We ran into the next room, following the tail of shouting rebels. Vampyre bodies were strewn behind us, the floor slick with black blood. Benedict stood surrounded by a dozen vampyres, who quickly fell under the onslaught of human rebels who jumped for them. I reached Benedict just as he slumped over, deep gouges and lacerations covering his body.
“You’re going to get yourself killed,” I lectured, offering my wrist. He shook his head emphatically, refusing to heal.
“Where is Kieran?” I asked in frustration, not understanding where he could possibly be. A new wave of vampyres rushed at us and I belted the same high, piercing note I had at the armada. They collapsed to the ground, unconscious. I turned towards Benedict, sticking my nose in the air.
“Look out!”
A pack of lykos burst through the door, growling and snarling. The brown-haired one at the front stopped short when he saw me and Benedict, immediately barking orders to the others. They stood down; golden eyes veiled with confusion.
We do not forget our alliance.
Benedict hid his shock well, approaching slowly with his hands out.
“We ally with the humans to take back Dorea.”
Benedict had to negotiate quickly, and efficiently.
And what of the lykos?
“I offer a home for your kind; your own lands free of humans and free of their fear.”
The lykos barked, an odd yelp that could have passed for a laugh.
Impossible. The humans—
“Are not allowed on Lyoness. The witches seek shelter there temporarily, even as the human refugees sail to Aldur. Get word to any human in Cantrada to flee. I offer the lykos a home on Lyoness, permanently, if no human grants you your own lands when we have purged the hordes. I hope to convince the Cantradian descendant to give you what you desire.”
I could have kissed Benedict; I was so proud.
I do not have the authority to agree to the amended alliance, but will pass your offer to the one who does. We will send word.
The lykos gave a harsh bark and his pack spread out, ignoring everyone as they shot down the next hallway.
We will free the humans here and send word to any others to flee.
Benedict bowed, and then the lykos were gone. We ran from room to room, nodding to the other rebels we passed. We ran towards the sound of fighting, finding the main group of rebels and demons on the rotunda. We emerged into the sunlight and immediately ducked, white magick sizzling over our heads. I hissed in pain as a knife sliced through my back, falling to my knees as my hands felt nothing but blood and torn flesh
Severn jumped down from the roof to land in front of us, his clothes torn and still dripping with seawater
“Draken filth,” he hissed, his hands reaching out and snapping the neck of female vampyre running by. White energy formed between his hands as her body hit the blood-slicked tiles.
Benedict blocked his blow with his arms, blood welling from his body. Severn laughed, his eyes tracking me as Thad dragged me behind him.
“Black magick is so weak. How long before your body gives out? One more blow? Two? Let’s find out!”
My dagger found his chest before he got his next spell off. He grunted and fell back. Benedict was there, standing over Severn with his sword poised at the vampyre’s throat. Rebels all around us were cheering, the remaining vampyres and demons fleeing back into the city, and the woods beyond.
“It doesn’t matter if you kill us all; better soldiers are coming. When they are here, you will be powerless against him.”
The tip of Benedict’s sword kissed Severn’s pale throat.
“What do you mean? I heard your vampyres are fleeing—abandoning the Overlord.”
“They are weak,” Severn hissed back, “and know they will be culled. Our new soldiers will have powers you can’t even dream of...and we have you to thank, really.”
I cried out as Thad pressed down on my wound, trying to staunch the bleeding. My draken blood covered his hands, his eyes widening as his body shook with sudden stress. I needed to drink some blood, and quickly. My body wasn’t healing from Severn’s blow, and for some reason Thad looked ready to have a seizure.
“What do you mean?”
I wanted to cry out—to tell Benedict that Severn was just playing games. His cruel words were all he had left.
“We killed your father, turned your uncle to our side, and had even sunk our claws into young Bair. Where is he, by the way? He promised us so much if we just got him out of that mountain. Hilarious they weren’t actually chained to it that whole time. What would your people think if they knew?”
Benedict stabbed his sword down just as I reached forward and swept his legs out from under him. Severn flipped and dove over the rotunda walls.
“WHY DID YOU DO THAT?” Benedict roared, and I ignored my bleeding, ignored the pain.
“He has information we need! He knows he shouldn’t have mentioned the soldiers, and he distracted you!”
Benedict’s eyes finally took in the blood soaking my upper body, and he immediately offered his wrist. I shook my head in refusal.
“You need all your blood.”
A loud cry made us turn around. Thad laid on the ground, convulsing on the floor while covered in my blood.
“What’s wrong with him?” I cried out, reaching down to try and steady him.
Benedict grunted, picking Thad up despite his writhing and moaning. A shout of warning went up from the rebels inside the palace, and moments later a surge of the remaining demons and vampyres emerged on the rotunda, their eyes greedily seeing the three of us isolated and injured. The rebels on the other side rallied, racing to us. Benedict easily made it to them, handing off Thad to his men and turning back to find me. Kieran’s red hair was easily identifiable through the mob, and I gasped as thirty drakens appeared behind him,
