Battle With Fire by K.F. Breene

Seventeen

I turned to Cahal first,wondering if he’d see the directive. He was looking back at me. He nodded once.

With a deep breath, I turned to Penny next. I hadn’t gotten her into this mess—not really. Emery was the one who’d showed up on her porch and dragged her into trouble. I really shouldn’t be blamed for everything that had unfurled since. I hoped she saw it my way.

Her gaze was straight ahead, and I was surprised not to see any fear or trepidation. I saw only determination.

Pride and aggression swirled within me. Penny Bristol was finally, solidly ready for battle. That, I did take credit for.

Emery caught me looking and nudged her before pointing. Her gaze swung my way, her eyebrows lifting.

I gave her a thumbs-up, followed by a fist. Then, because I didn’t know if she’d know what any of that meant, yelled, “We’re going to battle now!”

“Strength and honor!” she yelled, and it was clear she’d been watching Gladiator to boost her courage.

When I glanced down again, our vampires had stalled and were now undressing. I felt a surge of love through the bond, Darius wishing me well.

“We’ll have our future,” I murmured, hardening myself. “We will have our future if I have to pull a miracle out of my ass.”

Here we go, I thought, and leaned forward.

Archion put on a burst of speed. The dragons would get there first, but I knew Lucifer wouldn’t order our deaths.

There is one question I still don’t really understand the answer to, Archion thought as we hastened toward the scene.

Lucifer’s forces ran at the elves in a messy mass. Roars and shouts of blood lust rang up as we neared the melee. The dragons and the flying demons kept pace above us, Lucifer clearly having some sort of plan and choosing this mess as his strategy.

What is that? I asked Archion as I stitched magic into the sky. I’d been working on this and only this for the last two days. I would not wait until the sky was ripped away to construct another. Instead, I’d stitch my magic into the foundation of this place to hold the existing sky in place. I’d root my illusion to the ground in a weave of fire and ice that, in our practice, even Penny had been hard-pressed to tear apart. I was a hybrid—godly lineage merged with the Underworld—and it gave me uniqueness that I would use to our advantage. The elves and Lucifer might try to break through it, but without plenty of time and focus, they wouldn’t get far.

That was the plan, anyway.

My heart throbbed. My pulse pounded in my ears, a steady, fast throb. Adrenaline fueled me, followed by excitement.

I loved running into battle. That was my jam. I didn’t slink closer and strategize; I burst into the scene and kicked in teeth. The situation might’ve changed, but I hadn’t.

We’re going to get in their way so that they don’t fight, but if they ignore us—which they will—we’re supposed to apply force? he thought.

Yup.

So we are basically the smaller force fighting against two larger forces on either side of us?

Yup.

How is that a good idea?

I honestly have no idea.

Dragons didn’t talk, but his low growl was close enough. This was, quite possibly, a suicide mission, but fuck it. If we didn’t take a stand for what we believed in, who were we?

We reached the edge of the battle, and the elves’ heads turned as they took notice of us for the first time. The fliers in the sky, on both sides, fluttered a little in the air, surprised. My father turned his head slowly, a grin sliding up his face. He nodded.

I couldn’t resist giving him an answering smile. We might not be on the same side, but damn it, this felt good. Stretching the legs of our violent rage.

Give ’em hell, Archion, I thought.

He flew down the center of the open space between the elves and the demons, roaring. Coppelia and Saphira joined us, their cacophony merging, reverberating through the grounds and echoing off the castle walls. We’d worked hard to control our reactions to the dragons’ roars, but this one was amplified somehow. Much more intense. Fear blistered through my body and nearly stopped my heart.

We’d always thought that effect was a tall tale until we started to practice at the shifters’ private estate, Archion thought, clearly happy with himself. We had endless time to practice.

It was two months. Give me a break. It wasn’t endless.

The non-dragon fliers froze up. Several of them fell to the ground like dead weights. The smaller dragons careened into the troops below, fire erupting from some and scorching whoever was unlucky enough to be in the way. The larger dragons lost height, struggling against the blast.

