Striking at Levi as I fall.
He dashes out of the way, and Spero pierces the ice. I rend my blade free and strike again. Levi parries, then retaliates with a series of attack so fast I barely avoid death. This is the real Levi. The sword master.
Yami swoops down, striking at Levi from behind, but he avoids the assault, and I need to dodge to evade the dragon myself. I regain my stance and lunge. But no matter what attack I try, Levi is always a step ahead. He fights both Yami and me at the same time. And he’s winning.
There’s a reason the vampires won the war, I think. Even the Midnight Star could not stand against them.
I spin forward, lashing out with my blade. But Levi sees a weakness in my technique. He slashes through my assault.
And cuts into my shoulder.
The pain sends me to my knees, makes me shake and scream.
Levi raises his sword. One final blow. He strikes.
And the ice between us shatters, throwing both of us back. A serpent, massive and wild, rushes up from the water, roaring into the sky. Wadu.
She’s here.
I jump to my feet and run.
Wadu lunges forward, razor sharp teeth aimed to tear me to shreds. But Yami crashes into her head, clawing at her eyes. It’s the distraction I need. I can flee. Wait for Dean and Asher to reach me. To help me.
But I forget.
Where Wadu is, Metsi isn't far behind.
She springs from the ice before me, blocking my path, her dark skin gleaming against the white of the snow and ice.
"You're mine now," she says.
And then Wadu breaks through the ice below me. Wrapping around me. Pulling me under.
My lungs fill with water as I thrash and fight and try not to scream.
But the water is so cold. And thinking so difficult.
So I close my eyes.
And let the ice pull me in.
***
My lungs burn as water pours out of my mouth. I choke. I gag. I try to move. Try to break free, but I am shackled. Chained. My wrists and ankles immobilized. I peel my eyes open and see Metsi, the Water Druid, standing before me, using her magic to pull water from my lungs.
I inhale oxygen and try to clear my head. Try to remember what happened. The battle. Stonehill. Levi.
He fled. I chased him. Fought him. Stonehill was ours once more.
And then…
Metsi.
She knew where we were. Knew exactly when to attack. But how? Did Seri betray us after all? Was I a fool for trusting the Fae healer?
I look around, studying the building of green stone I find myself in. I see only one window. The room is dark. Guards block the doorway. I do not know where I am. Do not know how to escape or where to go if I do.
So I do the only thing I can. I calm my mind. And when my breath returns, I speak, though it hurts my throat and I am still light headed. "Where is Yami? What did you do with him?" I reach out to my dragon, trying to summon him, but I feel nothing.
"He is safe. Captured and caged until he can be wielded by one we can trust," she says.
"What do you want with me? To torture me like Oren did? Kill me?" I try to be brave through my fear, but this is not like the last time the Fae captured me. There is no illusion of respect. I am a prisoner. I am in danger.
"No," she says with a small smile, caressing my hair, and then my stomach. "I would never kill you. My magic would begin to fade. I need you alive. But… you have been far too much trouble. So I must keep you contained somewhere safe. Somewhere you can do no harm."
The torches flicker on the wall, and I realize I am in a dungeon once again.
Someone screams in agony.
"Keep the other prisoner quiet!" Metsi snaps.
"Apologies, Wild One. I think we went too far this time."
I stretch my neck to see who's speaking. It's another Fae standing over a man tied to a post. The man is naked and bleeds profusely as strips of his skin fall to the ground like shredded cheese. I don't even recognize him until he turns his face toward me.
Levi.
I turn back to Metsi. "Am I next?"
Metsi puts a hand over my stomach and smiles.
"I cannot risk it," she says. "After all, it wouldn't be good for the child you carry."
EPILOGUE
Asher
"A man walks out from the shadows. A man I have come to know over the last few weeks. A man I thought I could trust."
—Arianna Spero
The castle is ours. People parade through the streets, feasting and drinking, celebrating the return of Fenris Vane. They curse Levi’s name and sing praises to the Prince of War.
But not everyone can be so joyous. Many fell in the battle, and the city fills with burials and funeral pyres, everyone honoring their dead in their own way.
Those who were injured are taken to the healing tents, and Seri works tirelessly to ease their pain and save their lives.
Kayla heals quickly, recovering her senses and strength after a few days. So does the new man. Tavian Gray. He is unknown to me, and that is troubling. But so far, he causes no problems.