Asena POV

I nodded to the patrons all around me as the market continued to flourish. The cold breeze blew my unbound hair back as I glanced to the sky. It had turned cold too quickly. I closed my eyes at the smell of fresh cinnamon biscuits and the hot cider being passed around among Fae and mortal alike.

A home without the heritage lines getting in the way. A home we had all hoped and dreamed of.

"Oh, General! Do you think the crops will survive?" An older female Fae with the sweetest chocolates stopped me in my thoughts.

I nodded towards her, "We are taking the necessary precautions, Olanda." She smiled at me, warm and unrefined.

Three foundlings ran past me with makeshift swords in their hands.

One yelled, "Die Hybern die!" While the others squealed with delight. A small smile started on my lips as a shadow passed overhead.

Three shadows to be exact.

Massive bat-like wings spread wide enough to cover more distance than half the Seraphim males could. I tipped my head back and gazed at the coloring of their wings in the sunlight. Red and gold peaked through the membranous texture.

"Look! It's the Illyrios!" One of the children exclaimed.

Another shoved them hard in the shoulder, "They're Illyrians, you idiot."

"Both of you are idiots. They're the strongest, most fiercest Illyrians in all the land!"

A female foundling walked up beside me and tugged on my cloak. I looked down at her as she softly asked, "Are they here to save us?"

I nodded, "They are going to help keep our land safe."

"I like that one," I followed her pointed finger that landed on the set of wings bathed in shadow.

And he was already staring at me.

I watched as he beat his wings, forcing himself in front of his brothers. I noticed with only a tinge of satisfaction that his wingspan was longer than his brothers, but only by a fraction of an inch. The sunlight flared through his wings, making them almost transparent.

I watched as they flew in synchronization. His eyes held mine a moment longer then looked ahead at another.

I followed his gaze just as Ret flared her wings to slow her descent. I moved the foundling behind me as she slammed into the pathway, cracking it along the base.

"We're under attack—"

Time slowed as I felt the pressure in the air thin then a resounding boom spread out over the marketplace.

Ret flared her wings, shrouding the other foundlings from the massive amounts of cement and dirt coming up from the ground.

I tucked the female underneath me, pushing her to the ground. She grunted as I landed hard on top of her. Gravel impaled my flared wings and left cuts along the base.

I pushed myself to standing, holding the foundling close.

That's when the screams started.

"Ret, get them out of here now!" I picked the foundling up and tossed her to Ret as I unsheathed the twin swords from my back.

"Asena—"

"That's an order!" She gave me a pained glance then rounded up the foundlings, ushering them towards safety. I barked the orders towards other soldiers in the courtyard. They each made off with foundlings in tow. Some even took to the skies with protesting elders in their arms.

Where was he? He was in the sky, but now I couldn't see him. I listened for his wings and was met with the screeching of patrons all around. It knocked me out of my desire to find Azriel.

I turned and saw the explosion had hit the heart of the marketplace, less than thirty feet from where I was.

And through the smoke came the males and females of the Mountains.

I snarled as they stood before the ruined marketplace, sneering.

I wanted to feel their blood on my hands. I flipped my blades in my hands, letting that raging calm wash over me.

There were only about twenty of them traipsing through the ruins of the marketplace. They were clothed in the thick material of their ancestors. Most had thick beards and tangled hair with three lines of white paint etched down the side of their faces. Hatchets, knives, and ropes hung from their belts as they all stood in a line, waiting. Waiting for us to start the charge. Hundreds of them stood in the ruins.

I felt the warm bodies of my soldiers beside me as they all readied their weapons. Ret appeared beside me just as Jasper and Lucas did.

I almost commanded the charge, commanded the bloodshed.

Then I heard the small cry of a foundling.

I narrowed my eyes, looking towards the Mountainous male who stood slightly in front of the others. In the crook of his elbow was a small female head poking out. Tears tore down her face. Her feet were bloodied and ravaged as if they made her walk the entire way while the rest of them rode. Her wings draped behind her like she didn't have the strength to keep them off the ground.

The male holding her smiled. Then reached down and licked up the side of her face.

She did everything she could to move away from the male, but his strength held her where she was.

I snarled at him, echoed by my comrades.

"Kill them," I whispered.

Ret led the charge with a scream tearing through her lips. The soldiers all charged with her, mirroring the animalistic sound to her scream.

I saw no Illyrians in the charge as I walked towards the enemy. It didn't matter; I was going to end their existence where they were. I clenched my blades, feeling for that power that would aid me in my fury.

The shadows answered me in angst as they wrapped around my blades, strengthening their blows.

The male still held the foundling as his soldiers charged around him. Still, he kept that smile plastered on his face.

