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While Madison was distracted by D’Orsay, Devereaux rab for her

Jack took two steps, but Ellen was there ahead of hi wizard out of the way The boy turned, grinned, raised his hands Too close to miss

"No!" It was like one of those dreams where you’re frozen, unable to run Only a few yards divided them, but Jack couldn’t cross the distance in time Flame rippled fro her off her feet before she toppled backward onto the ground

"That’s one!" the boy crowed, then reached toward Jack, a greedy sht behind round glasses "Who would’ve known that warriors die so easi…"

Shadowslayer ended it The boy died with a smile on his face

Someone screamed "Devereaux!"

Jack turned It was Claude D’Orsay, his face twisted in grief and rage It was the icy Master of the Games as Jack had never seen him

"You killed him! You cross-whelped barbarian, you’ve killeda vast wall of flame across the battlefield toward Jack, apparently unconcerned who else he incinerated as long as Jack was nu the there was no way he could stop as co He raised Shadowslayer, said a prayer

D’Orsay was so focused on his intended victim that he didn’t see the person that materialized behind hier in hishi a wake of flaer with both hands and drove it ho note, then sent fla him in two D’Orsay pushed Jason’s body aside, tried to rise, then fell flat on his face and lay still

The onrushing flaiant breaker hitting a reef, then collapsed and dissipated D’Orsay was dead

"Jason!" Madison screamed, and tried to push past Jack to where Jason lay next to D’Orsay

Jack threw out a gauntleted ar her path, and thrust her behind him "No! Please, Madison"

Ellen lay where she’d fallen, but Jack could not get to her Wizards kept co on Jack’s sword as fast as they ca at them to come ahead But there was a sea of wizards between them Madison stood frozen, eyes closed, fists clenched, as if to shut out the horror all around

Jack saw , as if a snake were furrowing through the tall grass of hu power, clearing the path to the gate Ignoring the eneripped Madison’s hands, leaning close and speaking into her ear Wrapping his arate He looked back at Jack "Co Ellen"

Jack’s throat was raith grief and smoke "Seph Jason’s down" He pointed

"Jason?" Seph’s head came up and he went very still "But he isn’t even…" He turned and handed Madison off to Mick "Take her in for me Now"

Madison screamed and tried to twist free and return to where Jason lay, but Mick picked her up and carried her toward the gate Seph went and stood over Jason, head bowed, like a great black bird with drooping wings Crossing himself, he removed his coat and wrapped his friend in it He squatted, rolled Jason into his arreat bruises in his pale face "Let’s go" And he walked toward the gate, back straight, shrugging off a hundred flaap behind him Jack knew there was no way he could carry Ellen and keep Shadowslayer in play He’d be down before he went a dozen yards But he had to try

Mick had just reached the gate with Madison Jack saw so and run toward hi bodies and debris A small wizard, but powerfully lit, in a pink sweater and blue jeans Flaly across the field into the phalanx of Roses that threatened to engulf Jack The charge faltered, slid back

She came up beside him It was Alicia Anne Middleton

She sent a concussion of air into the onco them back like tenpins, and put up a barrier to turn their fire "Jackson Are you going to take her in or what?" Her voice broke over the words, and she blinked back tears

Jack thrust Shadowslayer into his baldric Inclined his head to Leesha Then knelt and slid his ar her in Her clothes still smoked from the wizard’s assault But to hiate, with Leesha covering him This was the scene he’d seen in his , carrying his fallen cole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>