Final Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 6) by Kara Jaynes Page B

wouldn’t reach him before they did.
    Aaric. He would’ve known what to do. He would have already set up explosive devices to decimate their army, or something . I firmly put him out of my mind. He was gone; Dahli and Bran were all I had left. I would save the living.
    I would save Bran.

 
    37
    Bran
     
    S hades alive, the Twyli twins were fast. Bran knew it was them. The two ran in perfectly synchronized movement, neither outpacing the other, their gazes locked on him.
    Bran snarled. He wasn’t going to allow them to get close enough to fight. Summoning magic to the point of pain, he threw a wall of shadow and light at them.
    The twins paused. The female brought up her own shield, and the male summoned and hurtled a dagger of enchantment at Bran’s magic. It didn’t stop Bran’s attack, but it weakened it, so his enchantment shattered on impact with the Twyli shield of enchantment.
    The twins resumed their sprint, both wearing sleek, form-fitting black tunic and trousers, making it easier for them to run.
    They were going to collide. Despite the fact that Bran was pulling as much magic as he could without hurting himself, it wasn’t enough to stop the Twyli charge. He moved into a defensive position, summoning a spear of blue light and fire. Using it like a staff, he’d be able to defend himself and attack both opponents.
    The Twyli twins summoned identical blades, shimmering with the dull, sickly light that Bran had come to recognize as a sign of stealing another’s life force. The prince charged him head-on, the sister circling around to attack him from behind.
    Bran spun in a circle, dragging the end of his spear in the ground. Fire sprang up, forming a protective circle around him.
    The prince skidded to a halt, his jaw tightening with frustration. “Why do you attack?” he asked, stalking the perimeter of the circle. His sister did the same. “You’re fighting your kin. We don’t have any quarrel with you. We come for the Denali.”
    “I’m here to defend this city,” Bran said evenly, trying to catch his breath. Despite the tremendous power of the sky jewel, he was tired. Even the sky jewel had its limits, it seemed. “And its inhabitants.”
    “How do you draw your power?” the prince asked. They continued to circle, eyeing him curiously. Bran didn’t know which one to watch, putting him on edge. He didn’t answer. “Leave this land,” he said. “It’s mine.”
    The princess laughed. “We’d be happy to let you live as a subject, but Hydari and I don’t share power.” Her body tensed. “Now, brother!”
    Enchantment swelled from the prince and Bran had only a moment to brace himself before magic slammed into him. He felt his body lift, falling several paces from where he’d stood. Pain lanced into his arm when he landed, and he grit his teeth to avoid crying out.
    Pulling enchantment through the sky jewel, Bran brought his other arm up. Combining earth and air, dirt and stone blew toward the Twyli. They deflected it, swords whirling with alarming speed.
    Bran watched them approach. They worked in perfect unison, anticipating each other’s moves. After his attacks on the army, he could feel himself tiring, and he could see it approaching, like a sea of darkness. He needed to take the twins out, and take them out soon. But how? He needed a distraction.
    Hydari and Myyre broke into a run again, their faces set with determination. They lifted their hands . . .
    A streak of light rammed into Hydari, throwing the prince off balance. He stumbled, cursing.
    Both Bran and the twins turned to look in the direction the magic had come from. Adaryn stood several paces away, light emanating from her, blue eyes blazing with anger. “Get away from him!” she screamed at Hydari.
    “Adaryn!” the prince snarled. He spun to face the nomad woman, his features etched with fury.
    Bran didn’t question his fortune. It was all the distraction he needed. Pulling the magic to the point of pain and then