Bringing my hands out before me, white flames burst from my palms as I shifted into my Kythan form. I sent a beam at the first Narco coming toward us. He tried to block, but was blasted back on his butt. He didn’t get up. Jace sent out bolts, but too many flames came at him to block. I stepped in front of him and urged my power up full force. The white haze surrounded us, and I rocketed out my shield. Seven Narcos all flew into the air, landing on their backs, stunned. I smiled, about to turn back toward the barrier, when I froze, staring down the street.
“That power is so bad,” Jace said and laughed. Then his expression waxed, his face paling when he saw what I was staring at—the battle was moving our way. A group of Shythe retreated as the Narco Army pushed them back.
“Here it comes,” I muttered, crossing my arms over my chest, waiting for the impact.
“I thought you guys were given a direct order?” someone said from behind me.
I spun around to see Nick, Lana, and Devon all fired up and glowing. “What are you guys doing here?” I asked.
“Saving you guys, I guess,” Nick said.
I laughed. I was so happy to see them. But then my mood dimmed. We were all about to be hit with the full front of the battle.
We formed a line, with me in the center. “This is it. When the Shythe move behind us, we let loose.” I swallowed hard. I wasn’t ready for this to be it.
A warm hand engulfed mine. I looked to my left as Jace laced his fingers through mine. “Always,” he said. Then the attack hit.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
A NARCO I RECOGNIZED from my training block held me in a headlock, lifting me off the ground. I really hated that. I threaded my foot around his calf and ignited my White Flame, slamming my hands against his head. I swept my foot forward, and he tumbled to the ground.
I turned on my heel, blasting a beam at him, but he rolled, my power hitting the cobbled street, instead. He recovered to his feet, lunging at me and sending a flame toward my head. Switching my power to Flame, I deflected the blow. He didn’t see that one coming.
Another Narco sidled up beside him and slapped his arm, both of them leering at me. What was this? Tag team? I shook my head and returned my power to Feyan. I had to take these guys out. I had no idea what was happening to the rest of my friends, and I needed to find out.
I blasted the Narcos with my shield, sending it out full force, and they flew back. I didn’t wait for them to recover. I ran at them and jumped, my hands aimed down, palms firing beams into their chests. They shook, convulsing. They didn’t get back up. For a moment I stared down at their lifeless bodies in shock. Then a scream jolted me out of my reverie.
Searching the battle, I spotted Lana. She was up against a nasty Narco twice her size. I rubbed my hands together and headed into the fray. I came at him from
behind, slamming my glowing white arms into his back. He whirled and backhanded me. That stung, but it didn’t take me down like he intended, and I fired a beam into his chest.
He blocked. Lana ran at him and jumped onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. He shook as she shocked him. “Drop him now!” I told her. I didn’t want her touching him when I used my Feyan power. I didn’t know if it would affect her.
She did, falling to her knees before I kicked him once across the face and sent a beam, blasting him in his stomach. He skidded to a stop a few feet away.
“Holy hell, Dez,” she said. “You’re a monster.”
I whipped my head around. “Don’t call me that,” I snapped.
She held her hands up. “Sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, just crazy right now.” I gave her a reassuring smile. But we didn’t have time for girl bonding. Another wave was moving in.
“Let’s find the guys,” I said, grabbing her arm and running.
Jace and Nick were in the center of the battle, taking on more Narcos. Lana pulled her Charge Saber from beneath her pant leg, and we both dove in, joining them. Before we left Cogs, Nick and Jace had given their sabers to Shythe who hadn’t mastered throwing their Charge. I’d have preferred them to keep their sabers—they were more powerful than their blasts, but I didn’t argue. They did what they felt was right. I only hoped Mr. Liam completed the new weapons soon.
If we could arm every Shythe here with Feyan power, we’d actually stand a chance of defeating the Narcolym. Reese, wherever he was, seemed to be holding off the Feyan Army. But I knew Drevan would soon become bored with the battle and send in his last flank. And Reese wouldn’t be able to prevent that. We had to force them back before the last—and final—attack.
And I had to raise the barrier.
While Jace and Nick fought back-to-back, Lana and I moved in beside them, forming a circle. “Did you miss us?” I asked Jace.
He smiled at me. “Of course.” He winked and caught a punch with his arm, pushing a Narco backward.
Another Narco came at me from the side, but I didn’t see him in time, and he clipped me against my temple with a Flame punch. My vision swam, blinking in and out. When I could see clearly again, I spun around to find Jace attacking the same Narco full on. I joined in, blending my beams along with his Charge until the Narco went down. Then we split up as more Narcos came at us.
I dropped another Narco and glanced around the battle. Lana and Devon were holding their own. I watched as Lana kicked a Narco’s knee in, and he fell to the ground. Devon grabbed his head, sank his teeth into his neck, and ripped out his power source.