Jode and I had guessed right. Ronwae and Bay commanded hordes.
Ronwae was the one I noticed first. In her scorpion shape, she had Riot’s heft, but she sat low to the ground on six segmented legs. Her thick shell looked redder than when I’d seen it before. Her claws were as long as my arm, and they opened and closed slowly, in anticipation. But they were nothing compared to the stinger that rose from her back, swaying back and forth.
She looked like more than enough to contend with on her own, but in the darkness behind her, around her, there were dozens of Ronwae replicas. Not exactly the same. Slightly smaller. Their armored shells not as deep red as Ronwae’s. But still incredibly real threats.
Further away, Bay stood on top of the stone where I’d huddled under a blanket with Daryn only a few nights earlier. Even from a distance, I could see the power in her shoulders and legs, her mangy pelt and sharp claws. She lifted her head to the night—her canines were so long they resembled tusks—and scented the air, small clouds issuing from her nostrils.
Like Ronwae’s scorpions, Bay’s multitudes stacked the darkness behind her, each more misshapen and gruesome than the next—a funhouse-worth of beasts.
A burst of fire erupted by the trailhead, drawing my attention. Pyro stood there, proudly showing off his fangs and the fire in his hands. Like that would intimidate me. If it weren’t for Daryn and the guys, he’d mean nothing.
I didn’t see Malaphar but Sebastian stood in the middle of the clearing, at the center of everything. He was standing at attention, eyes straight ahead. He wasn’t focusing on me.
It looked like Sebastian, but …
I didn’t think it was him.
I didn’t see Ra’om, but Samrael stepped forward from the darkness in his human form, wearing a reflective jacket and pants, like an ad for outdoor gear. He smiled, totally at home with the horror show around him.
“Gideon, it’s good to see you again.” His gaze moved past me.
Marcus and Jode had followed me out of the hut. They had drawn their weapons, scythe and bow. Daryn stood between them.
When Samrael saw her, his smile vanished and his eyes filled with hunger. Instantly, I remembered Ra’om’s image—Samrael attacking her—and rage ignited inside me. Rage that burned from my core.
“At last,” he said. “I knew I’d find you.”
Daryn came to my side. The key hung around her neck, gleaming against her dark jacket. She stood with her usual confidence, but I saw that her fingers were shaking.
“I wouldn’t be gloating if I were you,” she said. “We’ve been here for weeks.”
Samrael’s smile came back. “Yes. You were well hidden. But what’s a few weeks of delay when you’re building a kingdom?”
“You won’t get the key, Samrael. You’ll never get it.”
He tipped his head. “I don’t know about never. Why don’t we do this simply, for your sake, Daryn. For the sake of Gideon here, who’s so very fond of you.” He held out his hand. “Bring it to me.”
“You heard me,” she said.
“Another refusal?” Samrael said. “I thought that might be the case.”
Time slowed as he looked up, lifting his eyes to the darkness.
Alevar.
The night demon was almost invisible in the sky, his black wings tucked like a diving falcon’s. I saw him, high above. Then he was right over us, his wings whipping out, suspended in midair for an instant.
Daryn and I lunged toward the hut.
She surged ahead of me. I saw her reach Marcus—reach the shelter of the hut—then I flew back. I slammed into the ground, the wind rushing out of my lungs.
Alevar was on me. His feathers covered me, putting me in total darkness. I called my armor as his sharp claws raked over my face and my arms. I found his shoulder and summoned my sword. It pierced his wing as it came up.
He shrieked, the sound deafening. Then he lifted off me, flapping furiously as he retreated in a wounded, awkward flight.
I came to my feet in time to see Pyro launching fire in my direction. I threw myself back onto the ground, the air shaking with the explosion behind me. Heat washed over me, engulfing me.
I looked up, blinking through the searing heat. The hut was burning. Consumed with fire, like the sun was in front of me.
Where were the others?
They’d been right in front of it.
I heard my name yelled, and spun.
One of Bay’s boars galloped toward me, snout wrinkled, canines bared.
Riot. I needed him.
He came up in a wash of flames around me, and I folded into him.
Taking his fire, meeting it with mine.
We were inseparable now.
Burning and light.
Untouchable.