Hundreds had passed us as they ran deeper beneath the ground, following the tunnels which the Storm Dragon and his pack had carved to take them to safety away from this hell we fought in.
The rush had turned to a trickle now as the injured were either carried back or managed to drag themselves to safety. Some brave souls had lingered, healing as many as they could before their power waned, but now it was down to the two of us and our magic was fading fast too.
“We can’t hold them off much longer, Kitty,” Hamish ground out, his teeth clenched as he fought to use every drop of his power to keep the Nymphs from reaching us. The vines we’d cast wrapped tightly around more and more of them, hurling them away from the entrance to the tunnels and the last few rebels who raced towards us in need of an escape from the carnage Lionel had wreaked here tonight.
“I know,” I gasped, a tear burning a trail down my cheek as I hunted for any sign of my boys among the survivors who still fought to get back here. “But I can’t run. Not while they’re still out there, Hammy.”
“Me either,” he agreed, his eyes shining with love for his daughter and my boys combined.
We’d created something pure, him and I. This little bubble of happiness built on nothing more than the foundation of love.
He had found me as a broken soul, my years of abuse at Lionel’s hands leaving me a husk of the woman I’d once been. And yet he’d coaxed me back out of myself. He’d helped me find out who I really was without a command or bind to hold on me and he’d loved me as that woman. He’d shown me what true love really was and how endlessly beautiful it could be while I healed him of the hurt he’d been left with after losing his wife.
A fearful whinny drew my attention and my heart stilled as I spotted a silver Pegasus galloping towards us, a girl on its back blasting fire at the Nymphs who closed in on them as she cried out in alarm. The Nymphs released their rattle and the fire in the girl’s hands died out just as I recognised her.
“Sofia!” I cried, throwing a hand out towards them and ripping a chasm through the ground with earth magic which sent the Nymphs to the right of them tumbling down into it with screams of fury while Hamish cast a battering ram into existence which crashed into the Nymphs on their left.
“He’s coming!” Sofia yelled, but I didn’t pay her words much attention as I spotted the two figures who were laying before her on Tyler’s back, and I sucked in a sharp breath of recognition as I spotted Xavier’s blood-soaked flesh.
“Hammy, they have Xavier and Geraldine,” I gasped, my grip tightening on his hand as I urged the Pegasus to run faster while continuing to destroy the ground behind him to hold the Nymphs at bay.
Tyler whinnied in alarm as he galloped faster, kicking up mud and clods of grass all around him as he charged towards us with terror in his eyes and as I looked beyond him, I saw why.
Lionel rose up behind them, using his air magic to hold himself above the ranks of Nymphs who still fought to get to us and raising his hands as his gaze locked on the charging stallion and the Fae he carried.
“Cling tight, Kitty, we can hold off that rapscallion,” Hamish said firmly, and though my heart trembled with fear at the sight of the man who had once owned me so cruelly, I raised my chin and tightened my hold on my husband’s hand, lending him all of my power as he threw an air shield up behind our children to keep Lionel from hurting them.
Lionel cast fire at the shield with a force so powerful that it almost fell, but through pure determination and love for our children, we made it hold.
I sucked in a sharp breath as my magic reserves diminished, knowing I was running out and willing the stars to lend me the strength I needed to hold on just a little longer.
Tyler neighed loudly as he raced to meet us, the open tunnel standing wide at our backs, welcoming him in.
“Get on!” Sofia cried as they skidded to halt beside us and a sob burst from me as I took in the wounds on Xavier’s spine, knowing exactly what must have caused them and who the culprit was.
Geraldine was deathly pale, the taint of poison hanging about her which made my heart knot with fear, and I reached out to brush my fingers through her hair before taking Xavier’s hand and squeezing.
“We have to hold him off,” I gasped as Hamish growled loudly, the tug on my magic intensifying to the point of pain as he fought to keep Lionel back.
“Mom?” Xavier groaned and I leaned in to press a kiss to his cheek.
“I have loved you unconditionally from the moment I first found out I was having you. You are my starlit boy, my light in the dark and I am so endlessly proud of the man you have become, my love,” I said, feeling the cold taste of goodbye on my tongue and knowing it was the only way.