Page 104 of Path of the Dark
35
Fury
NINIA DREW BACK her left arm before launching a twister of shadows into the wall of Anthor soldiers before her. The dark whirlwind lurched through their midst, scattering bodies in its path.
“Keep moving,” Asher grunted. “Nathan’s bringing in more troops behind us.”
Ninia nodded, gritting her teeth as she glanced over her shoulder. Her brows knitted together. It was too crowded in here. It was getting difficult to tell allies from enemies. She risked maiming Rithmar soldiers with her enchantment.
Moving forward, Ninia gathered the Dark once more and sent it howling toward the enchanters that approached from the far side of the square. The power of the Light and Dark throbbed through her, obliterating all traces of the nerves she’d had before battle. As they’d approached the walls of Veldoras, her bowels had cramped and she’d broken out into a cold sweat.
She’d thought she was going to be sick, that she’d need the privy. But the moment she pulled down that lightning bolt from the sky, she forgot fear.
Asher fought at her side, as he had from the moment the battle began. They’d lost a few enchanters on the way in, but he was still standing. However, his face was starting to show the strain: pale and drawn, his silver gaze narrowed with the effort it was taking to hold his own against the streams of fire and shadow that shot across the Great Square toward them.
Asher was strong, but he was no match for the fury of these enhanced enchanters. Those of the Light set the very air ablaze, and those of the Dark, whipped the air into a tempest.
Doubt crept into Ninia’s mind then, a hairline crack in the cloak of invincibility her abilities had given her.
They’re too strong.
Pushing her fears back, she clenched her jaw and pushed on. This time she gathered the Light from the guttering braziers atop the wall. A bolus of flame dropped into the midst of the enemy enchanters and exploded. Cries of pain reached her, even through the chaos of battle.
Ninia grimaced and glanced over at Asher. Their gazes fused for an instant, and despite that his face was wet with sweat and streaked with ash, he managed a grim smile.
Tearing her attention back to the battle, Ninia gathered both the Light and the Dark and prowled forward, shoulders rounded. And as she did so, the line of soldiers clad in gleaming obsidian before her parted.
A tall dark-haired man stalked toward her out of the fray, flanked either-side by robed figures.
Ninia’s step faltered.Gael.
It had to be him: the man who’d used Ryana to steal part ofThe King Breaker, who’d tried to free Valgarth—and who had somehow managed to safely utilize Stynix.
The man she needed to kill if she was ever going to liberate this city.
Ninia’s pulse started to thunder in her ears. This was it, the moment she knew she wasn’t ready for and yet had to face nonetheless. Lunging forward, she whispered to the Light and the Dark, calling them close, before unleashing her fury upon Gael.
Heart hammering, Ryana took in the scene before her.
Gael and his enchanters had formed a tight knot, surrounding Ninia.
The young woman was faltering. She’d started the battle with such a show of power, yet Ninia’s face was now strained and blood-streaked. Her eyes were wide with fear. She stumbled, struggling to shield herself from the shadows and fire that hammered into her on all sides. Ninia couldn’t compete with their combined strength.
The young woman hadn’t been ready, but she had given it her best.
Asher fought at the princess’s side, sweat streaming down his face. He too was nearly spent.
Ryana couldn’t watch this, couldn’t see her friends cut down. She gathered the Dark close and launched an attack at Gael—but her shadows just bounced off the shield of fire that roared up to protect him.
And then an explosion rocked the Great Square.
The ground bucked beneath Ryana’s feet.
Gael and his companions had broken through Ninia and Asher’s defenses. The force of the blast flung them both backward. The pair barreled into a wall of smoke and disappeared.
Shadow spawn,she thought, savage anger rising within her.I’ll get you.
Hands shaking, Ryana whipped up a Dark Blade and launched herself at Gael. As she reached him, and raised her arm to sink the blade into his back, Gael turned.
