magic.”
“If the mages release the iron, we will need to figure out how to get around it,” I admitted, knowing I couldn’t push the iron away and fight. “Fyra, and Darnell, dragon forms, please. This only works if you’re transformed. If they release the iron, you need to be ready to neutralize it to the best of your ability.”
No worries, right?
I was terrified of what we faced, knowing these creatures had been underestimated time and time again. They’d been allowed to become strong until they were flooding into our lands by the thousands, murdering our courts before anyone had taken them seriously. It was our own fault for allowing them to grow unnoticed within the guilds, using contracts to build their bank accounts to afford the war against the inhabitants of Faery.
I could feel Ryder fighting on his own front. I knew he was battling mages as we geared up to fight them. He wasn’t coming to save us because he couldn’t. We’d been outplayed and had fallen right into their trap. He’d taken the larger portion of our army to take the mages down on our own terms, only for them to use it against us.
Our enemies had known where to strike us to inflict the most pain, and they hadn’t hesitated. We had, and that was because we played by a set of rules that we expected them to use. They weren’t honorable, which made them more dangerous.
No one had any idea just how large their army was until it had been too late. Now they were here at our fucking doorstep, prepared to fight us on our turf without fearing us. I stared down the line, frowning, noting that everyone held weapons or magic in their hands.
The giants turned, marching toward the front of the enemy lines. I gave the order to place the spears down in front of the army in which I stood. I would show no weakness because I was born to protect this world. I wouldn’t let them see the fear that hugged tightly around me, slipping through the cracks in my armor.
Because who doesn’t have giants on their side? Oh, yeah, us.
“We can’t get to the machines without plowing through their forces. If we move to do so, they’ll release more iron into the air, and that will leave the fae unable to defend the stronghold. We need more people,” I muttered, turning to stare at the faces of the army prepared to defend us with their lives. I feared it might reach that price, and if it did, the castle would fall. I couldn’t allow that to happen.
“It’s too late,” Ciara said, coughing in reaction to the iron being sprayed into the air. “It’s working.”
My hands lifted, pushing against the iron that filled the air. The soldiers behind me began coughing and hissing as it filled their lungs. My magic pulled the metal from them, forcing it back to the mages, but I couldn’t keep it up forever.
“Starting without me? I’m wounded,” a cheery voice said as the surrounding air ignited and filled with power. “That’s a problem,” Erie said, materializing to stare across the field before her electric-blue eyes turned and held mine. “I thought I told you not to let them reach the castle?”
“It wasn’t like we planned it, Erie. Or are you Mórrígan?” I asked, staring at her while wondering which side she’d play on today.
“I am Erie, and I am Mórrígan. Trust me. You want me in goddess form for this fight. Anyway, you should call in the oath I owe your mother now. The mages are about to start forward, and the moment they do, you will be forced to release the iron you’re removing to defend the stronghold. This will kill the fae behind you instantly. So, call in the fucking oath so we can get this party started,” she hissed. Turning, Erie used her fingers to make a box around a giant’s head.
“What are you doing?” I asked, shooting my eyebrows to my forehead as I watched her.
“I have a vacancy in my freezer, and Fred