The battlefield blurred around me.
Kael ran at my left, wolf form massive and terrible, clearing a path through Vladimir's servants with fang and claw. Caspian moved at my right, a shadow of death, his ancient power unleashed in ways I'd never seen. And I ran between them, my hybrid light blazing, my pendant burning so hot I thought it might scar.
Vladimir watched us come.
He hadn't moved from his palanquin, hadn't lifted a finger to help his servants. The other four originals flanked him, their ancient faces carved from stone and cruelty. They were waiting. Letting us exhaust ourselves fighting through their army before they deigned to notice us.
Arrogance. Ten thousand years of absolute power had made them forget what fear felt like.
We were about to remind them.
"Split!" I shouted
