. “Rhiannon, Erik, take Izadora and get her somewhere safe,” she snapped with a tone of authority I hadn’t heard before. I realized then why my grandmother depended on her so much.
She turned to Tristan. “Cover me, I’m going to close the portal. Aurora, with me, I need your help to do it.”
Tristan’s sword lit up with silver fire. “This time they’ve gone too far,” he snarled, assessing the room. He put his hand on my shoulder. “You can do this.”
I nodded as he leapt off the dais and ran toward the Drakaar.
My hands shook as I removed my amulet, put it in my pocket, and took a deep breath. I was ready. If I was going to face Raziel tonight, I was going in with my full power. I drew my sword from the glamoured scabbard on my back and my unbound magic flared to life, lighting it up in an incandescent beam.
The dowager created a portal to take Izadora to safety at the same time as two werewraiths pounced on the dais. Erik roared, his flaming sword slicing through the werewraiths in midair, reducing them to ash. He picked up my grandmother gently and stepped through the portal as another werewraith jumped between the portal and the dowager.
I ran at the werewraith. Its foul stench filled my nostrils as its twisted body bunched, ready to attack. Power rippled through my veins as my unfettered magic awoke in full force.
The creature snarled and pounced.
Focused, controlled, I raised my flaming sword and sliced it down on the creature’s neck. Silver fire tore through contorted flesh and bone. The reek of rot and darkness filled my nostrils as the werewraith screamed and shrieked, dissipating into black ash.
The dowager nodded her thanks and followed Erik into the portal, closing it swiftly behind her.
At least they were safe.
Jumping off the dais, I followed Penelope and Tristan and ran toward the Drakaar.
Tristan’s sword flashed in his hand as he cut through the werewraiths smoothly and precisely. Cade was at the other end of the room, defending the guests and ushering people out of the hall through the side doors leading to the gardens. We had to get past the Drakaar to close the portal or more creatures could keep coming through.
A werewraith snarled and readied
