Page 138 of Fallen Nocturne

His expression hardens, but I pull free. I have to keep one hand on his arm to remain standing as I lower myself to the ground.

I know whom I must call.

Once, the thought of seeing her again would have filled me with terror. Now it brings something almost like affection.

I kneel and place my palms against the runes.

I call her differently from the others. This is not a demand or the invocation of an old debt. It is a request made to a friend.

“Jessica, my dear friend. I ask you to cross.”

The earth trembles.

Eight enormous legs rise from the darkness.

Soldiers stumble backward as Jessica pulls herself onto the plateau. Her abdomen is larger than a carriage and patterned in black and crimson. Clusters of shining eyes sweep across the assembled army before settling upon me.

Little queen, she says, her mandibles clicking around the words. You remembered me.

“I never forgot you.”

Her many eyes narrow. And my children?

“I remember my promise,” I say aloud.

Her mandibles spread in what I have learned is a smile.

Then I will fight. She moves away from the circle, and soldiers scatter from her path.

Seventeen creatures of Astefar stand on the Great Plateau. The wind has stopped. Even the long grass goes still.

My arms tremble as I move to call the last creature. Arescaine steps between me and the empty ground.

“No.” He plants himself in my path.

“Move.” I try to step around him, but my knees nearly buckle.

He catches my shoulders before I fall. “This is already killing you.”

“My people are about to face fifty thousand demons.” I push against his chest, but he does not move.

“And they will still need their queen when the battle is over.” His hands tighten around my arms.

I meet his gaze. “They need one more creature now.”

His jaw tightens. Fear burns beneath the anger in his eyes. “You do not have enough strength.”

“Then lend me yours.”

For a moment, he does not move. Then he kneels behind me and places his hands over mine.

“One more,” he says. “Then you stop.”

“One more.”

I close my eyes.

There is only one creature powerful enough to answer this call.