Page 132 of The Princesses of Ruin
“We can still win. There is a chance.”
A monster of pale skin pulled too tight over twisted bones appears at the edge of our realm. Its bladed arms cut the air as it falls into the black pool. The surface shivers again—pleased with the offering.
“An army is coming. It’s her captives…fuck.”
The gut-clenching realization has everyone behind the wall clenching their fists and cursing. It’s not just random hellbeasts. It’s our people.
The dragon makes a second pass, aiming for the portal. The arc of lightning slams against the nothingness and emerges through the other side, smashing into the ground. Stones fly and another dark soldier drops into the pool.
Emillia cocks the hammer on her blunderbuss. “I guess it’s time for Plan B.”
I’d hoped that our ipsain crystals would work, but in my heart I think I knew it wouldn’t. I think we all knew it wouldn’t. Reina’s light could battle back the darkness, but defeat it? How could Zephrom have led us so astray? Did she want this?
I catch Zane’s gaze. He bows his head gravely, affection clear in his eyes. Then his voice fills my mind.
“It’s been a pleasure working beside you. All of you. Now we fight for our lives, our children’s futures, and the very soul of our home.”
Another creature appears at the portal’s edge, and Emillia’s blunderbuss barks. The shot smashes into the monster, splitting open its chest. The creature tumbles into the pool, and it grows, the liquid lapping farther up the edges.
“Ashai will spill upon this world and destroy it. We are the only thing standing in her way. I’m ready to die fighting.”
Calls of “Spider Lord” and “My king” echo through the ranks of the gathered soldiers.
Emillia reloads her weapon. I grab a grenade from my belt and cook it before tossing it into the pit. Thedetonation shines through the goop, and it writhes like a worm. A beast crawls from the pit, armored in her magic and twice the size as when it dropped from hell.
The portal grows and four more creatures fall. An endless stream appears. Body after body dropping from the opening into the pit.
Bolts of magic shoot through the portal, some of them hitting monsters on their way down. Knives lodge into sinewy guts and disappear into the black pit of Ashai’s power. Spiders rush forward, ready to meet the oncoming horde with all the weapons at their disposal.
It’s come to this, then. I pull off my coat, stripping out of the oppressive material. My expanded satchel clinks open, and I reach inside, grabbing the thing I’ve feared most for days.
The silver bullets glow with an otherworldly blue behind the glass. I hold the vials out to Emillia. Three in total, five shots each. She takes them, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“They’re alchemically engineered with Reina’s magic. I’m not sure if they’ll fire correctly, or blow up your gun, but I made them for you.”
Her eyes meet mine and they reflect all the same things I feel.
“I love you,” she says, her bottom lip trembling.
Finally…
I smirk. “I know.”
Chapter forty-six
Emillia
Adrik pulls his shirt over his head. Confusion wars in my belly at the sight of him. His snowy skin is pierced with needles, each connected to a tubule that runs through leather armor straps. It’s tight against his skin. Form-fitted.Planned.
The snaking matrix connects to a thick belt around his waist that’s lined with potions. I don’t recognize any of the glowing concoctions, but they look powerful.
“What is this?” I ask, my voice trapped in my throat.
“Drinking them is too slow,” he says.
He thumbs a small lever at the front, and there’s a hiss as blue liquid fills the tube running into his neck. He grunts, the sound a bright white flame. His muscles tighten across his chest and stomach. They swell, and I can see the blood vessels pumping.
Another hiss and red siphons into his body. The needle point glows, and the potion distributes through him like lightning trickling down his chest. He inhales deeply and opens his eyes. The dark, compassionate brown has been burned away, leaving only red.
