Page 81 of Songs of Retribution

The world smelled of death, of blood and destruction and things rotting. What had been a beautiful, sunny day was gone. Smoke and hazy magic clouded the sky, making the world dark. Screams and war cries and wails of despair sounded so my ears ached.

There were only two points of beauty that rose above the horror and grime, the blood and muck.

The hum of the sirens’ magic that had grown louder as we reached closer into the Seelie troops’ heart.

And the feeling of Shaan's body warm against mine.

We dodged past a surging group of Seelie, and I recognized faces—could name some, had danced with a few of their daughters at galas. Acid filled my stomach as we plowed towards them, and Shaan spoke.Lennox?

Do it.I hated the words as I said them, but knew it was necessary.

Shaan’s magic, laced with bloodlust, poured forward, dropping any soldier who came near us and hefted one of those cursed weapons filled with the damnable magic stealing metal towards our troops.

It didn't change the way my heart ached as I saw these men and women I knew drop, their bodies trampled beneath the chaos, their lives snuffed out in a blink.

Tears stung at my eyes. I'd never wanted to kill my people or bring them harm. Yet here we were. It was to make life better for everyone, yet it sickened me that this would be the cost.

We trundled through a layer of smoke, then a thundering magic trace as unmoving as a mountain tingled into my awareness.Father. Shaan must have located him the same time I had, and he went rigid behind me. I slowed the kelpie; we were a distance from other troops, in a gap between forces, screams ringing around us, smoke wreathing us in. It was like we were in the pits of hell together. I'd once imagined I could face that at Shaan’s side. It turned out I was right.

Shaan put his chin on my shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Lennox, but I can't."

I shifted as much as I could towards him and pulled the kelpie to a stop. Battle raged around us, but for a moment we hid from the world as I wrapped wards around us like I could bury us in them.

He stared at me, horror in his eyes. "Our line is still safe. I can manage that, but I can't kill your father. His magical essence… it's too similar to yours and… I can't do it without possibly reaching for yours. I'm afraid I'd kill you both." His voice trembled.

I clasped his fingers. "We knew this burden was mine.”

"It might kill you."

"If that happens, promise me you'll end him."

He wrapped an arm around my waist and his body shook. This is exactly what being in hell with him would be like—fires had caught in various places, making the smoke glow menacingly, cries echoed off the mountains, and the smell of burnt flesh filled the air. Yet, by his side there was a comfort like finding a sheltered place amid a deluge. His voice held a lifetime of grief. "If you die, someone will have to stop me from killing everyone on this field."

I found his mouth and kissed him, letting my hands trace the sharp lines of his jaw, the rough grit on his cheeks. "I love you. If anything happens to me, remember that."

Shaan's eyes filled with tears, but he nodded, and I turned back towards our destiny. I nudged the kelpie and plowed us forward.

The world was shattering, but my focus narrowed to one point.

My father.

We trudged through the masses, past soldiers, Shaan killing some as necessary to get us closer. Father didn't hide behind walls, he stood next to some of his soldiers, pouring his magic out like a flood. He’d not worn his crown, and sweat had made his gray-streaked hair cling to the sides of his face. A shiver trembled down my spine. The man looked as formidable as he ever had, his sleeves rolled back exposing his muscled arms. Veins on his temples bulged, and his eyes were dark with magic. He was controlling the dragons somehow; that had to be what he was doing. The Seelie had glamour, but not equivalent to the level of power he was giving off.

The soldiers surrounding my father dropped. A hundred hit the ground at once. Shaan’s breath rushed over my neck, but I could feel the steadiness in his choice. He knew this was necessary and he wasn’t afraid anymore.

Father faltered on the magic and looked around at his men before lifting his face. He knew my magic trace like no other and had to recognize it. "Lennox." His voice was low yet somehow rose above the cacophony of war.

My heart stuttered as I realized the time had come to face my father.

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

LIRA

Horror playedout before us as every leader and strong magic user on our side stretched across the hill and poured out powers like they planned to drain themselves. The Maharani who stood a distance from us trembled, her eyes and heart stones glowing so brightly they broke past the dust and fog that had taken over the entire valley.

Magic was so thick in the air I could breathe it in with every gasp. My voice belted out like never before. The sirens around me sang so loudly it hurt to listen. I alternated between calling on wind to stretch their voices across the distance and ice to mitigate the dragons’ blasts of fire.

The creatures soared through the air like the puppets they were. Elves brought one down by tattering its wings, and the creature didn’t even cry out as it landed with a thud. I winced and Sai tightened his grip on my hand. Touching him expanded my magic, let me dig deeper into my powers than I’d known possible.

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