chapter Twenty-Eight
A NARCO I RECOGNIZED from my training block held me in a headlock, lifting me off the ground. I really hated that. I threaded my foot around his calf and ignited my White Flame, slamming my hands against his head. I swept my foot forward, and he tumbled to the ground.
I turned on my heel, blasting a beam at him, but he rolled, my power hitting the cobbled street, instead. He recovered to his feet, lunging at me and sending a flame toward my head. Switching my power to Flame, I deflected the blow. He didn’t see that one coming.
Another Narco sidled up beside him and slapped his arm, both of them leering at me. What was this? Tag team? I shook my head and returned my power to Feyan. I had to take these guys out. I had no idea what was happening to the rest of my friends, and I needed to find out.
I blasted the Narcos with my shield, sending it out full force, and they flew back. I didn’t wait for them to recover. I ran at them and jumped, my hands aimed down, palms firing beams into their chests. They shook, convulsing. They didn’t get back up. For a moment I stared down at their lifeless bodies in shock. Then a scream jolted me out of my reverie.
Searching the battle, I spotted Lana. She was up against a nasty Narco twice her size. I rubbed my hands together and headed into the fray. I came at him from behind, slamming my glowing white arms into his back. He whirled and backhanded me. That stung, but it didn’t take me down like he intended, and I fired a beam into his chest.
He blocked. Lana ran at him and jumped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He shook as she shocked him. “Drop him now!” I told her. I didn’t want her touching him when I used my Feyan power. I didn’t know if it would affect her.
She did, falling to her knees before I kicked him once across the face and sent a beam, blasting him in his stomach. He skidded to a stop a few feet away.
“Holy hell, Dez,” she said. “You’re a monster.”
I whipped my head around. “Don’t call me that,” I snapped.
She held her hands up. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, just crazy right now.” I gave her a reassuring smile. But we didn’t have time for girl bonding. Another wave was moving in.
“Let’s find the guys,” I said, grabbing her arm and running.
Jace and Nick were in the center of the battle, taking on more Narcos. Lana pulled her Charge Saber from beneath her pant leg, and we both dove in, joining them. Before we left Cogs, Nick and Jace had given their sabers to Shythe who hadn’t mastered throwing their Charge. I’d have preferred them to keep their sabers—they were more powerful than their blasts, but I didn’t argue. They did what they felt was right. I only hoped Mr. Liam completed the new weapons soon.
If we could arm every Shythe here with Feyan power, we’d actually stand a chance of defeating the Narcolym. Reese, wherever he was, seemed to be holding off the Feyan Army. But I knew Drevan would soon become bored with the battle and send in his last flank. And Reese wouldn’t be able to prevent that. We had to force them back before the last—and final—attack.
And I had to raise the barrier.
While Jace and Nick fought back-to-back, Lana and I moved in beside them, forming a circle. “Did you miss us?” I asked Jace.
He smiled at me. “Of course.” He winked and caught a punch with his arm, pushing a Narco backward.
Another Narco came at me from the side, but I didn’t see him in time, and he clipped me against my temple with a Flame punch. My vision swam, blinking in and out. When I could see clearly again, I spun around to find Jace attacking the same Narco full on. I joined in, blending my beams along with his Charge until the Narco went down. Then we split up as more Narcos came at us.
I dropped another Narco and glanced around the battle. Lana and Devon were holding their own. I watched as Lana kicked a Narco’s knee in, and he fell to the ground. Devon grabbed his head, sank his teeth into his neck, and ripped out his power source.
I barely had time to cringe before a blow hit me from behind, causing my back to blaze with heat. Spinning, I crossed my arms and blocked the next Flame. The Narco charged me, and I ducked, sweeping his legs as he ran past. He rolled, and I shot a beam into his chest.
