~ This is The Catalyst's sequel, so this summary contains spoilers for that book. ~
It has been one year since the quest for the catalyst.
In Fellera, Jaden and Zemisha are now engaged, but their close friends know this is only a political partners...
Matt nodded as he observed the pathetic display of mismatched forces half a mile to the south.
From their vantage point atop a wildflower-strewn hill, Tessa couldn't pinpoint Juna among the tight circle of white-clad warriors that surrounded Jaden and the others, in their shiny, albeit precarious-looking protective dome.
However, Karma had just returned from one last bout of scouting, and through her phoenix' eyes Tessa had witnessed Leery appear beside Juna, to the east side of the dome. Only, Juna's demon didn't look like Leery; he looked like Tessa.
An attempt to distract Jaden.
She shivered in the rising wind, uncharacteristically cold for this season in Chyulin. Her curls swept over her shoulders, her cloak's lapels billowed and undulated. This wind from the north blew past vigorously, ruffling the blue feathers of Karma's folded wings and tail beside her; rustling, also, the rich black fur of the massive demon wolf that sat beside Matt, his fluffy tail wagging patiently from side to side.
"Would've confused them even more," Matt said, "if he'd transformed into me."
Tessa spared him a slight nod. "Well, thank the Gods Juna does not know this."
Matt's jaw tightened, a determined air about his strange black-flecked blue eyes. As the sky thickened with clouds, his expression appeared nearly solemn. His hair in turn flattened and spiked up by the wind, its color like burnished copper in the limited daylight.
"What are we waiting for, then?" he asked, his eyes sidling down to the scene before them.
To their left, the white city wall curved away, farther than her eyes could follow. A slim watchtower made of the same white stone jutted up above the road, and Tessa wondered if the empress was observing the battle from there.
No one occupied the road except her brother, his friends, and the small Chyulin army that had ambushed them. The empress must've ordered this road closed the night before.
And my brother ambled toward the city in plain sight, like an utter and complete fool.
She shook her head in disbelief. Honestly, should they survive today, she ought to sit down with him and give him a crash course on self-preservation.
Even from half a mile away, she could glimpse the widening cracks in their protective dome. Its light swayed and fluttered under constant assault, like a flame on too short a wick, just about to extinguish.
As she'd flown above it all, Karma had discerned some fallen bodies among the dark mages, albeit not nearly enough to turn the odds in her brother's favor.
"I count perhaps seventy of them still standing," she said. "Seventy against six." She quirked a smile. "This is suicide."
Matt shrugged his broad shoulders. Returned the smile.
"I've seen worse odds."
Sunyi's tail appeared to wag a tad more excitedly, his round blue eyes shining with what she suspected might be anticipation.
"What's the matter?" Matt turned to look at her. "You scared?"
Her smile faded slowly, hung just off her lips as she looked wistfully at the army intend on slaying her little brother. Juna among them, Leery wearing her appearance to trick and deceive.
Hot anger bathed her heart. Tendrils of Karma's magic slithered in a rush along her nerves, down to the tips of her fingers and toes. She clenched her fists, her cloak flaring around them.
"No," she said. "Not scared."
She stepped to the side, approaching Karma. The phoenix knew what to do, lowering herself so Tessa could hop on the feathery body, snug in between the wings. Karma rose again, poised to take flight. Tessa's gaze flicked down to Matt – he hesitated beside Sunyi.
"Get on," she said, amused. "What are you waiting for?"
The wolf's head was level with Matt's, his body long, lean and muscular. He could handle the extra weight, Tessa was certain, and still run faster than Matt ever could on his own two legs.
Matt nodded as if confirming something with himself, and first he took a few steps away from Sunyi to garner some momentum. Then he rushed and leapt up, hands propped on the wolf's back, left leg locking around. Tessa raised an impressed eyebrow. She'd expected awkwardness, instead the whole thing appeared rehearsed. Matt inched up to just behind Sunyi's shoulders, and the wolf tossed a glance backward toward him, as if to say, hold on tight.
Tessa's smile lingered as she glanced back to the south – and faded fast as soon as she saw.
The dome was gone.
A burst of fire flickered up in the distance, as if suddenly a campfire blazed in the middle of the warriors. Then it vanished. She looked urgently at Matt.
His face paled as he watched, as surely he'd reached the same conclusion: nothing stood now between Jaden and those seventy dark mages.
Except us. Two Felleran dark mages, including a rookie.
Tessa leaned down to hold onto Karma's feathers.
"Go to Jaden," she said. "Just race over to him, don't worry about anyone else. I'll handle Juna." Speaking his name felt like barbed wire in her heart.
"Works for me," Matt said, his voice grim.
She gave her silent command and Karma's wings pushed at the air, carrying them up and across the clouded sky. Below them, Sunyi became a black streak across the low grassy hills, Matt looking small atop his back as he held onto the wolf's neck for dear life.
Karma gained speed with vigorous flaps of her massive wings, and soon they dove toward the hateful shape in the distance. He proved easy enough to locate even through the morass of warriors, what with the blonde head – her own head – sticking out beside him.
I hope you've enjoyed your long, long life, headmaster, because you can kiss it goodbye today.
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