Page 90 of The Eternal Mirror
“Lots and lots of them.”
At that moment, there’s a shout up ahead. I suspect they might have just noticed us. I think quickly. It’s clear we’re not getting out this way. So, we switch to plan B. At least this time we have a plan B, even if it’s a crappy one.
“Take them up to the roof on the east tower,” I say to Sheela. “We’ll hold them off and give you some time. Go!”
They do. I watch them disappear back down into the dungeons.
Then I turn to Amber.
She’s already raising her hands, magic glowing at her fingertips. “How flashy do we want this?” she asks.
“Flashy enough to scare the shit out of them,” I say. “Just don’t burn the whole place down.”
Amber grins. “You got it. Though that rules out the celestial fire. It burns too hot. It would probably cook us as well.”
She mutters a spell under her breath, and a wall of orange fire erupts between us and the advancing soldiers. They skid to a halt, yelling and flailing as the flames roar toward them. Amber flings a burst of kinetic magic into the line of soldiers, sending them flying back like rag dolls.
A pair of cloaked witches appear, chanting a spell and the flames die. They send a bolt of magic toward us, and I hurl myself at Amber and shove her out of the way. We both crash to the ground.
“Thanks,” she mutters.
The soldiers regroup fast—too fast. But Amber’s magic is everywhere. Bolts of golden light streak through the air, knocking weapons from hands, setting cloaks alight, confusing and disorienting.
They push forward, but every time they get close, Amber hits them with another wave of force. The witches counteract with spells of their own, and we’re barely holding them back.
But we don’t have to beat them, we just need to buy time. I calculate how long it takes to get to the roof and double it. We only have to hold them off for a few more minutes.
A soldier lunges at me with a pike. I twist and slam into him, kicking him in the balls and sending him crashing into the wall. More are coming.
“Amber!” I shout. “One more minute!”
She gives me a quick nod, and we fall into sync. I attack. She blasts. We retreat step by step, buying time with blood and fire and fury.
We’ve reached the main doors to the dungeon and then we’re through. “Lock them and run!” I shout.
The doors slam shut, and I grab her hand. We’re racing through the palace, up the stairs. We catch up with the others as they reach the door leading to the flat roof of the East Tower.
As we flood onto the roof, arrows rain down on us, and everyone cowers against the walls. Amber screams a spell, and a dome forms over our heads. But we can’t hold out forever. There are too many of them, and beneath it all, I can feel my father drawing near. I cansense the tug of his beastmaster magic. But deep inside me, Wrath growls. He’s not coming out to play, at least not at my father’s bidding.
He can't reach us. Not anymore. Wrath isn’t like the other shifters; he’s not like Fury. He’s Vortex’s legacy—older than Khronus’s spells, maybe forged in the Eternal Mirror itself. Too powerful to answer to anyone but me.
But I’m not the only shifter here. I hear a groan behind me and turn as Killian drops the witch he was carrying and crashes to his knees. Then he falls to the ground, rolling onto his back, his spine arching. Shit, I can almost feel his pain. Been there, done that too many times to count. If he shifts, he’ll attack us all, and we’ll have to take him out somehow.
“Sheela, do that spell,” Amber says. “Quick. Send him to sleep.”
Sheela almost shouts the words, and Killian’s body collapses to the ground. But he’s out cold and safe from my father.
“Are you okay?” Amber asks, a frown on her face as she studies me.
“I’m fine. He can’t touch Wrath. He’s more powerful than my father’s beastmaster magic. He chooses who to obey. And who to ignore.”
“That’s good. One less thing to worry about.” She looks around, no doubt searching for a way out.
My father appears in the doorway, surrounded by guards and a trio of witches. He scans the roof, his gaze landing on Amber.
His fucking queen? Never going to happen. She’s mine.
As though he hears my thoughts, his gaze slides to me. And he goes instantly still, eyes widening in shock. He reaches out a hand. Again, I feel the tug of his magic, but it slides off me. I give him a slow smile. One day, I’d really like to introduce him to Wrath—up close and personal. But I suspect it won’t be tonight.
