Back at the palace, Ann read the latest updates from the front. The numbers were definitely better. There were far fewer wounded, more successful rescues and the lines were holding strong around the castle and the surrounding grounds.
"It looks like the majority of the losses are stabilised," Coral said with a grin, flipping through the pages. "Aoife's teams are performing beyond expectations, all of the supplies are arriving on time and although there's a few scattered pockets of resistance in the outer woods, they're small and easily dealt with if the reports are any indicator. The focus now is on breaching the castle and trying to lure any enemy fighters left outside onto the battlefield."
Eva leaned back in her chair with a groan of relief.
"Good, then it sounds like the worst might finally be over."
Ann didn't answer right away, she just traced a finger along the margin of one report.
"It's a bad time to relax if you ask me. Peace is always harder to hold than war."
"It's a good job that no one asked you then isn't it?" Ann murmured and Maeve huffed at her sulkily.
"Do you want to send a message back to them?" Coral asked as she glanced across at Ann, but she shook her head.
"No, I think they can handle it from here. None of them are idiots and they know what to be looking out for. I don't want to be nagging at them every five minutes and repeating myself. Otherwise whenever I do say something, I run the risk of losing any impact that I wanted to have." Ann said as she set the papers aside. "We'll plan for things staying manageable, but stay ready for the opposite. Just like we always do."
Greyson stood on the slope leading toward the Lycan King's castle watching the latest skirmish occurring around the base of the castle.
The last few enemy pockets were still fighting, but they were weak and outnumbered. The castle itself sat behind them, its walls cracked and scorched from Bella's earlier hits. Smoke drifted up from the broken towers, and the ground was littered with the remains of old barricades and mangled corpses once again.
Adam walked up beside Greyson, checking the tablet in his hand.
"The units are ready on the left and right and as far as we can tell, the only remaining opposition is straight ahead. They're just holding on to the last few defensive positions." Greyson commented without even looking at him and Adam nodded.
"That's fine. We'll take them." he said as a shadow fell over them and Lexi dropped from Bella's back and jogged toward them.
"Bella and the kids are in position. They want permission to start burning again."
Adam sighed.
"Tell them to wait for the call. We don't want any fire near the main gates yet. We can't risk collapsing the entry until we clear the field."
Lexi rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Fiiiiiiiine. Controlled fire only, and no gates. I'll tell them."
Bella circled overhead, her wings cutting through the sky effortlessly as her children followed in a loose sweep behind her, eager but disciplined.
Greyson looked down at his units. Hybrids lined the front, Lycans and wolves stood ready behind them and magick users further back. Everyone was tired, but they held their positions well.
Adam lifted his hand.
"On my mark." His voice rolled over the battlefield with little effort, his wolf's strength amplifying the effect and Greyson braced as Lexi's words drifted over the communicator.
"It's our time to shine Bella. Hit the first trench and burn those motherfuckers alive."
Fire dropped from the sky in a straight line and the barricade exploded, clearing half of the enemy cover and close to half of the enemy troops that were huddled behind it, their screams drifting pointlessly in the air.
"Move!" Adam yelled as his hand dropped.
Greyson surged forward with the front line and the hybrids struck first, cutting through the shaken defenders. They were followed by the Lycans, pushing them back towards the walls so that there was no escape.The enemy fought hard but without any real direction. They were just scattered survivors now that were full of desperation, not a coordinated force.
Greyson kept his movements clean and controlled. He cut down one fighter, blocked another, and kept going. Around him, his people held rank and didn't break position even once.
Lexi's voice came through the comm unit again.
"Oooo toasty! Did anyone bring any marshmallows?"
Greyson suppressed a laugh as Lexi cackled wildly at her own joke before she spoke again.
"Great job! Now focus on the second trench, fire at will but avoid the entryways,"
Another controlled blast hit the second barricade and a spray of dirt, blood and bodyparts flew upwards as a wall of flame chased after them, dropping from the air above them and falling at random across the battlefield.
Their forces rushed through the gap before the dust had even had a chance to settle.
Adam pushed forward as well, checking every flank.
"Keep pressure on the center. Do not chase anyone into the woods. Stay in formation." He yelled above the organised chaos.
Greyson looked up once and there, on the castle ramparts, two figures stood watching the battlefield like it was a show put on for their entertainment only.
Sebastian stood in the center with his arms folded and a smug look plastered on his face, as if any moment he would see Greyson fail.
Next to him, the Lycan King stood still and silent, observing everything with cold interest.
Lexi saw them too.
"Those motherfuckers are really standing up there like they're proud of themselves." she hissed over the communications device, "Can I go barbecue them? Pretty please?"
"No Lexi, Ignore them. They want a reaction. For all we know they're aiming to take one of the dragon…people."
The sound of Lexi snorting followed his words and Greyson couldn't tell if she was amused at his lack of ability to describe Bella and her children in that moment or if she was pissed at his lack of interest in pursuing the main targets of this whole operation.
Greyson didn't bother to respond. He simply turned back toward the trench and drove forward again.