Page 49 of A City of Flames

Warning bells, shouting and—

An explosion coming from outside the castle walls, where the city emerges. Smoke hits the air and then comes screeches above. Even the screams of people from there resound to where we are.

It’s an attack.

“shifters,” Lorcan whispers as I snap my gaze back to him in horror. He pinches his lips together as if trying to keep his emotions contained. Glancing at me, his expression is no longer relaxed as he says, “Get to the armory, now.”

I don’t protest as he rushes to the stables, and I race inside, passing the commotion of venators gathering longbows and spears.

My eyes shift from every corner of the room while venators push me back as I then make my way through the weapons and yank the sword free off the walls.

Daggers are already sheathed at my thigh, and I assume Freya and Link have left since they’re nowhere to be seen.

I can’t imagine the fear Link must have right now, and I can only hope tonight doesn’t end in any casualties, but my mind can’t rid itself of that idea.

Inhaling a deep breath, I follow everyone else outside as the gates rise. Distant shrieks echo from every part, and the night air whips at my hair as I charge through the city towards the chaos.

* * *

Streets are filled with blood, people and families running to where there’s a shelter as shifters dominate every area. Some turned into full dragons, others just like a mortal.

Cries of terror cleave through the night, and venators swarm the streets, slicing at heads, hearts...

I’d once made a promise to myself not to fear dragons, shifters, any kind of creature that could cause harm after my father’s death. But my trembling hand on the hilt of my sword betrays me.

Forcing out a breath, I remind myself of the times Idris taught me to fight, the moments he’d tell me to get up even when I wanted to stop. And then, of Ivarron’s words the first time I’d hesitated to catch a creature: “Fear can enter when you open that door, when you embrace it and let it roam free.” I’d looked up at him like any thirteen-year-old would, not knowing what I’d be getting into as he handed me a blade and said, “You don’t always have to close that door, Nara. But you can choose to ignore it and prevail.”

Ignore it and prevail. Ignore it and prevail. Ignore it and prevail.

I repeat, I memorize, I engrave that memory in my head, even if it was Ivarron that had said it.

The leather warms under my fingertips as I harden my grip on the sword and bolt past the marigold tree. A shifter from the side charges towards me, and those minutes of fear I’d had before leave once I thrust my sword through her chest. Blood spurts from her mouth as I slide it out.

I haven’t killed her, but I’d managed to weaken, and having the higher ground, I take out a blade from my thigh and flip it through my fingers before ramming it into her heart.

A groan tears out of her as she falls backward, and I blink, watching the blood trickle from the dagger onto my hand.

For half a heartbeat, guilt threatens at how I’d wanted to protect a dragon at the arena only to kill a shifter now. But I swallow that guilt quickly, allowing no remorse to break through, just how I’d felt with the rümen weeks ago.

Screaming snaps me out of my stupor as I whirl my head to the left at another shifter, fighting off a venator against the floor near the end of Chrysos district. Except the shifter is overpowering, and the venator isn’t just anyone. It’s Link.

“No!” I shout, rushing to get to him, but spits of fire crash in front of me, and I stumble to a halt. I look up at the sky as a row of arrows encases the air, striking shifters.

I must get to Link, I must get to Link, it’s the one thing on my mind as I run down the path, trying to get to the edge of where that fire line ends.

A chilling cry cuts across as I turn my head back for just one second and catch sight of Sana. A shifter in dragon form slices its talons across her neck while she lies on the floor, and crimson splatters along the cobbled stones.

By reflex, I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head. I couldn’t save her. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t have gotten there in time.

And I’m not about to do the same with Link.

So, picking up my pace, I dart to the end, passing the fire, and head to Link, still battling the shifter. I throw the dagger mid-run towards the back of the man, managing to hit him right in the spot I needed to, and with a jerk of his body, he drops onto the ground, knees first, then face.

Panting, I reach Link’s wide-eyed stare as he pats down his body, checking for injuries. “Go find Freya.” I yank the blade free from the shifter and pull Link up.

His eyes grow wider as he nods brokenly, and I hand him his sword. He staggers off down the other direction as I’m ready to rush through more crowds. But a grumble behind and daunting flaps of wings ricochet in every part of my body.

Ignore it and prevail. Ignore it and prevail. Ignore it and prevail.

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