it. If I can open a portal, we can hide everyone there.”
Tatiana shook her head. “That’s crazy. We have no way to know what lies in wait in an uncharted realm.”
Grunts, snorts, and clashing swords echoed up the mountainside.
Noah shrugged. “We know what waits here.”
Ryleigh asked, “Did Elijah suggest you try it?”
“He didn’t say whether we should go there or not, simply offered it as a viable option if we got into trouble.”
“Well, we are definitely in trouble, and Elijah didn’t say anything simply. If he mentioned it, he had good reason.” She was going to have to make a choice, and she didn’t have time to weigh her options. “Okay. Tatiana and Noah, start moving everyone around the cave and toward the back side of the mountain, and take Nahara and the pups with you, then wait for me to signal. If Mia can open the portal, we’ll enter the new realm. If not, we’ll head up the mountain.”
They followed her orders immediately, without question.
She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that, grateful or scared. “You know what I find weird?”
“Seriously?” Mia stared at her and lifted a brow.
“Okay, aside from the…well, pretty much everything. Chayce entered the throne room alone with his savages. Where was Thaddeus?”
“Hmmm. From what I understand, Thaddeus has been at his side since he fled Cymmera.”
“Yeah, that’s what I thought too.” When they’d confronted Chayce last, Thaddeus had been practically glued to his hip. If Thaddeus was lying in wait somewhere, they were all dead. Or worse. “Could he know about the new realm?”
Mia shifted. “I suppose anything is possible, but Elijah was very specific about one thing when he passed his knowledge on to me. No matter what I see, no matter what I think I might know, only relay the information that’s absolutely needed at any given time. Mistakes in this business can be costly.” A shiver tore through her.
“All right.” For now. “See what you can do.”
Mia stared at the book for what seemed like forever, then closed her eyes.
Savages poured onto the platform. The tempo of their grunts and snorts increased as they surged closer.
With a gut-wrenching scream, a Cymmeran Guardsman plunged over the cliff and tumbled down the mountain.
A portal opened, barely an opening at all.
The stench of decay accompanied the savages surging forward.
Not yet big enough for the smallest child, the portal kicked up wicked hot wind, howling louder with each inch the portal grew.
Her soldiers pulled back.
“Come on, Mia.”
“I’m trying.”
Another Cymmeran soldier fell.
Ryleigh started toward him. She had to try to heal him.
A savage fell on him before she even got close. He grinned, a mouthful of crooked, rotted teeth covered in blood.
She raised her voice above the howling wind. “Now, Mia.”
Mia raised her arms above her head, her entire body trembling with the strain of trying to tear the portal open.
The portal wavered, then jerked open a little more.
The Queen’s Army lined the edge of the plateau, weapons ready.
Tatiana stood with them.
Three savages scaled the rocks and lurched onto the platform where her soldiers stood.
Tristan and Jimmy sent them flying back over the edge.
More scrambled up behind them.
Ryleigh searched the platform. There had to be something she could use as a weapon.
“I’ve got it,” Mia cried.
The portal opened just enough for an adult to squeeze through. It would have to be good enough.
“Wait, Mia.” She grabbed her arm and yelled over the raging wind. “How will Jackson find us?”
Mia shook her head. “He won’t.” With a wave toward the others to follow, she started into the opening.
Ryleigh pulled her back. She wasn’t sending Mia, or any other unarmed civilian, into an uncharted realm. Especially with Thaddeus on the loose. Yet this was their only chance of escape. “Can you hold it open?”
“I think so, but I’m not sure how long.” Violent tremors shook her body, and a steady stream of blood flowed from her nose.
The Queen’s Army was already engaged with savages near the edge of the plateau. The enemy had obviously penetrated the line of Guardsmen.
Ryleigh grabbed a fallen savage’s flail and leaped over his body. She grabbed Lucas’s arm.
He spun on her.
She took a step back and gestured toward the wavering portal. “Take one soldier and go.”
He nodded, grabbed the nearest Guardsman, and ran toward the portal.
Ryleigh covered them, taking on two savages to allow them time to escape. The three-headed flail was heavier than she was used to, and it slowed her swing. She ducked to avoid a savage’s sword.
Noah planted his foot against the savage’s gut and shoved him backward over the cliff. “Go, Ryleigh.”
Another Cymmeran soldier fell.
Ryleigh backed off. They couldn’t wait any longer. She could only hope they’d bought Lucas enough time to secure the portal and whatever lay on the other side. She signaled to the waiting civilians.
Trying to avoid the worst of the battle, they bolted toward the portal. A few of the women had broken off large branches and wielded them against any savages that broke through the line of soldiers. Others hefted large rocks, hurling them at savages who seemed to be gaining the upper hand against their soldiers.
Unarmed women fled with the children, shielding them from the carnage as best they could.
A child screamed.
Ryleigh spun.
A woman struggled against a savage’s hold while trying to keep the child out of his grasp.
Running toward them, Ryleigh heaved the flail back, then rounded and nailed him square in the chest, driving him back.
He came again.
Another joined him.
“Get
