Chapter 721

When Jackson, Luca and I find our spots, Jackson passes me a pair of binoculars from around his neck. "Check it out," he murmurs.

I frown up at him and then do as I'm told, looking through the lenses, observing the cliff's edge in front of me where the Atalaxians have entrenched –

a spot which they've been defending for months and which, tonight, we plan to break. To my surprise, while the sky is bright and shining on our side, clouds hang low over the Atalaxian cliff, lightening striking every few minutes.

"Oh, holy crap," I murmur, lowering the binoculars and passing them to Luca so he can see too. "Is that...is that Cora's doing?"

"I think so," Jackson says, glancing at me. “I mean, it wouldn't do any good to spread that news widely - Cora's powers aren't well known. But I know I'd rather fight dry than sodden and constantly worried that I'm going to be hit from a bolt from the sky."

"Speaking of which," Jesse says, coming up from behind us as Rafe finishes getting our set of troops into position and sending the transport van off. "Mind juicing me up, Jacks?"

"You got it," Jacks murmurs, reaching for my hand. Jesse places his hand on the back of my neck, knowing a little contact will do it, and I sigh in a bit of relief when Jackson's energy hits. I've been so, so tired all day since Gibson's attack - the energy feels good coursing through my veins.

I fill up my own reserves before passing some to Jesse. Then I turn to Luca with a frown. "You want to try it?"

"Try what?" he asks, frowning at me.

"Energy," I say, tilting my head towards Jackson. "From Jacks."

Luca hesitates but Jackson just smirks at him, which seems to rile something. "Fine," Luca snarls, grabbing my hand. “I mean, nothing's going to happen, but -"

His eyes go wide, his words falling short, when the energy begins to flow into him. I turn my head, interested, because honestly I wasn't sure that that would work.

"You sure you don't have magic, man?" Jacks asks, leaning around me to frown at Luca. "I didn't think this would work if you don't."

"I...I mean, I don't," Luca mutters, even as he shivers at the energy now coursing through him. When I feel him filling up - faster than Rafe and Jesse do I cut off the supply and turn to nod at Jackson, letting him know that's enough.

Jacks nods to me and gives my hand a squeeze, even if no more energy comes through. When I turn to Luca again he's just staring at me, shocked and confused.

"We'll talk to Cora," I whisper, nodding to him. "Don't be afraid. We'll get to the bottom of it."noveldrama

Luca exhales, long and slow, nodding. Then we all turn our eyes to Rafe as he moves to the front of the massed group of Cadets, looking every inch the commander as he stands in front of us all with his hands neatly placed behind his back, his face stern.

"The Commanders and Generals

have assured me that it's unlikely that we'll see any part of this assault tonight,” Rafe calls out, his voice booming over us. "However, should we see any action I expect you all to perform admirably to turn the enemy. It's imperative that we have a successful assault tonight. I expect you all to do what you can, up to and including giving your lives, if it is necessary. As I will."

We're all silent for a moment and I close my eyes, letting my mind drift just for a moment to Tony to his dark sense of humor, his wry smile, his canny observations and his easy laugh swallow hard, loving him, praying that he's all right, knowing that he already did what Rafe has already asked of all of us.

Even if he is still alive, he was willing to give his life for this cause - so that I could survive to fight the Atalaxians, weapon that I am.

And as I open my eyes again and focus on my brother, I know that Tony was right to do it, even as guilt pounds in every beat of my heart. Because I am powerful, and this war needs me, even if we are in a small and negligible portion of the battlefield tonight.

On the next battlefield, I will be central to the attack.

And I'm only here to do it because of Anton Davis. My father was wrong when he said tonight that it would be me that saved us all – it's Tony that did that.

"For our Nation and our people!" Rafe barks out, raising a fist above his head.

Together, we raise our own fists.

The rest of the Cadets repeat Rafe's words, but only say my friend's name. Jackson glances down at me, grief in his eyes as well, and I allow mysel a moment to press my shoulder against his arm. He clenches his jaw, resisting a very strong urge to pull me against him, to hold me tight.

As if on cue, an orange explosion flares in the distance, the huge boom resounding a moment later.

And I inhale a deep breath, because whether or not I'm ready for it, the attack has begun.