Page 226 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

My name.

It’s so faint, but it’s Annika, and it’s coming from above us.

“Get your things. We are climbing.” I rush into the cave to collect my weapons and my satchel.

“We will not survive the night, my friend.”

“Neither will she, and I have no interest in surviving without her.” The moment I admit that, I know it is the truth. I grab a lengthy branch and shove its leafy ends into the flames, holding it there until it ignites. “Stay here if you wish, but I am going.”

With a sigh, Destry rises to her feet. “That will not burn long.” Collecting the stones in her grasp, her lips move with unintelligible words. The inky scrawl across her forehead glows and with it, so do the stones. “There. That should bring the other wroxlik right to us,” she says with a hint of bitterness.

“Perfect. Maybe they will carry us too.” I lead the way, my pulse racing with fear.

68

Annika

Terror grips my every muscle as the wyvern climbs, its wings pumping furiously. It’s flying to somewhere within this mountain.

Probably to a place where it can eat me in peace.

“Tyree!” I shriek, hoping he will hear and place my voice. That he won’t assume I am dead and move on. Yet.

Suddenly, it swoops and releases me from its grip midair.

I hit the ground and remember nothing else.

69

Romeria

A cool breeze flutters my hair as we look out over Lyndel, observing the buzz of activity. Below, casters work to repair tunnel entrances, and soldiers sharpen swords and haul weapons to various stations. Lyndel’s citizens collect food and other supplies that we might need to dig in and not give ground.

Just days after evicting the Saur’goths who stole the city, the air feels different. Vibrant, even as we all prepare for the worst.

Zander’s attention is in the distance, across the expanse of land beyond the wall. It’s too far to decipher what Ybaris and Mordain are doing on that side, but there is activity. “Atticus will arrive in just hours.”

“My people are establishing defenses deep into the battlefield as Atticus suggested. Things the enemy will not see until it is too late.” Solange sits on a ledge, peeling and slicing an apple with a curved dagger. “We have left a small group of casters at the rift tonight, to manage the worst of the beasts. They will have enough time to ride to the line before the enemy arrives.”

Zander and I share a glance, the unspoken decision in that fleeting look. This isn’t a secret we can keep from her without earning her distrust.

“We might not have to worry about things crawling out from the Nulling anymore.” With a deep breath, I tell her what I did. By the time I’ve finished, her complexion has paled.

“You summoned the fates.” Her voice is cold and full of accusation.

“I did.” I can still feel Aminadav’s breath on my neck, his piercing gaze dissecting me.

“We had no other choice.” Zander jumps in. “At least now, if we manage to kill Malachi, he cannot come back.”

“And what about Aoife?”

“We cannot worry about Aoife right now. We will deal with her when she reveals herself.”

Solange shakes her head. “You have no idea what you play with.”

“My entire existence here is because people decided to summon the fates. Believe me, I have an idea.” My voice is harder than I intended, but I stared into Aminadav’s eyes and forfeited my life for these realms—not that anyone knows that. I’m not in the mood to be scolded. “Aminadav also gave Ybaris a hundred years of healthy crops without any strings, so he is capable of mercy. And these Saur’goths that Malachi created? Aminadav doesn’t like them. He said as much to me. That works to our advantage.”

Solange scowls at her apple and tosses it at Jarek, who snatches it out of the air and takes a bite. “Allegra wrote to me. She would like an update to share with the counsel. What would you like me to tell her?”

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