Page 71 of Kiss of Magic

“We can’t just leave them!”

“My Lady.” Cassia had her hands up, palms forward, as she added her power to the shielding. Her face was serene but the edge in her voice gave away her strain. “Our magic is very limited against the demons. You need to go.”

Raya looked at her helplessly.

“But what about you?”

“We will have done our job, my Lady. We will have protected the Emperor and the Fae Queen. Now go. Please. Don’t make our sacrifice in vain.”

A demon forced its claws through the shielding. Its lips drew back from its gleaming fangs as it reached for Raya. Kam yanked her backwards.

“We’re leaving. No arguments, that’s an order.” He turned to Cassia and bowed. “Thank you,” he said softly. Then he forced Raya through the door.

“Let me try,” she said, struggling. “I can fry the bastards…”

“Maybe you can but I’m not taking the chance. Let’s put some distance between us.”

They both heard the moment the shield failed behind them. The snarling of the demons increased in tempo and then the screams… Raya clapped her hands to her ears. Gods, the screams.

They ended abruptly. Then Kam was dragging her outside and both of them were manifesting their wings – pearly white appendages for the Emperor, golden flames for the Fae Queen. They left the ground a split second before a group of demons smashed through the walls of the palace and bounded into the open.

There were three of them. One was carrying Cassia’s head. The witch’s eyes gazed upwards sightlessly, sending guilt straight to Raya’s stomach.

“They’re dead,” she said faintly. “All of them.”

“And there’ll be more casualties if we don’t stop them.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not a fighter, I can’t just turn it on at will.”

She was crying, furious with herself for not being able to fully control her power. Cassia and the witches had died when they could have been saved.

Below them, Kam saw the demons scatter. Two turned towards Valkar.Ren. They’re heading for Ren.

Dread curdled in his gut. He took Raya by the shoulders and gave her a shake.

“I don’t have time to play nursemaid. Shade said you’re one of the most powerful fae he’s ever seen. Remember how you felt when he was being attacked? When he was almost killed?That’sthe feeling you have to harness.”

There was a distant rumble. It sounded as if it was coming from the ruins of the Seal Room. Ice trickled down his spine. The rest of the demons. They knew the way was clear.

Tears streamed down Raya’s face. She shook her head miserably.

“I… I don’t know if I can…”

“You have to!”Kam’s sudden roar of desperation took Raya by surprise. “I’m sorry, Raya, but you have to. More demons are coming and until Darian’s new weapons get here, you’re our only line of defence. So channel your inner rage – your inner beast, as I call it – and focus.”

“My inner beast?”

“As it turns out, we all have one. Call on every memory where Shade was in danger, where people you love were in peril. Use it to make you angry. And use the anger to focus your power.”

The rumbling was getting louder. Kam glanced down and saw the ground was shaking. Raya followed his gaze. It was now or never. They were out of time.

She took a deep breath.

Shade nearly being killed by Aelfric. He was in such pain. Because of me.Her mind winced at the memory.Aelah. My mother. Facing her most hated enemy and risking her life to save me.Further back.My adopted parents. Ross and Caroline. They died because of me.

And suddenly all her grief, all her anger was crystallizing into one, bright flame.

The walls of the palace erupted. Demons boiled through the gaps. There were scores of them, a hundred or more. They climbed over each other, slashing and gouging, fighting for freedom. They flooded out in a loathsome black wave, tearing down anything in their path.

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