Final Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 6) by Kara Jaynes

tired. So tired. “Just a renegade. A rogue.”
    Lord Welling opened his mouth to reply, but paused when two horsemen came galloping in from where the gates had once stood. They reined to a halt before the magistrate, and Bran recognized them to be Oppressor scouts.
    “They’re coming, my Lord,” one said, dirt and sweat streaking his face. “The Twyli are advancing.”

 
    34
    Hydari
     
    “ A change of plans, sister.” Hydari pushed aside the silk flap of the tent and entered.
    Lounging on a low sofa, his sister looked up from a book she was reading, her expression one of puzzlement. “Oh?”
    “It seems we’ve had a strange stroke of luck,” Hydari chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “The gates of this city have crumbled.”
    Myyre’s expression didn’t change, so he elaborated. “A magic user destroyed them. Why, I don’t know, but it would appear that the Twyli on this side of the mountains hate Denali, too.”
    Myyre grinned, her eyes glinting. “Excellent. Then it’s time to strike, while the Denali are weakened.”
    She rose from the cushions she’d been laying on, and stepped into an embrace. Hydari wrapped his arms around her, breathing in her scent. She smelled like spice. “Our conquest begins, brother,” she laughed.
    “Yes,” Hydari agreed. “I’ll give the order to march on the city immediately.”
    If the magic users hated the Denali so, who could stop them? There would be no opposition, and these lands would fall.

 
    35
    Grace
     
    “ H ang it all, we’ve been caught with our trousers around our ankles.” Lord Welling paced the Hall of Magistrates, ignoring the cluster of men who sat at a long table, apart from him. “That rogue Twyli devastated our greatest defense; we no longer have any real way of protecting ourselves short of man-power.”
    “An evacuation,” Grace spoke up. She, Bran, Adaryn, and Fyrsil stood off to the side, unofficially invited to the meeting of magistrates. That no one objected to the presence of nomads said just how dire their situation was. “The women and children need to leave before they are caught up in the battle.”
    Lord Welling nodded. “Agreed. Magistrate Bernard, you will lead it. Begin preparations immediately.”
    A tall, reedy man stood, and with a bow in Welling’s direction, left the room.
    When talk turned to defenses, Grace left. She needed to get her parents and Polly out of the city before the battle started. She exited the magistrate’s hall and was walking toward her carriage by the time Bran caught up to her. He was silent for a moment.
    “Tell Bernard to take the people to Harbor,” Bran said when they reached her carriage.
    “Do you really mean to try and defeat the entire army?” Grace tried to sound disgusted, but her voice quivered. “Alone?”
    “I don’t have a choice, Grace.” He shrugged. “Not technically alone. I’m just the first line of defense.”
    “You could evacuate too. Keep everyone safe as they travel.”
    “You know I can’t do that.”
    Grace nodded. She knew. “Just be careful. Promise me you’ll get out of this alive.”
    Bran chuckled dryly. “I’ll do my best.” He took her arm and pulled her close in an embrace.
    “I love you.” He buried his face in her hair.
    “I love you too.” Grace hugged him fiercely, breathing in his scent. He smelled like the outdoors and wood smoke. “Be careful, Bran.”
    With a sad smile, Bran stepped away, walking with long strides toward the city exit, where the eastern gates had once stood. Tears trickled down Grace’s cheeks as she watched him go. Bran, the proud nomad. Of course he wouldn’t finish the meeting with the magistrates. He already knew what he had to do.
    “Be safe,” she whispered.

 
    36
    Adaryn
     
    I hugged Dahlia again. “Are you sure she’s going to be all right?” I asked Grace.
    The blonde rolled her eyes. “I’ve already told you ‘yes’ a thousand times, Adaryn. She’ll be fine. I won’t let her out of my