Marlowe flew beneath me to guard me, brandishing his twin swords as if he were wielding lightning to prevent arrows and bullets from coming through. He also tossed spells he’d bought at a high price at the enemy soldiers beneath, killing as many as he could as we flew by.
My dragon opened her mouth and shot jets of fire toward the enemies. Dozens of them caught fire. Some died right away, their screams cutting short. An elite army of dark war mages managed to shield themselves against my dragon fire with black spells.
Our army saw us coming and cheered. They charged into the enemy ranks with renewed hope and strength despite the steep odds.
We cleared a space between our army and the enemy army and landed before the open portal.
A dark sea roared on this side of the portal, the sound of waves crashing into the cliffs rippling across the battlefield under the murky moon. On the other side of the portal, the field of pink and purple tulips bloomed in the sunlight.
Instantly, the dead sensed me and called for me desperately from the ward, demanding I set them free.
Not yet, I shouted at them. Cool your tits, and I promise that you’ll get your show.
Tens of thousands of souls whimpered. My power had increased tenfold since I took the final element from my father and finished the transformation, and also thanks to my mate, who had boosted my strength and power by giving me his godly blood.
My spirit allies whispered their approval at what I had finally become. If they had physical chests, they’d have puffed them out in pride.
I’d never felt so awesome. Yet I knew I should never underestimate Spartoi. I might feel invincible, but he was War incarnate. His only purpose of existence was to wage war.
The formidable vampire warriors and powerful light mages flinched at the proximity of the host of angry spirits from the ward. They couldn’t see the spirits, but everyone felt the oppressive air.
The ward was the graveyard of tens of thousands of the dead.
Marlowe ordered our warriors and mages to get off my back before I’d even touched down on the ground. He really didn’t like anyone being on my back, even though I was in my dragon form and it was necessary.
Mouse tumbled down, and Freckles helped his sister down.
With no more passengers on my back, I shifted back to ol’ Pip. I patted my back gingerly to get rid of the possible dirt left by them. Public image was important to me, especially when I was about to make a great speech to win over some of War’s followers.
We stood on the frontline between the two armies, our army rallying behind us. Snow White and Fairy flew over to the rear of our army to strengthen the force against treacherous Lucian, his slut sister who had attempted to seduce my mate, and their army.
The dark war mages facing us were snickering at us.
I knew how we looked.
Marlowe and I had a small group with us—three light mages and half a dozen elite vampire warriors. Then Shade appeared, leading Danielle and Paris toward me. Grateful tears stung my eyes at the sight of my friends, but I didn’t have time to hug them. Surprisingly, Going-gray was with them as well. War’s former commander, now one of the rebel leaders, nodded at me curtly before darting a hard glance at Marlowe.
A small rebel shifter force was incorporated into our vampire army. Most of them were in their animal forms. The majority of them were wolves, but there were also a few bears and foxes. The honey badger was among them as well, snarling and growling, ready to resume battle.
We might have much smaller numbers, but none of us bore any fear, even as the enemy force surrounded us.
In a swirl of dark wind, Spartoi landed in front of his army. Either he rode the wind or teleported. But who the fuck cared?
He wore a dark scarlet cloak over his black armor, which gave him an even more formidable presence. He was every bit the legendary dark angel of war.
The spear that had once pierced Marlowe’s heart and pinned me down materialized in his hand. Dark runes and spells twirled and hissed on the spearhead.
“So you’ve chosen a side, Aria. The wrong side,” he said, crimson light flashing in his eyes. “But I’ll still offer you this one last chance that I’d never offer anyone else.” He spread an arm wide for a hug. “Come to me now and all will be forgiven, or perish with the rest of your pathetic companions.”
Marlowe snarled, but he gave the opening to me. My mate might have a big cock, but he didn’t have a big ego.
I flipped the horseman of war off, moving my hand in a circle just to irk him more. “Fuck off, cunt. When a woman says no, she means no. How many times must I say hell no to your sour tits before you finally fucking get it?”
Crimson rings formed around his irises as rage consumed him. The dark mages behind him shuffled nervously and backed off to give their dark lord a wide berth for their own sake.
The fucker couldn’t intimidate me or my mate, not even in his dreams.
Marlowe chuckled, still letting me handle things. He loved to play the supportive spouse. He’d only cut in when a battle broke out. I loved this man!