I flipped my blades in my hands, eyeing the Mountainous male that kept away from the onslaught of my comrades. He smiled at me as he tossed the foundling to the side. I watched as she slammed hard into the ground, her wings barely flaring to balance her.

I snarled at him and he took off a sprint towards me. With one slice, he took out a Seraphim male. He turned, slicing through another with ease before he reached me.

I let my power absorb my fear and thrust it into my motions. The shadows curled around me, waiting for the moment I unleashed myself on my opponent.

I crouched, feeling the muscles in my legs tighten as I waited for the first swing of his sword.

Time slowed as he hefted his sword high in the air and brought it down upon me in one fell swoop.

I quickly parried it to the side, feeling the momentum throw him off balance. I shoved him hard with my shoulder, but he quickly recovered, bringing his sword down upon my blades once more.

He swung for my head just as I ducked under it and whirled on him. I braced myself for his onslaught as his sword came over top and I crossed mine over one another, feeling the impact in my shoulders as the weight came down on them. I grunted at the impact, feeling the strength in which he pushed down on me hard. For a moment, I looked into the eyes of the male, seeing nothing but pure anger and hate.

Pushing with my legs, I swung with my swords, swift and deadly. He dodged my first swipe, but not my second as my blade slid into the soft flesh of his stomach.

I watched his body fall to the floor, lifeless.

I turned, scanning the marketplace for Ret and eyed her finishing off female. She turned to our other comrades and heaved a breath.

I walked towards her, eyeing the dead as I passed. A small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

The foundling was curled on her side, hugging her knees as Ret approached her. I tripped over heavy feet to get to them.

Ret crouched down next to her and slowly laid a hand on her side. She flinched against Ret's touch and Ret pulled her hand back.

Her tiny wings curled around her, shrouding her from view.

"It's okay. You're safe now," I whispered to her. Slowly, so slowly, she uncurled her wing. I bent down to get eye level with her, to show her that she was truly safe.

I didn't see the blade in time as she moved with deft skill straight for my heart.

The shadows pushed for the knife trying to deflect it, but the foundling was quick. I grunted as the blade sunk deep into my shoulder and I fell back hitting the ground hard.

"No!" Ret screamed as she grabbed onto the foundling, restraining her against the ground. Her knee was driven deep into the foundling's back.

With her face shoved into the dirt, I saw the gleam in her eye as she stared at me. The wicked sneer never left her lips.

Lucas and Jasper leapt for me but not before another resounding boom echoed across the courtyard. It sounded farther away, almost to the canyon.

I grunted against the pain of the knife as I ordered them, "Go!"

They both hesitated and glanced from each other towards me.

"That's an order!" They took off without another glance and flapped high into the skies.

I pushed myself to my knees, trying to staunch the bleeding that flowed freely around the wound.

"You take this one back to camp and restrain her. Place three guards on her and do not turn your back on her." Ret commanded three strong-willed female Faes. I watched as they picked her off the ground and flew towards camp.

"Ret, get this damned thing out of my shoulder." I said over harsh breathing.

Ret came over and knelt on the ground with me, knee to knee. Her brown eyes seemed almost black with emotion. She looked to the sky and said, "The Illyrians are making their way to the second explosion."

"Take it out, damnit."

Ret nodded and gripped the handle of the knife. She shot me a pained glance then yanked the knife.

I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they'd crack as I screamed at the pain it left. Ret immediately pressed her hand against the wound. Ret had power, but it took great concentration for her to heal on a battlefield.

That's what our home had become. A battlefield.

She pressed hard against the wound and closed her eyes. Her rich brown skin seemed to glisten as the rain came down upon us. I felt the immense pain lessen to a dull throb as she opened her eyes, taking deep breaths.

"Press here," she whispered as she pushed my hand on top of the wound then went to find supplies. She rummaged through three carts before she found a bag of medical supplies.

She made quick work of a makeshift bandage as she kept it pinned down to my leathers. The pain lessened with each breath enough for me to wield a sword.

"Let's go," I didn't give her time to protest as I shot for the skies. She soon followed, unsheathing her mighty blade as we flew for the next battle.

Azriel POV

We were about to join Drakon and Miryam for lunch when we heard the explosion. We felt the earth shake just as we landed in the castle courtyard.

We all turned back and watched as half of the path went up into the sky. The screams echoed their way to us as patrons began running.

"I need soldiers down there now!" Drakon said as he came down the steps of the castle. Miryam was close behind with Mor and Feyre.

Where was she where was she

She was on the path, in the middle of the marketplace.

Cassian looked at me as if he realized the same thing.

