Jaran threw a water globe and knocked the Tetrad to the ground. They slipped in the mud trying to get back to their feet.
When Royston had fully changed, he was as tall and wide as the Tetrad. A monster like the Writhes, his skin became thick and leathery, his teeth sharp, his hands clawed.
The Tetrad finally made it to their feet and collided with Royston. The Lion Man swiped his nails at Royston, and he wailed. It was as if the world’s biggest siren went off.
The pain hit my ears, and I covered them.
Somewhere on the battlefield, the werehounds howled.
I pulled my attention from the battle of the beasts. Conemar was distracted—this was my chance. I sprinted for him. Coming at him from behind, I thrust my sword into his back, just as his guard had done to Uncle Philip. I yanked it out, and he turned to face me with a surprised expression. An electric sphere balanced on his hand.
“Gianna, I’m impressed.” Blood spread across his white shirt. He whirled around and fired the electric charge in his hands with so much force a bolt flew high and far. My eyes followed it.
Arik had Nick backed against the edge of the cliff, and it was heading for them.
“Arik! Behind you,” I yelled.
He spun around, spotted it, and dived to the ground. The charge hit Nick in the arm and knocked him off the edge.
I was numb. Nick was gone, and I couldn’t feel. I wanted to cry. Scream. But nothing came. Staring at the spot he went over, I expected him to jump up and say he was only joking around. He was okay.
But he wasn’t. He was gone.
My numbness was replaced by a boiling anger, and I faced Conemar. He was struggling to stay standing.
The werehounds attacked the guards surrounding Pop and the others, their teeth sinking into legs and arms. Heavy paws hit the earth as the largest of the pack chased the guard who cut down Uncle Philip.
Another charge left Conemar’s hands and hit me in the shoulder. I landed hard on my back. My flesh felt on fire, and I rolled to my side, screaming. A fire globe whizzed by and hit Conemar.
He howled and stumbled back.
I shot a glance over my shoulder. Arik had another fire globe dancing on his palm.
Rada’s prophecy repeated in my head. What I see is possible outcomes. It depends on the choices you make, and those of the ones around you, whether good wins over evil or not. I will say that you must put aside your emotions at the end. Think with your head. Take a life without hesitation. For in that moment, you could lose it all.
I had been distracted when Nick went over the edge, and Conemar bested me.
Rage overtook me, and I struggled to my feet. Conemar rocked on his feet, and I charged him, burying my sword into his belly, delivering him the final blow. He staggered back, and I watched him. Watched as he collapsed to the ground and the life left his body. I watched him die for all those he took from me. For those he took from others.
I watched him take his last breath.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Blood blossomed from Conemar’s body and mixed in the muddy water rushing down the cracks in the ground. All noises were muffled. Dazed, I felt like an outsider to the battle still going on around me.
Across the field, Royston fought the Tetrad, his claws swiping across the Lion Man’s face, blackish-red blood spilling down the lion’s cheek.
Arik grabbed my shoulders. “Gia, are you hurt?”
I shook my head. He pulled me into a hug. But I didn’t hug him back. My arms were like dead weights at my side.
“Bastien needs you,” he said against my ear.
And that snapped me out of my stupor. I pulled away from Arik and dashed to Bastien. His eyes still closed, he chanted under his breath.
I grasped both sides of his head. “Bastien, stop. Nick’s gone. Conemar is dead. You have to stop.”
He kept chanting.
“Bastien, stop!” I slapped his face hard.
The chanting stopped, and his eyes flew open. “Gia.”
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and we dropped to our knees. “Oh Bastien. You’re okay. I love you. I love you so much. I was so scared. You’re okay.”
His arms went around me and he pulled me closer. “I love you, mon amour.”
Deidre and Emily untied Pop, Nana, Afton, and the others.
Pop rushed to us. “Let me check him out.”
I released Bastien and stood. “We’re not done here. I have to help Royston.”
Deidre held Afton, who sobbed on her shoulder. I forgot she had seen Nick go over the cliff. I couldn’t go to her. We could comfort each other when all this was done.
The Red’s men, along with the Writhes that hadn’t been changed by Conemar, rounded up the possessed Writhes with bimcord ropes. They didn’t kill them. I knew what The Red was doing. He wanted to find a way to return them to their original states.
I sprinted across the field toward Royston and the Tetrad.
The Lion Man fell forward, and Royston grabbed his throat in his claws. His father’s corpse had been used to make the Lion Man. It was son against father.
The Tetrad spun, and Royston lost his hold on the Lion Man. The Horned Man came around and rammed his horns into Royston’s side. Royston’s heavy feet thundered as he stumbled back. This time the Lizard Man whipped him with his tail. Royston smacked against the ground.
The Boar Man stomped his hoofs against Royston’s beast-like chest. Cadby flew above the beast and swooped down, his boot connecting to the Boar Man’s face. The impact barely made him sway on his feet. I threw an ice globe at the creature, freezing his leg to stop it from pounding Royston again. But the freeze didn’t last long, and the Boar Man continued hitting Royston’s chest.
When the Boar Man stopped pounding Royston, the Tetrad turned and charged at us.
I sprinted in the opposite direction with the others on either side of me. The Mystiks and Conemar’s guards on the field scattered.
Royston scrambled to his feet, throwing his head back and roaring. It was an earsplitting roar that stopped the Tetrad. Joined together, the Tetrad marched around until it faced Royston, the Lion Man in the lead, and it stormed toward Royston.
I remembered something I had learned while visiting Athela’s past. The Tetrad was four beings with one soul. The lion was the heart. Remove him and the others would die.
I took off after the Tetrad—I had to get closer. My feet pounded against the mud. When I was close enough for him to hear me, I yelled, “Royston! Take down the lion and the others will fall!”
A beautiful beast with a fierce stare, Royston braced himself. The Tetrad neared. Royston’s clawed hands rose at his sides. The Lion Man reached him first.
Royston’s right claw cut across the Lion Man’s chest. He swung his left and his nails cut the lion’s throat. The lion dropped to the ground, disconnecting from the other three. The Boar Man and Horned Man collapsed beside him. The Lizard Man spun, his tail whipping around, knocking down those in his path. Heading for me.
I darted out of his way.
Nana took measured steps forward, her hands at her sides and her eyes red and focused on the lizard.