Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125179 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 626(@200wpm)___ 501(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“Arrows,” said the aide in the driver’s seat.
A thin wave of flaming arrows flew through the sky and rained down on them. They bounced off metal and windows, harmlessly hitting the ground courtesy of the protective spells cast by the many magick users.
Everyone sped on. And so more arrows came. And more. And more. Then came bullets and blasts of magick, all of which did no damage to the vehicles.
Cain sometimes heard the screech of metal grinding against metal coming from somewhere outside, suggesting that maybe riders of bikes had been hit and subsequently lost their balance. But most everyone continued making a direct beeline for Aeon.
And they were almost there.
Near the entrance, a harsh wind abruptly built in the air and then came racing toward the vehicles.
Cain pushed open the roof hatch and released a surge of power. It crashed into the wind and turned it into a spinning vortex. A vortex that soon shifted into a horrendously large swarm of angry wasps. Wasps that then zoomed toward Aeon.
“The keepers are abandoning the watchtowers,” said the aide riding shotgun, a smile in his voice. “Shit, they can’t move fast enough.”
Cain returned to his seat. “It won’t matter. Those were killer wasps. Their stings are fatal.”
Azazel looked at him. “After that show of power, they’ll know the Ancients are leading the army—or at least suspect it. Adam won’t want to believe it.”
Cain shrugged. “They’d have learned it soon enough anyway, because we’re almost there.”
“Hey, I’m not complaining. That wind would have tossed the vehicles here, there, and everywhere. We can’t afford to lose people.”
“Here comes the first line of defense,” said the driver as the wooden doors burst open and troops hurried out of it.
The troops didn’t charge at the vehicles. They formed three lines and gathered in front of the entrance, guns raised or orbs of magick in hand. They didn’t attack, though. Cain suspected they were waiting for the invaders to exit the vehicles and expose themselves.
Close to the entrance now, the vehicles began to slow . . . with the exception of the cars in front. They charged right at the troops, mowing many down but stopping short of the curtain wall.
Mere moments after all the vehicles came to a halt, passengers were hopping out and then racing toward the troops. There were roars of fire, crackles of magick, whooshes of power, and the thunder of bullets. The troops fell quickly, ridiculously overpowered.
Abaddon led the charge as everyone poured through the arch or—in the cases of dragons and many avian shapeshifters—cleared the curtain wall. From outside it, Cain heard battle cries, the firing of yet more bullets, and the roaring of animal shifters . . . which meant many troops awaited them. The arch was only wide enough for five people at a time to barrel through the gap, which meant those in front were going to meet with the resistance without much backup initially. He hoped it didn’t mean they were taken down.
When Cain was finally inside the walls, he almost rocked back on his heels. The once lush landscape was a sad sight. Trees were black and gnarled. Grass was brown and covered in fungi. Shrubs were leafless and thin. Ponds had dried up or become swampy bogs.
Excellent work, pretty witch.
Turning his attention to the battle, Cain resisted the urge to seek out Wynter. They’d already agreed that it didn’t make sense for them to fight alongside each other. The Aeons and their troops would most want to capture Cain and Wynter, so remaining separate would force the bastards to divide their attention. She had her coven, not to mention Kali. They’d do what they could to protect her.
The residents of Devil’s Cradle flooded every corner of the town. The Ancients walked among them, fighting and killing even as they made their way to the entrance of the underground city.
Cain hurled balls of power, smiling in grim satisfaction as they cleaved into people and buildings. The other Ancients made similar moves, wreaking havoc. They weren’t only there to kill. They were there to destroy the town itself. So they demolished houses, knocked down buildings, upturned vehicles, and set fire to the rotting trees and underbrush.
Most troops refused to get close to him, striking from afar. Cain took them out easily—they stood no chance against Ancients, though they might have done if Aeons were among them. Those bastards were nowhere to be seen. They’d no doubt sought sanctuary beneath ground, just as he and the other Ancients had anticipated.
Cries of pain filled the air again and again as Cain’s people attacked with a fury. Berserkers charged. Lycans and shifters pounced. Dragons breathed wind, fire, and ice. Fey, witches, and mages took troops down with magick and weapons. Vampires, demons, and other preternaturals fought with both their bodies and their combative abilities.