of cultists, while sorceresses wearing long robes fired off spells behind them. Several cultists pawed at their eyes as the sorceresses gave the illusion of going blind, while others frantically patted at their skin as if they believed they were on fire, screaming in agony at the thought of imaginary flames.
Stefan was winning the duel against the other dragon. He had the creature’s head in his jaws and was going to bite down. The dragon scrambled to get away, his claws scraping the dirt as he let out low, pleading notes for Stefan to let go.
Stefan’s eyes glinted, like he was considering ending the dragon’s life. But instead, Stefan opened his mouth and let the other shifter go, baying his victory and demanding the loser retreat. The dragon gave a yelp and spread his wings, taking off into the night sky. Stefan let out a satisfied snort, smoke emitting from his nostrils.
“I can’t hold onto these shields much longer,” Odette whimpered. Her strength was failing. Odette could suspend a singular shield for hours, but dividing her attention and shielding all of us at the same time was sucking her magic dry.
Theo must’ve heard Odette’s cry, because he galloped over and put his horn to her heart. As he did so, I watched a soft glow emit from his horn, and I felt Odette’s shield around me strengthen.
“They’re retreating!” Delmare said, and she pointed. I watched as a large group of cultists began running out the hole in the wall, leaving the battle behind them.
My heart skipped a beat. Could this be real? This had been an easy battle. The cultists had hardly put up an effort to fight back. Had their attack been so unplanned?
Ethan’s white fur was stained with blood. Several dead wolvens laid around him, their life force dripping from his muzzle. He prowled around the area, looking for more to hunt.
I felt sickened as I watched him. He’d been so guilty about stabbing me moments ago, and now he was back for blood again. He jumped into this bloodshed without hesitation, and I became distinctly aware of how murderous he could be.
A female cultist who had lost her mask gave a terrified cry as Ethan set his sights on her. He growled, and she ran. She sent a few spells backward, but they bounced off of Odette’s shield. She fell upon the ground and backed up, her hood falling back to expose her messy hair.
“Please!” she pleaded. “Have mercy!”
“There is no mercy for cultists,” Ethan growled. “You get what you deserve.”
I opened my mouth to stop him, but before I got a word past my lips, Ethan had taken her life. Her glassy eyes stared out vacantly as Ethan crushed her neck between his jaws. Unlike Stefan, he hadn’t let his prey go free.
Icy cold disbelief ran through me as Ethan let the body drop to the ground. He looked back at me with unfeeling wolfish eyes.
And there was something else inside me at that moment— absolute loathing.
He’d slaughtered that woman without mercy. We’d all hurt people tonight— but in self-defense, in war. That cultist wasn’t going to hurt him. She begged for forgiveness.
And Ethan hadn’t seen reason to give her any. Which was the most horrifying thing I’d seen him do all night. He thought himself fit to be judge, jury, and executioner.
I knew then I couldn’t love a man like that. It’d be loving a monster.
For the majority that had retreated, a few cultists still stood around the palace. There had been hundreds, but for now, it was dozens. Perhaps they were reconvening elsewhere for a second attack? This had to be a trick.
Then the palace doors opened. Gabby and Elijah both emerged from their gates. Gabby’s dress, skin and hair were untouched and perfect, leaving no trace of the blood she’d dumped all over herself moments before. She had to be using an illusion spell, to disguise her appearance.
As the guards kept fighting the cultists, Elijah shouted over the noise, “Cultists! This is your last warning! In the name of the gods, stand down now or face the consequences!”
The cultists drew back from the guards and focused their attention on Elijah. They ran toward him full-speed, letting out a unanimous battle cry.
It was then Gabby stepped forward. She flung out her hands, casting a spell.
Magic flew from her fingertips. As her magic connected with the bodies of the cultists, they froze in place. Their eyes grew wide as marble began to spread from the