He was on her in a second, catching her by the wrist, squeezing. Despite his burns, he was still strong, still needed to know.
What is she? he hissed. Who is she?
The Anahera lowered her eyes. “Only one of our kind has left the mountains in generations,” she said softly. “Cara’s mother, Farhan’s partner before me. She disappeared one day. Though no one knew what had become of her, Farhan always suspected…she had a great interest in the humans.”
Adonis narrowed his eyes. “But that was not her?”
Nyriah shook her head. “That creature was not full-blooded Anahera. But perhaps…a daughter.”
Adonis nodded, his thoughts turning to the human Maisie. Had she known this? Was that why she’d sent him against the flag ship, knowing the queen would be there?
Anger touched him and suddenly Adonis was striding from the water, leaving the Anaheran woman behind him. Could the human have been manipulating them all this time, using their anger and hatred, their excitement to destroy the humans against them? It seemed unlikely—Maisie had been isolated from her people for weeks. But the humans were manipulative, cunning creatures. After this night, who knew what else they might be capable of?
The sound of footsteps on mud came from behind Adonis as Nyriah followed, but even with his injuries, she struggled to keep up, her wings still heavy with water. Adonis clenched his fists, casting a glance over his shoulder at the river. At least two other ships were burning—had they taken inspiration from the queen, or had this all been a trap from the start?
He bared his teeth, wondering at the weapon the queen had unleashed. Was this the extent of the new power, or was there more? How long did the Tangata have before the humans created other such weapons? In just the last few months they had uncovered magic gauntlets and explosives. But over the last few years, even their basic war manoeuvres had advanced, as they learned to use their shields and spears as a unit against their stronger foes.
Maya was right. The humans had to be eliminated, before they grew to threaten the entire world.
Movement came from the waters of the river and Adonis was thankful to see that others had escaped the inferno. He could sense the fear of his brethren for what the enemy had revealed. The queen had been within their grasp, but in an instant she had turned the battle, decimating the Tangata and escaping into the night. It was a humiliating defeat for Adonis.
A soft pounding came to his mind as he climbed the bank, a tremor of rage, a warning of what awaited him. Reaching the borders of their camp, he moved towards the source, towards Maya’s fury. Her rage swept out across his people, stirring them from their shock, calling upon their emotions…
Calling them to war.
Adonis found his mate standing atop a small hill. Her golden hair shone in the light of the distant flames, her stomach straining against the simple Tangatan clothing she wore. Her grey eyes fixed upon the burning waters, she did not seem to notice his approach at first.
“You have failed me, my mate.”
Adonis flinched as Maya’s Voice roared into his mind, so loud he staggered back from her, his entire being trembling. Looking up at her, he tried to meet the grey eyes of his partner—and failed. Bowing his head, he tried to retreat—only for her to surge forward. Before he could resist, her hand caught him by the throat.
Maya bared her teeth as she hauled him into the air, and in that moment Adonis finally realised his peril—for in Maya’s eyes he saw not her usual calm, but the insanity he had glimpsed the first time he had woken her, the madness that had been passed down to her descendants, the rage of the Tangata.
Maya! he shrieked, reaching out with his mind in a desperate attempt to calm her. But he sensed only chaos from his partner now, only the terrible rage. Please! They are led by one of the Anahera!
Somehow, his words must have pierced the haze of her madness, for suddenly Maya blinked. The glow in her eyes softened, giving way to confusion. They narrowed then, and she lifted him higher, as though suspecting him not just of failure now, but treachery.
“What is this?” she hissed. “The Anahera are mine! There are none left to oppose me.”
One left their city long before our arrival! Adonis gasped desperately. The ex-mate of their leader. Nyriah believes the queen who leads the humans could be her daughter.
Impossible, Maya growled, and Adonis’s gasp was choked off as her fingers tightened. You lie to protect your own humiliation—
“No,” a voice interrupted.
Adonis’s heart twisted as he glimpsed movement from the corner of his eye, then Nyriah stepped into view. Before Maya could react, the Anahera surged forward, slamming into the Old One’s arm and tearing Adonis from her grip. He cried out as he crashed to the mud, while above Maya snarled, turning her fury against the Anaheran woman.
Adonis’s vision swam as he lay in the dirt, even as he struggled to catch glimpses of the battle between his partner and Nyriah. The Anahera’s black wings hung limp against her back, still heavy with water, and she clearly still suffered from the earlier explosion. Adonis tried to raise a hand, to call for them to stop, but he found Maya’s mind was closed to him now, her power focused on the Anahera that dared oppose her.
And with all the strength of an Old One, she struck the Anaheran woman down.
Crying out, Nyriah slammed into the ground with a thud, her wings fluttering weakly, trying uselessly to carry her to safety. Bones crunched as Maya her boot down on one, followed by a ghastly scream as Nyriah thrashed in the mud. The colour drained from the Anahera’s face as she struggled to rise, to flee, but there was no escaping the Old One’s wrath.
“I warned you what would happen if
