A moment too long.

I knew better. I’d trained for hours the way most girls spent hours reading books or shopping at the mall or learning to play the piano. I knew how to riposte and parry with a fencing foil, how to throw daggers and axes, how to execute a proper roundhouse kick. But in that second, all I could see was Montmartre as he’d grabbed me and the feel of the tiara as I’d shoved it through his chest.

The rest of his warriors, still loyal to his memory and the torch of blood vengeance, closed around us like a fist. They moved with military precision.

Luckily, so did Kieran.

Chapter 42

Lucy

We ran all the way to the platforms, trailing jaw-clacking Hel-Blar.

There was so much adrenaline coursing through me, I felt sick. “This was a better idea in theory.” I panted, even though between Nicholas on one side and Christabel on the other, my feet barely touched the ground.

Nicholas managed to find an actual rope ladder, not just a rope with knots for handholds. Connor went up first so he could hang down and lift us up when we got within reach. I followed Christabel. Nicholas stayed on the ground, a long dagger in one hand and a stake in the other. He broke into a run when we were too far up the tree to stop him, drawing the Hel-Blar off our scent.

“Damn it,” Connor said, practically tossing me up on the platform. “Why does he keep doing that?”

I raced across the platforms, keeping my eye on Nicholas, willing him to stop running so I could cover him properly with my bow. Connor dropped back down to the ground, darting after his brother. Christabel and I kept going, leaping over the broken boards and skirting small fires. I choked on smoke, eyes tearing.

It wasn’t long before we were back on the edge of the battle and the Hel-Blar abandoned us in favor of the fallen wounded, who were bleeding in the snow. Nicholas and Connor went for the nearest ladder, pulling it up behind them once they’d reached a platform. We ran until we found Chloe sitting on the rough planks, rubbing the back of her neck. She was hunched over her laptop. Jenna had lashed herself to a branch by her waist. She straddled it, feet dangling on either side. I had to duck under her boots. These platforms must have been used by the Moon Guard because there were rails and makeshift roofs, baskets of food, and a jug of water. I took a long drink, only now realizing how thirsty I was.

“How’s it going?” I asked.

Jenna just grunted and loosed another arrow. Chloe was slightly wild-eyed. “I much prefer computer hacking to actual hacking,” she said. “I’m sending Hope’s coordinates to Hart,” she added to Connor.

“And Hunter?” I asked, peering over the side.

Hunter still hadn’t moved away from her grandfather’s body. She was defending it with grim precision, her blond ponytail swinging behind her. Quinn stayed at her side, dispatching a Hel-Blar and knocking aside a hunter with the same blow. Jenna shot another arrow, taking out a Hel-Blar who strayed too close to them. I reached for my own arrows, nocking one to the bowstring even as I widened my stance for better balance.

I searched for Solange, finally spotting her at the edge of the clearing with Kieran and Helena, all surrounded by Host vampires. Nicholas saw them too.

“Stay here,” he ordered as I shot an arrow through two Host, turning them both to dust. “Please,” he added desperately. Since I was better able to help from up here, I didn’t argue. He kissed me quickly, fiercely, and then he was gone over the railing. He landed nimbly and I covered him as he crossed the battlefield toward Solange.

Having a Drake for a boyfriend and one for a best friend was a full-time job.

Chapter 43

Solange

Kieran stepped in front of both Mom and me and shot one of the guns off his belt. It didn’t fire bullets or holy water. Instead, flares exploded with fiery trails, blinding the Host who were coming for us. Red flashes seared the darkness for a blinding, eye-stabbing moment.

Mom was already flipping over Kieran’s head, landing in front of him once the flares had burned out. Trails of light burned into my eyelids like comets every time I blinked. The Host closest to us shouted, covering their faces. There was a pause in the fighting as everyone was silhouetted in impossible red light.

I snapped out of my momentary panic and balanced my mother’s flip by sliding low through the snow, stake in hand. I went left as she went right and we made our own fist, closing deadly fingers around the Host. They didn’t notice right away, assuming they had the upper hand because there were more of them.

You’d think they’d have figured out not to underestimate my mother by now.

As for me, I was happy to be underestimated. I’d finally realized being underestimated could be a powerful weapon. I stood still, pretending to be frozen with fear again.

They turned toward me, eyes flaring and fangs flashing.

Mom’s sword turned hilt over tip above their heads and I reached up to grab it out of the air. The familiar weight of a sword in my hand made me smile. I used it to knock a stake out of a vampire’s hand, flipping it to Kieran. He caught it, immediately going into a fight stance. The world narrowed to my sword, the crunch of snow under the boots of approaching Host, the hiss of anger as they got closer to me, and the sound of bat wings.

And then Kieran went down.

He vanished from sight as Host closed around him. An arrow flew out of the trees behind us. It hit one of the Host and she stumbled back, clutching at the shaft embedded in her stomach. Blood welled between her fingers. Hel-Blar howled at the edge of the circle, trying to join the fray when they smelled her fresh blood.