I turned and saw Nick facing off with a Narco girl. She was getting the better of him. I moved in his direction, but someone grabbed me around my midsection from behind, pinning my arms to my side. I struggled, attempting to ignite my White Flame, but the Narco’s arms burned me. The fire spread, and I couldn’t focus. My skin seared, and I screamed as smoke curled up from my body. I was too weakened by my attacker’s Flame to call on my Feyan power.
He laughed, then wedged his face between my head and shoulder. Panic ripped through me as he slid his tongue over my neck. Then he sank his teeth into my skin—my power source.
No!
I wasn’t going out like this. Faces flashed before my eyes, the people I loved, and I knew I couldn’t lose. For them. I had to raise the barrier so they’d be safe. So that Reese’s sacrifice wouldn’t be for nothing.
With one last burst of energy, I pulled up my shield, the white haze cocooning me. Then I blasted it out. He screamed—a muted, hollow sound—as he flew back and I dropped to my knees. I cupped my neck. Relief flooded me as I felt the skin still intact. Four puncture wounds dotted my ink, but my power source was there.
Turning, I saw the Narco lying on the cobbled street, his body twitching. But I didn’t watch for long. I amped up my power and blasted him with a stream of white light, and he shook one last time before going still. My stomach curdled at the thought of killing so many. This is war.
I cleared the moisture from my eyes, regaining my focus, and spotted Mr. Liam and a few members of the Shythe Council rounding a building toward me. I scanned the thinning fray, locating Jace, and ran up to him. “They’re here.”
His face was heavy with exhaustion, but it lit up when my words hit him. We pulled Nick, Lana, and Devon out of the battle and headed toward Mr. Liam. He and the Council members were carrying sacks. This was a good thing.
“You did it,” I said to Mr. Liam as we neared him.
He arched an eyebrow. “Was there ever any doubt?” He smiled, but eyeing the battle behind us, he quickly opened the sacks. “You guys want to distribute these? I’ll take the other bag.”
I grabbed an arm full of sabers. Jace, Nick, Lana, and Devon did the same and we set out. It was hard maneuvering around the fighting as we gave Shythe their weapons, but we managed. Beams lit up, and the dark bloomed with white power. For the first time, I felt we could win.
Jace pulled me toward him. “You have to try the spell again.” His eyes bored into mine. “We can handle this now. Go.”
He was right. They all had Feyan power in their hands now. This was the last chance for me to raise the barrier before Drevan sent in the last flank. Reese just had to keep the Feyan back for a little longer, and Jace and the other Shythe had to win this battle. And I had to be strong.
I gave Jace a quick hug, and bolted toward the pier. The text still lay in the grass next to the plaque, and I knelt to pick it up but thought better. I had to quit leaning on crutches and trust myself. I knew the incantation. I knew I had the power. And I knew I had to do this for myself as well as my family and friends. And Reese. Above all, he’d risked and given up so much to protect me. I had to keep him safe. Even if that meant throwing up the barrier that would keep him out.
I took one last look behind me, checking on how the Shythe were fairing. They were pushing the Narcos back…slowly. But they were moving. I began chanting. I am a descendant of great guardians. I have the strength to do this.
The barrier shimmered, picking up right where I’d left off. I didn’t have to start all over again. Thank God. I watched as the blue light spread quickly down the pier. I chanted faster, concentrating on my words—my will. Something inside me quivered, and I shook. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and my stomach roiled. I clamped my eyes shut. This can’t be what I’m supposed to feel…
I wasn’t strong enough…not yet. I summoned my Feyan power—my White Flame. Holding my arms out beside me, I shot beams into the air. I opened my eyes. A white haze surrounded me. I pushed my power out, but whatever spell Drevan had placed over the barrier to guard it wasn’t allowing me to enter.
I screamed, frustrated, and threw my blazing white hands against the barrier. It rippled with power. But the blue shimmer slowly began turning red. Drevan had to be working a spell right now. He wasn’t going to allow me to win. Damn him.
I thrust my hands flat against the shield, willing with all of my power—my strength—for the barrier to obey me. But he was stronger. My stomach churned, and my legs buckled. Tears streamed down my face as I felt my power falter. I was failing.