Our three roared again, their sounds intermingling to create that heart-shaking boost.

Demons hovered off their dragons, including my father. His hands came out to stabilize Tatsu in the air.

Thanks for the warning, I thought to Archion.

Surprise.

I sent a tidal wave of fire and ice at the elves, a blast of air chased by flame. I flattened their first troops as the roars wore off. Archion veered toward them and opened fire. Romulus had said the elves depended on organized warfare—or at least they had once upon a time. Since the same leadership was still in effect, he’d figured they still would, and those orderly ranks suggested he was right. They also would’ve heard that we’d be here as attempted peacekeepers. Crushing part of their army might seem counterintuitive, but the goal now was to blow their minds, get them scrambling, and then prepare for the onslaught from my father, who would want to take advantage of the melee. And who also might think I’d joined his side.

Romulus seemed very good at strategy. We’d see if he was right.

Coppelia and Saphira came after us, blowing fire down on the scrambling troops below. The elves’ fliers were slow to rise, and it was clear some had broken limbs or necks in the fall. I slammed down with air, not allowing them to climb back up.

A blistering spell zipped past the line of elves and to the castle beyond. It slammed against the (very new looking) closed front doors and exploded, like a bomb going off. The wood blew off the hinges and tumbled out of the way. Stone rained down from a pockmarked and scarred surface, as though someone had done that previously. Probably Lucifer’s way of knocking when he’d come to collect me.

Another spell, just like the first, followed it, this time flying into the open crevice.

This wasn’t part of the plan, I said, throwing my magic around before taking a moment to stitch this portion of the sky into the scenery.

This is probably part of Penny’s plan, Archion said, turning away from the castle and setting fire to another catapult. Saphira has said Penny has a lot of anger to work through.

Now is not the time, though.

We may not get another one.

He had a point.

Change of plans.

Archion tilted his great wings before I even finished that thought. We followed Saphira closer to the castle.

I’d meant to send a swell of magic after hers. I’d meant to summon hellfire and cut at least part of that place down. I’d meant to do a lot of things.

But then I saw them. The king and queen, pushed back from their people, standing on a dais with telescopes to either side of them in case they wanted to look more closely at a battle they had caused. While I led this force, and Lucifer led his people, these cowardly bastards had hung back to let someone else die for them. I was putting my neck on the line to save most of their people, and they couldn’t even stand at the last row of their troops.

There, I said to Archion, my focus razor sharp, my vision tinged red. Being the bigger person was all well and good, and very adultlike, but it turned out I just couldn’t get over it. I might not wipe out the whole damn force of elves, but I would at least kill those assholes. Those two there.

Are they the same person?

They certainly look like it. Head there.

Archion put on a burst of speed.

Get lower to the ground, I thought. When you feel their magic—and you will—veer right into that field behind them. Once the magic lifts, we’ll need to split up. Help the others with Romulus’s plan. I’ll take these dickheads down on my own.

I won’t leave you.

You will do our duty, since I am too much of an asshole to do it with you.

When you’re done, hover high and I’ll pick you up.

No need. I’ll attack the rest from behind.

It seems my surprise won’t be the only one they’ll get today.

Correct.

A hard fist of magic wrapped around me and squeezed, sending shooting pain up through my middle and stabbing behind my eyes. Archion shuddered under me and let out a burst of fire as he lost altitude, doing as I’d said and veering toward the field, only he was going to miss the fluffy section of grass up ahead and land on the hard stone and packed dirt beyond it. At least, that was what the illusion made it look like.

I extended that fluffy bit toward his probable landing site, pulling it up over the dirt and then layering the design on top of the stone. It was coarse and unrefined and looked utterly ridiculous, but it should work. I tacked the magic down so it would hold under his crash landing and then threw myself from his back.

