“It’s me!” I held up my palms. “It’s just me. We have to go.” I grabbed her wrist and led her to the clearing, ready to slay Succo. Two on one were good odds. With her unable to sound an alarm, we’d continue to the palace and my childhood bedroom.

“Holy Hades himself,” Lou said, jerking us both to stop.

My head whipped in the direction Lou stared, stomach plummeting. We had traveled at least a third of the way across the glen before they marched out of the woods. Twenty or more siren guards lined up shoulder to shoulder, carrying spears and taking formation around Succo.

“As I said, Emperor, foolish of you.” She chuckled, waving forward the rainbow-colored warriors behind her. “Now we have to bring you in the hard way.” With a knowing, ruthless grin, she flipped her knife between her clawed fingers. “Although, I’ll admit, I’m going to enjoy this far more.” Her fangs protruded from her gums, drops of poison glistening on her incisors.

She raised her dagger in the air. The horde of siren guards shifted their spears into an offensive angle as a unit. An earsplitting warrior’s cry spilled from Succo’s mouth, and they charged.

“Any brilliant ideas?” Lou asked, her hand threaded in mine.

“Yes. Run!”

“Hermes gift?” she breathed.

“Yes!”

We flew straight toward the enemy, our weapons drawn, and the boots took control, vibrating my legs as the world blurred on either side. “Plow through them. Kill who you can but don’t stop moving,” I commanded.

We soared through the guards. I slashed two throats in the space of an inhale, my dagger thrust out to the side, letting momentum do the rest. Lou mimicked my actions, slicing low into their cores. Blood splattered across my face and Lou’s torso, but we never stopped. Leaving the clearing for the forest, we dashed across the ground at impossible speeds. I could hardly think fast enough to maneuver around blurred tree trunks, but the boots knew exactly what to do. Lou flanked me, her short legs keeping in good pace with mine. We pushed harder and harder, leaping over fallen trees, boulders, and reaching shrubbery that blew apart beneath our racing feet. At this intense speed, the uneven terrain appeared flat.

My breath escaped me in loud puffs. The exhilarating pace robbed my lungs of proper air. My quiver bounced against my back. The arrow rattled against the bow. We were already approaching the jungle’s edge, where it would spit us out at the ivory castle. My muscles ached and cramped. Lou let out a shrill whistle, her own body being pushed to the limits. I wanted to ask if she was okay, but I couldn’t pull adequate breath.