As I struggled to release one last round of power against the shield, one of my arms weakened from the strain, and I couldn’t hold it against the barrier any longer. It fell, and I hung my head. But then I felt someone reaching into my pocket.
Panicked, I jerked up. Reese stood beside me. He fished my crystal from my pocket and held it up. “I think you might have to get rid of this first,” he said. Then he tossed it to the ground and stomped on it. The crystal shattered beneath his boot.
“Reese…” My eyes roamed over his face. He was so beautiful in his Kythan form.
He slipped his hand into mine, and his power rushed through me. His eyes stayed on me as I called forth one last blast of power. I could barely see through the blinding glow of my eyes. The dark world around me lit up as I pressed my free hand against the barrier.
In a flash, the shield illuminated, white and celestial. I chanted the ancient spell, words flying from my mouth. The barrier maxed into a bright explosion of white light, and Reese covered his eyes with his arm. The sounds from the battle died as the flash sounded in a muted boom.
For a second, I was blinded by the light, and a powerful feeling surged through me. Then it was dark. Slowly, I began hearing the fight behind me. Reese lifted me into his arms, cradling me to him. As he spun us, my laughter echoed in my still-ringing ears.
“You’re amazing!” he said.
“And you’re here.” I pulled back and looked into his eyes. “You stayed. What about the Feyan? And Drevan?”
He cocked his head to the side. “I had more sway than I thought, I guess.” I looked toward the battle. A mob of glowing white Feyan fought alongside the Shythe. “I’m sure that wild thing you just did scared the Narcos pretty good, but I thought I might show up with some back up…just in case.” He winked.
I laced my arms around his neck, pulling him close. “So you’re not leaving me?”
He buried his head in my neck. “Never.”
Then something hit me. I drew back. “You saw that?” I asked, searching his violet eyes. “The white barrier?”
“I think everyone from here to the other side of Maine saw that.” He beamed at me. Then his forehead creased, and he ran his thumb over my neck. “Dez…”
“I’m all right,” I assured him. “But does it look that bad?”
His eyes moved from my neck to my face, tracing my features, and his eyes brightened. “You’re beautiful. Nothing could ever change that.”
My heart swelled, but then I heard heavy footfalls coming toward us. Jace, Lana, Nick, and Devon ran up. “It’s almost over,” Jace said, panting. “The Feyan are taking out the rest.”
He threw his bruised arms around me and hugged me tightly. The rest of them gang-hugged me from the side and behind. We laughed, the tension from the fight melting away. After I disentangled myself from their embrace, they jumped up and down, cheering into the predawn light. I watched my friends in awe.
Reese walked up beside me and took my hand in his. Jace looked over at us. Then he came forward. My heart constricted as both of them stood on either side of me, staring one another down.
Then Jace stretched out his hand toward Reese. “Nice job.”
Reese’s face relaxed into an easy smile. “You, too.”
I looked between them, my heart lifting. I squeezed Reese’s hand and spun us toward the ocean. Then I tugged Jace’s arm, and he turned toward our gaze. “You did it, Dez. And we won,” Jace said.
“No, we did it,” I said, giving him a smile. Then my face fell. “But only the battle. We’ve yet to see the war.” I shivered as my eyes trailed after the airships floating off into the distance—the smoke from their Daimler engines puffing dark clouds against the sunrise. “Drevan will be back. He’s not giving up that easy.”
The conversation I’d had with Drevan echoed in my mind. He’d searched too long, gone to too many extreme measures to quit now. I shuddered. Father or not, he was my enemy. But befre we confronted each other again, I needed to understand my power and what it could mean for the Kythan.
“Then we’ll be prepared,” Reese said. He clasped my face between his palms and tenderly pressed his lips to mine. I wrapped my arms around him, savoring the kiss I’d thought I’d lost forever. For us, it was only the beginning.