My Glaciem magic didn’t catch right away, and I dropped like a stone. Pain stabbed through my head and felt like it was gouging my eyes. A hot spike drove up through my center, starting between my legs and pulsing out through the top of my head, as though I’d been impaled on a spike.

The shock of pain, and where it had originated, triggered a very female part of me. Shock and fear clawed at me. Tugging at my vulnerability. Urging me to run off to a dark corner to hide. Because everyone knew about the inexcusable things men did to women when conquering lands.

Whether the elves intended to stir those fears or not, they had.

Vulnerabilities made us stronger. My father had said that. You could not really hate unless you knew how to love. And you could not revel in rage if you didn’t know great passion. You would never know your true strength unless you gave in to your greatest weaknesses.

They hadn’t tapped into my greatest weakness, but they had triggered the kind of hot, consuming rage that took no prisoners.

I shoved back at their magic as I fell, catching myself in a hover for a brief moment before resuming the fall. I hit the ground and rolled, no stranger to being tossed around and rolling out of it. As soon as I found my feet, I charged straight at those bastards. Just like old times.

I dipped my hand into my pouch, lost a couple spells in the process, and found the one I wanted. I snapped the casing and threw, hitting the edge of their fancy little dais as they pushed together, shoulder to shoulder, and faced me, arms coming up.

This was going to hurt.

Their magic hit me like a fucking brick. It slammed through my middle and drove all my insides out through my back. They peeled my skin from my body and stole my vision. At least, that was what it felt like.

“Shit birds sucking on a crack pipe, what in the holy fuck?” I said, continuing to run. I pushed out my magic in front of me, like rolling a carpet under my feet, making sure I didn’t trip on anything. I didn’t stop. Probably should’ve, but I refused to give them the satisfaction. Fuck ’em.

I sliced through their magic, unraveling pieces of it, but they were both at my power level, working together, and I was outmatched.

My magic hit a bump, and then my foot did. My body kept going in total blackness, my vision still cut off, and flew. I threw out my hands, and good thing I did, or I would’ve hit one of them face-first. As it was, my palms hit a pair of boobs, and I latched on, angling my body to make a solid hit and take her down with me. We rammed into the dais, and I grappled instantly, so incredibly used to this sort of thing from years of bounty hunting and tackling marks. I wasn’t the best at that job for no reason.

I landed three quick punches to her upper chest, then adjusted my aim and smashed her nose. Hot liquid sprayed across my face and my vision flickered back to life. I crashed my fist into her face again and then struck out with air, throwing my hand to the side to get her beau.

“Guards!” the other turd shouted, warding off my attack with a blast of magic. Not only were they way back here away from the battle, safe from most danger, but they apparently had guards, too.

“Come on, Gumby, let’s fight fair and square.” I pushed up a little and yanked my foot up, slamming some lady balls before hopping over her and repeatedly ramming my foot into her side. She tried to fling magic at me. Tried to push at my face with her hands. I just kept going, slashing and burning with my magic at the other one while I physically assaulted this one. They clearly were not used to animalistic close combat. Where was Roger when you needed him?

Stinging magic rolled over me, and hands grabbed my shoulder and ripped me back. Their help had arrived.

“Gotta kill you quick-like,” I said, my vision still splotchy but good enough.

I threw back an elbow and connected with a sternum. The hands loosened and the guard’s breath flowed over me, but he didn’t let go. Someone else grabbed at my arm.

I swelled air to throw them off, but my attention was divided, and the king had an unimpeded shot at me. My vision flickered out again, and pain nearly doubled me over.

I felt a blast of magic rush by me. A hoarse cry sounded before the pain ceased and my vision flickered back to good enough. The hands yanked at my shirt before disappearing entirely.

I spun with wild eyes in time to see Cahal’s sword slice into one of the guards that had restrained me. Emery punched another before grabbing the dagger from her belt and stabbing her in the chest. He turned to another one, wild-eyed, and let loose a spell that tore the guard’s chest wide open. Blood and guts spilled out. The guard tried to catch them in crimson hands as he sank to the ground.

