“She and Hana are supposed to be in the castle,” Empress Aki said. “Fairy, too, but she snuck in a different way.”

A hurricane blasted toward them. The soldiers shouted and held up their shields to try to block it.

“Liga,” Daemon shouted over the noise of the wind, “stay down here and help the empress and Broomstick.”

“What will you do?” Liga asked.

Daemon pointed his nose at the highest tower. It was shadowed, but he could make out figures on the balcony. His gemina bond was taut with tension, as if trying to reel him closer, and he knew. “Sora needs me.”

Liga nodded. “Gods-speed.”

In the past, that expression had just been a phrase said to someone going on a mission. But now, it suddenly meant so much more to Daemon, and his sparks flashed brighter. “Gods-speed, brother.”

Empress Aki ran up to Daemon. “Take me with you.”

He hesitated for a moment to bring her to the crux of the fight. But then he scooped her up onto his back. The empress was in as much danger down here as she would be up in the castle. Besides, if this was truly the end of Prince Gin, she deserved to see her brother one last time. “Hold on tight,” he growled, then leaped straight up into the sky.

The ryuu at both the castle and the Citadel continued their attacks. Flames shot out like fiery claws. Metal shrapnel hurled itself into the air, slicing and impaling flesh. Blood literally boiled when one of the ryuu got too close.

Screams filled the air.

Below, Broomstick detonated more bombs.

Then Liga roared as he dove into battle. His thunder shook the entire Imperial City, and chunks of bloodstone broke loose and fell from the castle.

“Are you ready to face your brother?” Daemon shouted to Empress Aki through the chaos.

“No,” she said. “But I’m ready to take my kingdom back.”

Urgency lanced through his gemina bond. Sora! There was no more time to lose.

Daemon aimed at the tower and dove.

Chapter Sixty-Two

Prince Gin stared aghast at the arrival of Daemon and Liga. Sora didn’t waste the opportunity. She ripped herself free of his ryuu particles holding her to the wall and lunged back onto the balcony. Just as the tip grazed Hana’s stomach, Sora grabbed the sword out of Hana’s hand. It sliced through Hana’s clothes and broke the skin. Blood welled, but Hana, still under the prince’s control, didn’t even react.

It was enough to snap Prince Gin out of his shock, though. He tightened his grip on Hana. “Not one step closer,” he said to Sora.

Daemon burst upon them at full speed and plowed into the Dragon Prince. Sora, Hana, and Prince Gin flew apart like bowling pins, each hitting a different part of the tower inside. Empress Aki jumped off Daemon’s back.