“An hour,” Jace said. “Don’t think about that, or me, or the battle. Just focus.” He laid his hand on my shoulder. “Reese may be a dick, but I trust he’ll hold the Feyan Army back. You can do this before the last flank is called in.” He tightened his grip, assuring me. “And after the barrier goes up, whatever Narcos are still inside, we’ll take care of them.”
“I’d feel better if I knew the spell Drevan used to make the humans leave.” If I failed to raise the barrier, having a backup plan, like using Drevan’s spell against the Narcos, would be comforting. I lowered my head. I hated all the death this battle brought, but it was either them or us. And the spells were another reason I felt Drevan was more powerful than ordinary Narcolym. He knew things other Kythan didn’t. According to Dr. Thailow, those kinds of magics were thought to be long dead to the Kythan centuries ago.
“Dez,” Jace said, a warning in his voice. “It’s time.”
I blew out a long breath and cracked the book open to the marked page. I slid the satin marker over and began reciting the spell I’d memorized. I couldn’t read ancient Egyptian, but I felt more confident looking at the markings and pictures as I thought of my lines. And the book itself was magic. I felt it could help me, even if it really couldn’t.
The words tumbled out, and after a moment, a glimmer appeared before me. My eyes widened as the spark grew, becoming a glowing, translucent-blue, wavering circle. It stretched and wobbled, slowly expanding. I could see the shield. I knew the barrier wrapped all the way around our city, but Dr. Thailow didn’t tell me I’d actually see it. I wondered if the blue light had to visibly encase all of Haven before the spell was complete.
I paused my chant and looked over to Jace. “Do you see this?”
He ran up beside me. “What? Is there an attack near?” He looked around, and then back over the bay.
“No,” I said, pointing in front of me. “That. The light.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Nope. There’s no light out there from what I can see.”
I stared at the halted light. It was waiting for me to continue. I had to hurry. Brushing my bangs from my eyes, I began chanting from the book again. The light grew, quickly becoming as long as my body. Amazing.
Watching the light spread along the border of Haven in a sheer blue glow, I knew I was getting close. It was moving quickly now. I looked down the pier as the light expanded, hoping it was strong enough to cancel out Drevan’s spell.
Dr. Thailow had said when the spell was completed, when Haven was safely guarded, I’d feel the magics surge through me. I kept chanting, waiting to feel something…anything. We were running out of time.
As I ran my finger over the text, a loud crack sounded from behind. I dropped the text and spun around. Two Narcos fired round after round of Flame at Jace. And, crap. More were coming toward us.
I took a step off the crest, and the blue shield dimmed. No. I slammed my hands against my thighs and turned toward Jace.
Jace blocked a blast from one of the Narcos and turned toward me. “Dez! Finish it!”
God. How could he ask me to do this while he died? I glanced down the road. At least five more were moving in, getting closer. I panicked. If I didn’t help him they’d kill him and come for me next. Even if I finished the spell, we’d still have to fight them. I made my decision.
I summoned my Charge and ran toward Jace. At least I could hide who I was…for a while. I sent a blot of Charge at the Narco blasting Jace. He fell, but recovered quickly.
“What are you doing?” Jace yelled. “I told you before, you have to work the—”
“To hell with it! What good is it if we’re dead?”
Jace shrugged. “Good point.” Then he blocked a Flame coming at us.
I moved behind him and dropped into a crouch, sending another bolt at the firing Narco. “You block. I’ll shoot.”
Jace didn’t argue. He knew my reach was farther than his. I sent bolts at the closest Narco until he ran. My spirits picked up until I saw that he was only running toward the approaching guards—regrouping. Damn.
“I can’t block all of them,” Jace admitted. “We’re going to have to retreat.”
I glanced at the barrier. The blue light grew smaller, and the sky was beginning to lighten just over the ocean’s horizon. We were almost out of time, and soon the Feyan Army would march in. Retreat wasn’t an option. There wouldn’t be another chance to raise the barrier after they slaughtered us. And if this many Narcos were coming after only the two of us, that meant the main battle in the center of Haven wasn’t going well for the Shythe.
“No,” I told him. “We have to make a stand now and raise the barrier.” I stood in front of Jace, calling my Feyan power forth. My arms illuminated.
“What are you doing, Dez?” Jace asked, attempting to pull me with him.
“Taking them out.” I willed my White Flame forth. “I’m not going down without a fight.”
A faint smile crept over his face. “Can you do that crazy thing you did in second block?”
“I’m going to try.”
“Count me in,” he said, taking his stand right beside me. “Let’s give these assholes hell.”