A Court of Souls and Shadows

49. Raven/Azriel

RAVEN

Our combined armies were starting to panic in the wake of the Cauldron's destruction. As soldiers looked around wildly, waiting to see what their orders would be, I looked to the sky once more. To the remaining Illyrians who reformed their lines and charged ahead, Thesan's Peregryns interspersed with them now. I gritted my teeth and launched back into the skies to join them, without sparing another glance at the destruction below. I couldn't lose my focus. Not now. I didn't know where Azriel and Feyre were; if they had made it to the Cauldron or been swept up in the destruction. I forced myself not to think of it, and charged on as if they hadn't made it, and wouldn't. The thought hollowed out a dark hole in my chest, but I forced it aside, tightening my grip on my blade as I rejoined the Illyrian ranks.

I chanced a quick look to the battlefield below. Helion, Tarquin, and Kallias were struggling to hold our lines. Tamlin and Beron still battled the northern flank, but it would not be enough. The sheer size of Hybern's army was beginning to push us back. Beginning to overwhelm us.

I searched within myself for that well of power, readying myself for the largest strike I had ever attempted. Our armies were spent, and I was the last monster standing. I would do this, even if it cost me my life. I held onto my power, coiling it tightly within myself, readying it for that mighty blow. I inhaled shakily, and unleashed myself. Scores of Hybern's men fell under my power, and the shouting seemed to grow even louder in volume. Archers turned their weapons to the sky, and the Illyrians moved, but it was too late. The arrows rained down from above in wide arcs, and shredded through my wings as though they were nothing.

AZRIEL

A pain like nothing I had ever felt tore through my back and I stumbled, grabbing onto Feyre's arm for support. My shadows swirled wildly around us, concealing us, as I took in a shaky breath. Feyre's wide eyes met mine. "What is it?" She gasped, her face frantic. I looked over my shoulder at my wings, finding them intact, and knew immediately that it wasn't my pain I was feeling. "No," I whispered, as I looked to the skies. My heart stuttered in my chest as my eyes fell upon my mate, as she fell from the sky,  with what had to have been hundreds of arrows piercing her mighty wings. A choked scream got stuck in my throat as my knees buckled from beneath me. Feyre grabbed at my shoulders, shouting words I could not hear, as my mind went silent. My entire body went numb. I couldn't think, couldn't feel. For the first time in my life, when faced with battle, I couldn't move.

A mighty roar cut through the sky, searing into the silence that had overtaken me. Every being upon the battlefield seemed to pause in that moment, as every gaze snapped to the sky. A litany of curse words sounded from around us, in every direction, as my eyes finally settled on what everyone else was seeing.

"Is that a fucking dragon?" A soldier swore from my left. I swallowed thickly as my eyes followed the dark shape moving through the skies, it's great wings flapping thunderously. And atop its back, a flash of silver-white hair. I wanted to believe it so badly. Hoped with everything I had that it could be true.

"The Soul Stealer is riding a fucking dragon!" The shout came from a soldier ahead of us, confirming it. I stared at the black dragon as it sailed through the sky, opening its mighty jaw and setting fire to the lines of Hybern's soldiers. There was something oddly familiar about the scruffy tuft of spikes atop its head.

Feyre tugged on my hand, urging me forward. "Azriel," she gasped. "We have to go, while Hybern is distracted."

I tore my gaze away from my mate and the dragon she rode, and hurried after Feyre towards the cauldron.