Sebastian heaved himself up onto his chest, twisting his neck to smack the merc leaning over him and send him flying. The horn slipped free, falling to the floor.
The three coven members painted the courtyard with red light, their hands glowing as they backed toward another exit on the far side. They turned as one and ran.
We are on our way,Anna sent, and relief flooded through me. She sounded strong, which after that bloody craziness was a small miracle.
As I embraced my beast, I sent to her,Emmanuel’s here with the Dires. Coven has taken off. They are in the tunnels somewhere. Watch yourself.
More mercenaries and Dires raced into the courtyard. Until Tyrez and the Sabres reached the castle depths, we were badly outnumbered.
The closest mercenaries stiffened as Maddy and I appeared right beneath their noses. I reared up on my hind legs, my wings bursting free. Half transformed to Dire, Maddy shot me a shocked look before leaping to join her mates.
Sebastian was too weak to stand, and he had fallen back flat on the stone as if swinging his head had taken the last of his strength. I stood over him, lowered my Dragon head, and hissed at the mercenaries.
I may not be as big as a normal Dragon, but they took one look, and ran. I’d never had such a reaction from my Dire beast.
Dragons rule,our Dragon said. I caught an impression of him racing through the tunnels.
With everyone running away, I couldn’t deny that one. More shouts from the main courtyard, and another Centaur appeared in the entryway.
“We’re good,” Emmanuel called to them as his sword swept the head clean off a mercenary. “Go after the others.”
It was true that the mercenaries within our courtyard were backing toward the exit used by the coven. Even the scrappy Dires were in retreat.
A scream from that tunnel caused them to slide to a stop, just as a whirlwind of indigo scales whipped through them. Everything it touched collapsed to the stone and didn’t move again.
Talakai was still in human form but completely lethal. He wielded that sword like it was an extension of his arm. Behind him bounded a black Dire—Lucas. The Morph was providing cover for a slim form clad in glittering black.
Anna.
The link was wide open, and for the first time, I felt Sebastian as part of it. Not a huge part, but Anna was connecting us. And what I sensed from him horrified me.
I could barely feel him at all. He was fading fast.
A Dire leaped between Anna and us, and Lucas pounced on him in a flurry of teeth and claws. From what I saw, he was more enthusiasm than fighting prowess, but it seemed that his Dire opponent just wanted to get away.
Anna ran toward me, her gaze sliding from mine to where Sebastian lay collapsed on the floor.
We need Cara,she said.
We don’t have time to wait for Cara,I insisted.
I sensed her dismay.
We have friends with power,I said, my gaze sliding to Lucas.
The Morph raised a furry brow at me. Then she put a hand out to him.
“Are you up for one more big-guy punch?” she asked.
Lucas’s eyes fell to Sebastian and flashed. “Let’s do it,” he said.
60
Anna
Matt’s beast moved aside as I approached. My gaze fell on Sebastian, and my heart twisted.
The Bellati’s equine eyes were closed, and he lay flat on the stone as though he were dead. I fell to my knees and lifted his head into my lap. It was heavy. His eyes opened, and I gasped. Dark eyes, not pale.
