The morning that came wasn't lovely at all. It arrived with chaos and noise.
First, with Nisha's voice shattering the pre-dawn silence.
"Cade! Summon your damn spirit!"
Her shout yanked me from sleep. The sun hadn't even begun its climb yet, but the sky rumbled with fury, as if the heavens themselves were preparing to unleash something terrible.
I kicked off my blanket and sprang to my feet, already reaching for Kassie.
The sky cracked again. A pillar of lightning — massive, blinding — tore downward from the clouds. Straight toward us.
Kassie materialized above me instantly, her sword raised high to intercept the devastating strike. The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the air, white-hot energy cascading over her blade.
As she absorbed the attack, something else shot toward me.
Nisha was locked in combat with Light Paladins that had surrounded her position. My awareness felt fractured, disjointed — everything happening too fast, at wrong angles.
