A Queen of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 4)

“Damn it, Hannon, please,” I said, holding on to my power and willing it to give me more energy.

“You need to get out of here,” Nyfain told me. He must’ve come to the same conclusion about the size of the horde. “Hannon clearly can’t make it happen. There is no other way out. Jump free and get clear. You’ll need to be the hope of the kingdom. You’ll have to fight Dolion another way.”

“There is no fucking way I am saving myself and leaving all of you behind.”

Nyfain grabbed my upper arm and muscled me over to the window. Vemar crowded in, blocking us off from the fighting.

“There are going to be more demons in the next room,” Nyfain told me, his eyes on fire. “We might get through them all, but we might not. And even if we do, Dolion can lock himself into his safe room. Then it would just be a matter of time before the demons in this place overpower us. Someone needs to get clear to keep the kingdom running, and that is you. Join my mother. You’re a natural alpha, Finley. You can lead on your own. Protect our heir. You need to get clear.”

“No!” I said savagely. “I need to fight and help you win—”

Nyfain’s eyes widened as something caught his attention outside the window. I looked just in time to see a long tail, like a big snake, disappear into the castle below.

“Is that…” I swallowed, my eyes widening.

“Dessia is joining the fight,” Nyfain said softly, his eyes coming back to me. “But that doesn’t mean we can get—”

Bright white light flickered through the windows. I squinted, putting up my hand to protect my eyes from the glare. When it subsided, I saw Hannon glide by. Fire so bright it looked like pure light dripped from his feathers, some of them his tail feathers, and no, he would never live farting fire down. His wingbeats were hard and purposeful, like he knew exactly where he was going.

To the end of this floor.

To Dolion.

“He’s got it.” Joy burst through me. “Dessia is helping, and Hannon’s got it! Thank fuck!”

The floor trembled again, and another loud crash sounded outside. Screams echoed, and then a great many of them cut off suddenly, like someone had snuffed a candle. Fear curled within me, but I didn’t have time to ponder on it. The bright light flared again, this time not flickering. A loud rumble shook the floor and walls. Ear-splitting cracking and booms preceded the shaking and jolting of the floor.

Demons staggered and looked around wildly. Faeries had wide eyes, looking to us for direction. The dragons and wolves used the lull to their advantage. They doubled their efforts, slamming into the confused enemy, ripping out necks, tearing off heads, and poking demons full of holes.

“Nyfain, Finley!” Govam called, jerking his head toward the door.

Nyfain yanked me with him. Vemar followed closely behind. Demons had cleared the way or been cleared, some panicked and still confused, and the demons on our side had taken advantage of their state of mind just like the wolves and dragons had.

Our people flocked to us, forming a group. Some demons continued the fight, but many of them rushed to the windows, probably knowing we had a phoenix and guessing that phoenix had learned to properly attack. Dolion’s people were only courageous when they thought they were winning.

Denski ripped open the door as Sonassa helped Govam stand. Blood trickled down his side, and I couldn’t remember if demons healed quickly or not. Not that it mattered right now. There was nothing I could do for him in the middle of this mess.

A swarm of demons waited in the other room, most of them with their gazes directed out the window. Holy shit, this would’ve been hell to get through. It almost seemed like Dolion had concentrated his entire force in just these few rooms. Maybe he had. Maybe that was why it had been so easy to get up here.

“Look out!” someone shouted, and then white light seared through the room. I barely saw the stream of what must’ve been brimfire, no more than an arm’s thickness, through the glare. It cut through stone like his fire had cut through glass, slicing through the back wall and cutting demons in half.

Denski dove back out and Sonassa shut the door, as though that would do anything. Nyfain grabbed me and turned, shielding me with his body as though that would do anything. The building rumbled and something huge crashed in the next room, one closer to Dolion. The light disappeared from under the door, and then there was banging and pounding. The door flew open and a stream of demons fought each other to run for the door on the far side.

They would run right into something arguably worse than a phoenix.