586 Up The Hill
‘… so we can make our escape!’
Ashleigh’s voice cried out in his mind.
Caleb thrust his sword into the frog creature’s throat with all his strength until he stabbed the ground below.
Pulling it back and letting the body fall to the ground, Caleb looked up into the hillside where he knew Ashleigh waited at the portal. Then he turned his eyes onto the battlefield.
The Summer reinforcements and the Crag wolves worked well together. They held firm and fought tooth and nail to hold back the army of fae and hybrid monsters.
But they were a long way from the hillside, and more than that, there were still far too many enemies on the field to pull back and retreat safely.
Caleb knew they would not make it up the hill without the fae if they pulled out now. Even more likely, they would lose men in the scramble to reach the portal and leave an opportunity for the fae to cross into it.
He took a deep breath, unsure how to answer his wife.
***
As the last of the civilians crossed into the portal, Ashleigh finished setting the charges.
Everything was ready. The civilians were almost safe in Winter. The gate was set to be destroyed. But she still hadn’t heard from Caleb. They didn’t have much time left.
‘Ashleigh….’ Lily whispered.
Ashleigh could hear a strain in her voice.
‘Are you all right?’ Ashleigh asked.
Lily was quiet for a moment. But when she did speak, she did not answer Ashleigh’s question.
‘Where are the soldiers?’
‘I don’t know,’ Ashleigh sighed, looking toward the valley.
‘There isn’t much time,’ Lily replied.
‘I know….’
Lily sighed.
‘In three more minutes, the civilians will have reached Winter….’ she said. ‘I will hold for as long as I can… but I can’t promise how long that will be….’
‘Lily…’ Ashleigh whispered.
‘Go,’ Lily replied. ‘Get them and bring them back… quickly.’
Ashleigh chewed her bottom lip. Even with Lily’s permission to go, she hesitated. If she left, there was still a chance that one of the monsters could enter the gate and go after the civilians. But if she stayed, the soldiers would have no chance at all.
“Go,� Lily whispered again.
Ashleigh took a deep breath and then made a decision. She turned and shifted, immediately running down into the trees headed for the valley.
She didn’t get far before she ran into a small group of bat creatures making their way up the hill to the portal.
Ashleigh growled and immediately charged at them.
One released the disorienting screech they used to throw their enemy off balance. Still, Ashleigh avoided the sound waves, landing on the closest bat and immediately crushing her heavy jaws into the sinewy leather skin of its shoulder, tearing at the flesh and pressing her sharp teeth down into the bone.
The bat tried to pull her off, but she wasn’t letting go. Tugging and pulling, she separated the creature’s arm from his body.
The beast screamed, and two others swung at Ashleigh as she shifted back to her human form and summoned her daggers. Stepping back just out of reach, Ashleigh leaped forward at the next target, digging one of her daggers into its chest as she swung around onto its shoulders and split its throat.
Two bats left. Ashleigh looked between them, deciding which one was her next target. But then she heard something from the valley.
A series of distinctive howls. Ones that she had spent several months learning. Formations.
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With renewed hope, Ashleigh ran at her remaining enemies. She shifted to her wolf, tearing at the throat of one while the other screeched at her. She was disoriented, but not enough to stop her from biting at its heels and bringing it down to the ground with her.
The creature swung its talons wildly, desperately trying to keep her away as it attempted to crawl away. But Ashleigh could hear the wolves calling. She needed to help clear the path to get them to the portal. There was no more time to play cat and mouse.
***
Caleb howled the change in formation. He ordered his wolves to make their way toward the hill. He knew there was a chance they would be too late, a chance that the portal would close, leaving him and the rest of the soldiers trapped on this side.
But as long as his people made it, as long as Ashleigh made it, that was what mattered.
Caleb let out another howl, shifting his men again. The fae were being herded away from the hillside. A few more rotations, and he could start sending his men up the hill.
But as they executed the latest rotation, Caleb caught sight of movement near the trees. He looked around, the wolves were all in place, and no one was missing.
Caleb focused on the trees, trying to see what it was. His eyes widened as he finally realized what he was looking at.
‘Caleb!’ Ashleigh cried out through their bond. ‘Lily is holding as long as she can! We need to hurry; I am coming to help!’
Caleb felt his heart thundering in his chest. Ashleigh was coming down the hill, and the monster was going up.
“Go!� Landon shouted beside him.
“What?� Caleb asked, looking back.
Landon rolled his eyes.
“Whatever it is that has you staring with such fear, I assume it is your mate or your people. Either way, go.�
Landon said nothing else, turning back and shouting orders to his men to keep the fae back.
Caleb swallowed and quietly thanked the Broken Crag wolf for his understanding.
He turned, shifting to his wolf, he rushed toward the hill.
***
Ashleigh hurried through the trees, moving past the fallen logs and over the bushes. She needed to get to him, to all of them. They were so close all they needed to do was make it up the hill.
She leaped over another of the fallen logs. Ashleigh could see the valley through the trees. She was almost there.
The sudden jerk of her body as it was pulled with great force to the forest floor was a shock. The pain that echoed through her made her realize she was in trouble.
But, the root that wrapped tighter at her ankles as she shifted back to her human form. The ones that sprung up from the earth to wrap at her wrists and waist, tying her to the ground, told her that she had been too confident.
The roots continued to cross over her body, holding her down as the sound of the shifting dirt and crunching leaves reached her ears.
“Hello again, Winter Princess.�
Ashleigh’s heart sank at the Dark Queen’s voice, and then before her eyes, an evil grin appeared.