Page 20 of The Sacred and the Tormented

Then a scream followed. A delayed grief-stricken howl that sent shivers down her spine.

Screams of fury echoed up and down the wall. The wood groaned against the weight of the Dark Fae pushing in then ice began crawling up the planks, consuming it. Arianna’s gaze snapped back to the ice wielders.

Talon shouted commands and Arianna finally stepped away from her mate. Steam curled from her skin, momentarilyclouding her vision before she spun and hurled a sizzling sphere across the field.

The steaming mass collided with an ice wielder’s chest and the being screamed in agony, falling to the ground in a heap as it rolled in an attempt to be rid of the pain.

More spheres followed, then Fiadh’s flaming creatures and shadows turned on the ice wielders too, ready to eradicate the threat entirely.

Another group slammed against the wall as if they’d been commanded to and a warrior toppled over the edge.

No one hesitated this time. Three of his companions leapt down with him, using magic and sword to beat back snapping jaws and jagged teeth.

A creature grabbed one of the male’s feet, its fangs sinking deep.

Two more jumped from the wall, their magic blasting in all directions, creating a small space for them to stand while others rescued their companion.

They killed the beast and drug their friend back. Then Talon jumped and she was moving. Arianna’s magic burst from her body, knocking three of the winged creatures from the sky before they could snatch anyone else. She shot more spears of ice down on those trying to crawl up the wall, killing them as she ran.

The Fae followed her and she leapt, landing at Talon’s side with magic flying in all directions, beating the Dark Fae back from the only structure separating this village from the creatures ready to devour them whole.

They pressed forward, killing and dancing with the magic flying from their fingertips. Rion pulled them parallel to the wall and she followed, creating a path for more to jump down and join the fray. Arrows and magic still rained down from those above, striking those in the distance.

Rion’s magic coiled around her, shielding her from unseen threats. She was doing the same, neither willing to allow injury to come to the other. They wouldn’t be parted again.

One of the large creatures with a leathery hide shifted its massive head in her direction. She planted her feet right as it reared its neck back and a stream of molten fire flew in her direction. Arianna yanked her magic up and shoved it forward, not just to block, but to destroy.

Ice engulfed the fire, freezing it in the air before her frost crawled straight into the creature’s mouth. It tried to retreat, but was encased instead, her magic streaking across its body until it was a glimmering statue.

Another rushed up from behind and used its giant mace like tail to shatter its companion into a hundred pieces. Arianna’s magic froze that one too. And the next and the next.

Rion remained close, their abilities working in tandem.

The Dark Fae were thinning. Slowing. Her magic caught another as it leapt for Talon and she threw the creature back.

They were going to win.

Someone screamed in warning but before she could turn a thunderous boom echoed across the area. Every head whipped toward the sound of splintering wood.

Then Arianna watched, horror freezing her in place, as the Dark Fae poured through the broken wall.

Chapter Six

Talon

Their line broke. Warriors scattered, and in what seemed like seconds, their imminent victory faded to nothing more than a dream.

Commands were shouted and ignored. Those stationed behind the wall fled as the winged Dark Fae swooped in and snatched victims from behind, burying their talons deep before carrying them off to be devoured midair.

Those stationed atop the wall leapt down to fight those who were pouring through. It left the front line too vulnerable. Too weak.

These were the moments that tipped the scale toward victory or defeat. These were the moments when Fae decided who or what they were willing to put their trust in.

And right now, no one trusted anything.

Talon met Rion’s gaze. He could see it too. They needed to regain control and somehow redirect those who were turning inward.

A piercing cry shattered the air and they all turned in time to see a large creature with a flat horn across its head barreling straight for the wall. It screamed in terror and swung its massive head, hitting both Dark Fae and warriors as it tried in vain to outrun some invisible enemy.

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