Fuck.
They couldn’t deal with this right now.
Alexander took a deep breath and turned toward the crowd that was slowly gathering around him, the widening chasm momentarily forgotten. He could already see the determination in their faces. They were willing to risk everything for the people they loved.
He wanted Drago back too, but he wouldn’t put anyone else’s life on the line for it. He couldn’t ask them to fight just so he could save his brother. He had already endangered too many people. He couldn’t do it again, even if it meant losing him.
“Is it true?” Killan asked, appearing beside him so suddenly Alexander hadn’t even noticed him approach. “You saw them?”
Blade nodded. “And they’re fighting their way to the veil. We need to give them time.”
“How much time?” Killan asked.
Blade shook his head. He didn’t know.
“Shit. We can’t risk keeping the chasm open for too long. And we can’t leave them there again.”
“We fight for as long as we can,” Alexander said. “But if it gets bad and they’re not here, we close the chasm.”
Everyone around him nodded in agreement.
“Okay,” Killan said, before running back toward Manlius.
Alexander turned to Blade, who stood with his arms folded tightly across his chest, looking shaken.
“Are you alright?” he asked, pulling him closer.
Blade let out a sharp breath and buried his face in Alexander’s chest.
“Everything is going to be fine. You did good,” Alexander said, smoothing a hand down his back. “Go to the monastery. You’ll be safe there.”
“Okay,” Blade said quietly.
Alexander gave him a gentle push back, then turned toward the chasm again. In the short time he’d been gone, the demons had made progress. The tear was now almost fully open.
“Fuck. Are we really doing this?” Manlius asked.
“I would rather we close it now,” Alexander said, “but I’m not going to stand in anyone’s way if they want to save their loved ones. Just be ready to close it when things get bad.”
Manlius was silent for a beat. “Thank you for your sacrifice,” he said.
“Stay alive,” Alexander replied, patting him on the back. His eyes found Boaz’s wolf in the front line. “Please, take care of him for me.”
Manlius followed his gaze and nodded. “I will.”
Alexander took a deep breath, then another.
The veil trembled, and then tore fully open.
“Here they come!” Killan yelled as the demons poured through the chasm.
The ground beneath their hooves, feet, and paws shook. Grass withered and turned brown the moment they stepped on it. The red-skinned beasts snarled, jaws opening wide to reveal rows of jagged teeth as they lashed out with their talons, striking at anything in their path.
Everyone attacked as one, meeting the creatures head-on as they flooded into the field.
Alexander stepped into the fray, swinging his sword with everything he had. Rage roared through him, and he let it take hold, burning through his blood and sharpening his focus. His claws lengthened into talons as he tore forward, abandoning caution as he met the demons head-on, cutting through them as if they were nothing.
Magic crackled through the air as witches cast their spells, melting demons where they stood.