Penny shot off another spell. The king barely managed to redirect it before falling off the other side of the dais.

She glanced over, and I felt relief so thick it was choking me. She met my eyes and nodded.

The queen had turned over and was crawling to the back of the dais, clearly not sure where she was going, just away. Marks did this too. Usually I’d step on their backs and demand answers, or just haul them up and take them in.

But she wasn’t going anywhere. Neither of them were.

“I got the king,” I said. “I’ve already primed the queen for you.”

“Nah. I’ll let Emery take that sack of monkey balls.”

“You can’t swear, even here?” I grinned, my rage swelling, my magic swelling with it. “Still know how to do hellfire?”

“I can’t without your dad’s magic here too. I can light a bunch of guards on fire, though.”

“Good. Don’t go overboard. We don’t want you losing yourself to rage and never coming back.”

“My mom already warned me about that. I’m good. I’ll let Emery handle it.”

I nodded and stepped up onto the dais, ignoring the queen. Emery would handle that, as Penny had said, and we’d forgive him for his lack of decorum when he did.

“Fucking with us was a big mistake, your highness,” I said as I stalked toward the king, shoving at his magic with gritted teeth. “Oops. Found your equal, did you?”

“You’re trash,” he snarled.

“If name calling helps you cope with this situation, by all means.” I tangled with his power. It was volatile and unstable sometimes, and cool and smooth others. I had no idea what that meant, but I did know these suckers weren’t great with their hands.

I gave a big push as I rounded the corner, shoving his magic right back at him. Then I physically rushed forward, jumped, and kicked. My heavy boot cracked him in the face, and he fell backward like a log. He shot his hand up, but I slashed with air, ridding him of that ability in the future.

“I have to ask…” I slashed down at him, my magic skimming across his neck. He cried out, an inhuman sound, throwing everything he had at me.

I spared a bit of my magic and endured the pain. I worked around his gale of power.

“You’re not banging your sister, right?” I stabbed, the thrust of air magic shoved aside but not enough, because it came down in his side. “Because that would be gross.” My next slash was accompanied by another swell of magic. I cut through his middle this time.

He yelled, clutching the wound, and I swiped once more, silencing him for good. His head rolled away.

Archion now stood on the field he’d crashed into, my hasty grass illusion torn up in a couple places, but at least it had done the job. He appeared unhurt. The other two dragons dropped down as well, Coppelia huffing smoke.

Emery stood on the dais looking at the castle, his chest rising and falling. He’d dealt with the queen. He glanced my way, saw that I was good, and then found Penny shooting off spells into the much-reduced crowd of guards like a gunslinger. None of the other elves had come back to help. Not one. That spoke volumes.

Your people need help, Archion thought. You will have to surprise the elves another time.

I told Emery and the others what he’d said.

“Penny!” Emery shot out a spell, cutting down a guard who’d thrown some kind of nasty magic at her. Cahal lopped off one elf’s arm, another’s head, and then cut through a third’s leg with cool economy, like he was dancing with his sword. It was vicious and vile, and I loved it.

“Let’s go, show over,” I yelled, waving my arm in the air.

He is worried about you, Archion said as we ran their way.

Who? I asked as I took a running leap and hovered onto his back.

“That’s not fair,” Penny called. “How can I get style points when I can’t hover?”

“Not my problem,” I yelled.

Lucifer, Archion said, lifting off. The vampire. The shifter—take your pick. They are cutting the elves’ forces down, trying to get to you.

I grimaced. I’d totally get in trouble for this.

In fairness, they’d known something like this was liable to happen. I couldn’t be trusted to follow a plan. Everyone knew that. In fact, hadn’t most of my friends encouraged me to go rogue?

The others are working with Lucifer? I asked.

Not exactly. But they have a common cause right now.

I’d definitely get in trouble.

“Let’s fight back the demons,” I yelled at the others. “I doubt the elves think of us as friendlies after killing their monarchs, so don’t get killed in the process.”