"Rhys—"

"Go!" He commanded his General. Cassian flew hard for the camp to round up the Illyrians. I grabbed for Mor who immediately jumped into my arms as we all took to the skies.

Feyre conjured her wings and rode beside her mate. Drakon held onto Miryam as they flew hard for the explosion.

He flew in front of us, pushing himself faster than I thought wings could fly.

I felt Mor tense underneath me as she readied for a battle. We all were eerily quiet as we flew for the destruction. Cassian joined us moments later as did a legion of Illyrians, all ready for battle. I glanced behind me at the stone faced warriors.

Before we even laid eyes on the path, another explosion went up across the way. Each of us paused then Cassian said, "It's near the canyon."

Miryam gasped, "They're destroying the tunnels!"

Drakon cursed and flapped hard for the second explosion. He flew at such a speed that the buildings below us were nothing but a blur.

I didn't have time to think about where Asena was because when I laid eyes on the second explosion, I fought back the urge to scream.

On the opposite side of the city in which we arrived, there was a dry patch of land before the forest began at the bottom of the mountain. The tunnels had converged at the barrier of the city, right where the Safeguard was stationed amongst many homes and shops. And they had planted the second explosion right where those three tunnels converged. As the tunnels caved in, so did a good portion of the city barrier.

Homes and shops laid in ruin as the ground gave way along the border. I heard Miryam choke back a sob as she watched the painted cobblestones disappear deep into the earth.

And from the foot of the mountains, coming out of the trees, hundreds of Mountainous males and females marched upon the city.

"Flank the Seraphim! I want the first legion on the lines now!" Cassian ordered his soldiers. No doubt he was already thinking of ways to win this with the least amount of lives lost.

I watched as the Illyrians dove hard for the front lines. They tucked their wings in tight, some even pushing themselves harder for the line.

Before we could set down, a white haired soldier charged the enemy with hundreds of warriors on her heels. I heard her estranged battle cry echo across the lands as she met her first enemy.

She took him down in a single blow. Then spun and took the head off another. I almost screamed at her when another came at her back, but she stepped to the side and sliced her next opponent in two.

I had forgotten how beautifully she fought.

"Azriel, get us down there!" Mor screamed at me over the carnage. I shook my head, trying to focus.

We free fell just as Mor winnowed us to the front lines. She already had her blade out and into the gut of the enemy before I even had my unsheathed.

"You took too long," she chided me as she smiled and turned towards the battle. I released a breath and followed her into the fray.

All around us, our family fought like a thousand Illyrians. We raged across the battlefield as one. I watched the beautiful way in which Feyre swung her blade. The way Mor released her rage through her sword alone.

I stayed close to Cassian, watching his back just as Rhysand watched mine. The sounds of war rang out around us. Swords clashing, soldiers grunting and cursing, the quiet from the fallen.

I turned and swiped at the head of a male then went through the gut of another. We formed a line, pushing the enemy back.

Again, and again I looked for the stark white hair and the rainbow colored feathers.

I caught a glimpse of her for a moment, but then she was swallowed up by both sides.

"Get to the left side, it's failing!" I heard Cassian shout as he took to the skies quickly; a shield of red encased him as he flew hard for the left side.

I felt my shield slide into place as I followed him to the weak flank. I watched as he touched down in time to save a Seraphim female from getting sliced through.

I beat my wings harder as I saw a traitorous Illyrian eyeing Cassian.

"Your right!" I screamed at him. I pulled at the shadows, waiting for them to transport me to his side.

But the enemy was quicker.

His blade soared through the air, straight for Cassian's exposed back.

And met the twin blades of Asena's. She grunted against the impact, her left side not being able to hold all the weight.

I slammed into the mud a second later and felt the soft flesh of his stomach as my blade struck true. I watched the life leave his eyes as he fell back into the mud.

I turned and found Asena eyeing my blade as if she remembered what it felt like against her own skin.

My harsh breathing was the only sound as I gazed at the bandage wrapped around her shoulder. Blood leaked from the bandage, staining her light grey armor. She noticed my intent stare and shrugged her other shoulder as if to say it was nothing.

Her scent reeked of pain as she sheathed one of her swords. I took a step towards her, feeling an odd rush of emotion. She had fought for her people with every last bit of her strength. She cared nothing for her own safety, but the safety of her lands.

Did that forgive her past?

She scanned me from head to toe and when she noted that I was unscathed, she nodded, releasing a breath I didn't know she was holding.

Her eyes flared right before I ducked low, spinning on my knee. I pulled Truth-Teller and watched as it flipped end over end into the forehead of the enemy.

The mud squelched underneath me as I walked to him, yanking my knife out.

