He snorts out a laugh. “She was raised by Drackus. She can handle a Mr. Hyde half better than anyone.”
An exhausted sigh slips through my lips. “Drackus losing it is equal to a child’s tantrum compared to when I lose it, Dice. I mean it; get her away from me if anything goes wrong.”
His eyes widen as he swallows a lump. “Christ,” he breathes. “I knew you were powerful, but when you put it that way… Shit. Try not to lose it.”
Instead of saying anything, I leap over the railing, vaporizing before I hit the ground and appearing at Kimber’s side. Her fingers lace with mine as we make our way toward my car. Our oblivious army will be meeting us close to the line.
And then I just have to hope all hell doesn’t break loose.
***
GAGE
Standing inside the shadows, we look on through the dark plains. Perpetual night rests here, and I can’t imagine being stuck in a place with no sun for centuries. The large, castle-like structure is the only standing proof of life on this plane other than the sets of glowing eyes of the night creatures that are bound to this plane.
“They have the perimeter guarded by trap crystals,” Karma hisses.
I can see at least thirty guards armed with what is most likely anointed weapons—weapons we plan to seize from all the rings.
“I’ll handle that,” I remind her, even though she still doubts me. She was unconscious during the time I broke us out of the trap crystals.
Kimber stands from her crouched position, and she turns to meet my eyes. “It’s now or never.”
I nod once, and then I step out of the s
hadows and into the moonlight. It takes less than a second for a loud alarm to sound, but I don’t stop. The shuffling of feet and the whizzing of arrows strike the air around me, but I walk forward, letting the power roll off me in adrenaline-buzzing waves.
My fingers burn with the untapped power at their tips just before the blue and red orb forms, and I smirk at the eyes staring on and trying to take me down without success. Their arrows misfire and strike each other as my smile grows darker, and I slam the orb into the sparkling barrier, destroying it with the powerful shot.
I hear the rush from behind me as arrows of our own attack the night, and I push out a force strong enough to drop many of them to their knees. Reminding myself that I’m close to using too much power to come down from, I hold back, releasing the safest amount.
Kimber moves through the crowd, disappearing through her portals and emerging in random places, slicing through the anointed weapons wielders with their own toys. Her blonde hair sways to its own song of death and destruction as she becomes a dark angel with a fierce bite, her blades cutting and drawing blood.
Dice fights his way through, clearing a path for me as the power continues to flow from my body, disrupting their attempts to thwart off our army. Yelps and cries for help are lost amongst our merciless quest, and I continue walking toward the doors.
With a powerful push of power, the doors burst open, and I step just inside. Numerous armed men greet me with their crossbows trained on me, and I smirk before their weapons disintegrate in their hands.
The panic that takes over their expressions is actually delicious, and the crawl of insanity tries to work its way in. People slam into the cages, catching the weaponless fiends that have had them trapped, and necks snap, cries of pain ring out, and revenge is sought even before they break free.
I study the seal on the ground as the madness continues, and I silently chant the spell just as I slice my hand with one of the anointed blades. The blood drips onto the seal, and then I pull forth one of my orbs.
Glancing around, I see everyone inside the cages watching me, waiting for what I’ll do next, even though they have no idea what I’m doing.
“If you seek revenge on your captors, I’ll be your ally. If you cause harm to the innocent, I’ll be your enemy,” I warn them, meeting their eyes.
No one says anything. Dirty and wasting away in their cells, I receive a few nods from them. It’s an unspoken understanding on their part.
Without another word, I slam the orb into the seal, stepping back as the orb takes life and runs through the veins of the intricate design, bringing it to life. The dirty floor becomes lit up by the glowing phenomenon, and I hear the cells and shackles unlatching, releasing who knows what kind of beings.
I really hope we don’t regret this.
Bodies vaporize, disappearing. Some grab others, dematerializing the friends they’ve made while stuck in a place where they needed each other to survive. I don’t pay any more attention, because my focus is now on Kimber, getting back to her and keeping her safe.
But it’s no use. I smile when I see they’ve handled the outside guards with ease, and my breath finds me in relief.
It almost seems too easy.
Kimber makes her way toward me, sheathing her swords on her hips. Damn, that’s hot.