The final battle had been brutal. Each of the males that served as the last bastion between us and the heavy iron door that caged Aurora were all the sons of gods. We’d killed most of them, but as Lux had said, we had to leave a few alive.

Blood dripped from Eryx’s lip as he smiled a snake’s smile. “Varian is coming, you know,” he panted. “You will all be dead with the dawn.”

I held one of my Stygian blades pressed to his throat, itching to draw it across his jugular. “If Varian wants a fight, he will have one. But not today.”

His lips pulled back from brown teeth. “He will hunt you. He will slaughter every Myridian he finds until she’s at his side.”

Peleus stood behind the weaselly male, and, apparently, he'd heard enough. He brought the butt of his sword down against the sensitive bundle of nerves behind the earlobe. Eryx crumpled. I pulled my blade back in just enough time to avoid gravity removing his head.

We dragged Eryx, along with the few guards who still breathed, down the stairs and into the holding cells on the lower floor.

Lux hovered in the doorway. “You have to make it look like I put up a fight.”

I offered him my hand and he took it, gripping it tight. “I’ll see you soon, brother.”

He winked. “Better believe it, boss.”

And with those parting words, I slammed my head into his. His eyes rolled back and he slumped. I caught him and laid him with the other Imperials before backing out of the cell. Parthenia leaned down, plucking the key off one of the guards. She locked the door behind her.

Blood squelched underfoot as we climbed the stairs. It leaked from a dead guard laying with his throat slashed at the top. I stepped over him.

Then nothing else stood between me and Aurora—nothing but a massive iron door.

I reached out a hand and hissed at the contact. I cursed. “Solid iron, probably half a foot thick.” And to make matters worse, a large lock was embedded in its center, holding a fat bar in place. As if they feared Aurora would break out from within.

I looked at Peleus. A Wind Wielder, just as Nerina was, he had enough control over the element to blow in most locked doors we encountered. His mouth settled into a deep frown. “No way, brother. This thing’s too heavy. And the iron? Just being near it will limit my magic.”

Behind us, Dacian growled.

I turned to find his ears cocked, eyes trained on one of the barred windows. The sky grew lighter by the minute. Then I heard what his lupine ears had already picked up: hooves clattered against the cobbled street many stories below. Voices drifted, too distant to make out the words. I pressed a hand against the stone, briefly closing my eyes as I listened to the rock.

Far down at the base of the tower, a door opened.

“They’re here.”

Dacian rolled his massive shoulders and turned towards the iron door. He flashed me one more yellow-eyed glance. I nodded. “It’s now or never.”

Then he charged.

And nothing happened. His bestial form bounced harmlessly off the iron. The only progress he made was to knock a bit of mortar loose from between the stones above the frame.

“Again.”

Dacian took a few steps back, lips pulling back from his teeth. Then he took a giant, running leap.

The iron shook. More mortar rained down. When the dust cleared, there was only the barest dent in the center of the door.

It wasn't nearly enough.

Peleus pushed Parthenia back to a safe distance behind him. He stood, closing his eyes for a moment. His hands lifted, palms facing toward the ceiling. Air poured into the room from the small window, bringing with it clear sounds from below. Voices were raised. More hoove beats joined the horses already on the street. A hand against the stone told me enough: the lower levels were filling with soldiers. The first bodies had been found. Luckily, we’d barred each level’s door behind us. At best, that effort would buy us a few extra minutes.

Again, Dacian backed up, hackles raised. But this time, when he charged, a strong wall of hard air moved with him.

Though the bar across the door stood firm, the metal buckled around the frame.

“Gods,” Parthenia hissed, shielding her eyes.

Light exploded into the corridor, heat pouring through the small space between metal and stone.

The darkness inside me roiled to life in answer, but my stomach sank like a stone. This . . . it was too much. Whatever she was doing, if she didn’t stop . . . Panic filled my chest.

“Aurora!”

There was no answer. Only white-hot light.

“Again!” I ordered. “Now!”

Peleus’ wind and Dacian’s massive body rammed the door. Again, and again, and again.

I felt the booted feet pounding through the stone as soldiers poured up the steps. Barred door after barred door gave way and up they moved.

Soon. They would reach us too soon. And with them . . . Brutal, bloodthirsty power.

Varian.

And that light filtering around the cracks in the door only grew stronger, hotter. If she didn’t stop, there might be nothing left of her to save. And worse, I feared that might be her intention.

I screamed her name, begged her to stop until my voice gave out.

Again, again, again Peleus and Dacian rammed the door.

“Move!” Parthenia ordered, pushing between them and the door. A ball of flaming water was balanced, hovering above her hands.

She pushed it against the barred lock. It glowed, turning the metal a luminous blue. Peleus fed the fire, blowing just enough air against it to bank the flames. Finally, the metal began to warp.

Dacian growled.

It was a warning I didn’t need.

The Dorians had caught up.

My power, brought to the very surface of my skin in answer to Aurora’s light, flowed from my fingertips in a massive wave.

Black, glimmering mist filtered down the stairs, and Dorians died.

Death flowed through me in a torrent, its shadow darkening my vision as it claimed soul after soul. It poured from my body in a choking, killing fog. But it would not be enough. Not for long.

Varian was coming.

Dacian leapt again, pounding the bent door.

Finally, the heated bar snapped.

Peleus poured one last gust of wind through the corridor and the door slammed open, banging against the interior wall.

The heat was incredible. It erupted from the room beyond—from Aurora. My friends staggered back, covering their faces. Dacian whimpered as he buried his muzzle between his massive paws.

But I pressed on.

I screamed her name, my eyes burning as I struggled to find her in that inferno. “Aurora!” I called once more, my voice a rough, barking husk.

Power exploded in a great shock wave of raging light.

It speared from her body, shooting like thousands of fiery arrows through the world.

I watched, helpless, knowing I couldn’t possibly move in time.

Then one of those brilliant, blazing shards of fire pierced me straight through the heart.