I turned and found Asena gaping at me. As if she couldn't believe the deft skill I possessed.

I gave her a quiet, dry smile and took another step towards her.

Cassian came up beside me and looked towards Asena, "We need to recapture the weak side."

Remembering herself, she straightened and nodded, "All yours, General." As she stepped aside, she raised her sword. Her voice was surprisingly deep as she eyed Cassian, "Thank you. For fighting for my people."

Cassian nodded and bowed slightly, "Anytime, Princess."

She snarled halfheartedly at him. He chuckled as he passed her, making for the weak flank. I balked at the sudden familiarity between them. She eyed me once more then took off after Cassian, keeping the enemy from his back as she put one enemy after another down when they crossed her path.

We fought long and hard. I could feel my muscles beginning to ache with the heaviness of my sword. Cassian had lost his shield somewhere and was fighting with just his sword.

Even our Siphons were flickering in and out as our magic depleted.

Then I felt the great and mighty power of our High Lord and Lady as they encased the battlefield with their own.

They blanketed the field in darkness, clearing the way for a small victory. It took only a matter of seconds before the enemy was put down.

Asena marveled at the power for a moment then quickly started on the wounded. I followed her, kneeling down next to a wounded Illyrian.

"Thank you for fighting for my people. Let me help you." She said it so gently that the Illyrian stopped groaning and let her heal him right there on the battlefield. I watched her eyebrows furrowed together in concentration as her power washed over the Illyrian, knitting his abdomen back together.

My own shadows leaned towards her in interest, not in similarity, but something… different. Like the opposite of what my own power entailed.

She turned and felt along the jawline of another soldier. She closed her eyes at the realization she was already dead. I stood beside her, waiting for her to lose it.

She didn't. She simply closed the eyes of the fallen and forced herself to her feet. She didn't spare me a glance as she moved to the next soldier.

I looked to the sky as a shadow passed overhead. Ret landed softly and knelt beside their fallen comrade. Once again, Asena closed the eyes of the fallen and looked towards her friend, shaking her head.

There was so much emotion swimming in Ret's eyes that I forced myself to look away. To find my own family.

Cassian found me moments later as I made my way back towards the makeshift camp they had arranged on the barrier of the city, right outside the Safeguard. He stayed quiet, but the tension in his neck and shoulders was hard to miss.

Feyre and Amren were making quick work of healing and bandaging up the soldiers. Mor was sitting with a few of the foundlings, working to locate their families. Tents were being procured to give the dead and their families some privacy.

We had all just survived one brutal war. To walk straight into another without a moment of peace… I sighed, unable to find the words.

Cassian stilled beside me as he too was realizing that we were lucky indeed, to still have our family intact.

Rhysand joined us moments later, sighing loudly as he ran his bloodied hand through his hair, "They lost many in the explosions."

Cassian nodded, "What are the numbers?"

"So far? Over a hundred." Rhysand said quietly. He glanced over his shoulder at Drakon who was helping hold down a soldier. The second explosion had taken off a good part of his leg and they would need to get rid of the dead flesh before they could clean it.

This was the worst part of wars. The aftermath.

"I'm calling in Nesta's legion," Cassian said sternly. Rhysand nodded, but kept his eyes pinned on Drakon.

I heard the beats of her wings before she even set down. They were not as strong as they usually were, thanks to her injury.

We all turned as she, Ret, Jasper, and Lucas set down and strode into the makeshift camp. They each leaked confidence… and control. I noted with slight satisfaction that as they appeared, Seraphim all around looked to them and felt newfound strength in their duties.

These people truly did look to their commanders.

Asena passed us all a glance, nodding in our direction. Surprise and shock filtered through us as Cassian nodded back.

Ret however kept her gaze straight forward. Red rimmed around her eyes and she sniffled once more before throwing her shoulders back.

Once Drakon noticed Asena, he quickly had another take his place. Two quick strides and he wrapped his arms around Asena, holding her tight.

Then he pulled back and chided her for not seeing a medic for her injury.

A half smile started on my lips at Asena's response, "Yes because my itty bitty knife wound is more important than this entire tent." She stared her brother down until he nodded. He pulled her tight against him again and whispered into her ear, "We will make them pay."

She nodded against his chest, letting the full weight of what happened land on her shoulders.

I looked away, afraid of feeling something I had tried so hard to deny. Something that I did not want to feel. Not for her.

Cassian scoffed and turned towards me once more, "I guess this means we have to respect her now, huh?"

Rhysand chuckled and said, "She fought like a true Illyrian; I'll give her that."

I shook my head when they looked at me, "She fought like Seraphim."

They both nodded as we set out to help the wounded.