Chapter 106: The Cost of War Anna POV

The battlefield was a bloody, chaotic nightmare.

The night was filled with screams as the rebels gave it their all in battle, but Oliver's forces were unrelenting and mercilessly defeated us. My muscles ached from the never ending battle, and I was breathing in ragged breaths, but there was no time to pause. Another life was lost with every second that passed.

Maia was down.

Across the field, I saw her fall, hitting the ground with a horrible crack. As I surged at her, avoiding an enemy's claws at the last second, my stomach knotted in terror.

"Maia!" I fell on my knees next to her. Her breathing was shallow, and blood was leaking from a deep wound along her shoulder.

Her body trembled uncontrollably as she attempted to push herself up. "I'm fine," she rasped, but I could tell she wasn't.

"You're not," I said as I applied pressure to the cut. My palm was stained by the warmth of her blood, and my chest developed a hollow hole.

Lucas showed up next to me, his face smeared with perspiration and grime. His breathing was labored, and his arm was covered in blood.

"We're losing too many," he stated in a strained tone.

I made myself glance around. The ground was covered in bodies, both those of Oliver's men and rebels. The once proud banners of Nightshade were torn and trampled, and the walls of the stronghold were smeared with crimson.

Oliver had unleashed a massacre.

We were losing ground to the tide.

My arm was seized by Lucas's grasp. "Anna, we must retreat. We must reorganize before..."

Behind him, a huge shadow loomed.

"Lucas!" I let forth a primal scream.

An opposing warrior lunged as he whirled.

Everything slowed down.

In the moonlight, I could see the blade's keen edge glinting. I watched Lucas's attempt to avoid, but he was too slow and too tired...

Impact followed.

The blade stabbed him in the side.

His body jerked and he let out a strangled cry. His torn clothing was covered in black, frightening blood.

Anger flared throughout me.

Without thinking, I unleashed my power and turned on the attacker. The warrior was launched into the air by an energy shockwave, and his body crunched sickeningly against the stone wall. He remained still.

Lucas stumbled and clutched his side, his face contorted in agony.

Before he could collapse, I grabbed him.

"You're okay," I murmured, trembling. "You're okay."

His hold on my arm was firm yet weak, and his breathing was labored. He coughed and said, "Anna, it's...it's just a wound."

"Just a wound?" I choked. "You're bleeding out, Lucas!"

I felt like shaking him when he grinned, that careless, angry smile. "Still standing, aren't I?"

With my throat burning, I muttered, "You're impossible."

Maia's feeble voice broke through my panic. "Anna," she said. "Oliver..."

I followed her eyes.

Oliver stood in the middle of the devastation across the battlefield, smirking at me with a ruthless, sly smile. He was unaffected.

While my people were dying, they remained untouchable.

My hands were shaking.

I had assumed that strategy, strength, and numbers would be key factors in this conflict. Oliver, however, was above all of that. I wasn't winning the game he was playing, though.

This had to be over.

Right now.

With my hands lingering over Lucas' wound, I slowly eased him down. "Stay here," I commanded. "I'll...I'll come back."

I was stopped when his fingers curled around my wrist.

"No," he responded in a raspy but forceful voice. "Not alone."

"Lucas..."

He clenched his teeth and said, "We face it together, no matter what."

I truly turned to look at him. Battered, bloodied, and barely able to stand. Even now, his eyes glowed with the same unrelenting fervor and steadfast devotion that had been since our first encounter.

Something broke inside of me.

I was afraid of losing him.

However, I would if I allowed him to fight like this.

I put my palm over his and gave it a firm squeeze. "Then don't die on me," I muttered.

A faint, weary grin appeared on his lips. "Wouldn't dream of it."

With my hands balled into fists and my heart racing, I turned back to Oliver.

Retaliation was no longer the only reason for this war.

It was a matter of survival.

Even if I had to confront Oliver directly.

"Anna!"

I turned to see Maia, her face white but resolute, climbing to her feet. Her other hand was holding a bloody dagger as she grasped her injured shoulder.

"You shouldn't be up," I murmured as I hurried over to her.

Her eyes were flaming as she shook her head. "I'm not going to sit this out. Not right now."

"Maia..."

"Don't," she said abruptly. "I won't let you go. Either of you."

I paused, knowing that we couldn't afford to lose any more fighters, but also wanting to protect her.

"Stay close," I finally said in a strained voice. "And don't do anything reckless."

She forced a weak smile. "That's your job."

I couldn't resist laughing; it was a hollow, bitter sound. "Fair enough."

With his hand pressed to his side, Lucas hobbled up next to us. His eyes were focused and piercing, yet his face was pallid.

"We need a plan," he said in a pressured tone. "We can't keep fighting like this."

With my mind racing, I nodded. "We need to take out Oliver. We might have a chance if we can reach him."

Maia's gaze widened. "You're not seriously thinking of going after him yourself, are you?"

"I don't see another option," I answered in a firm voice despite the anxiety that was eating away at me.

Lucas gripped my arm more tightly. "Then we do it together."

I was overcome with gratitude as I gazed at him and saw the resolve in his eyes. "Together," I agreed.

We moved together, a small but resolute force slicing through the confusion. The fighting grew thicker as we approached Oliver. His elite guards were everywhere, moving with lethal accuracy.

"Anna, behind you!"

The blow jarred my arm as I turned just in time to deflect a sword strike. With a sneer, the guard advanced with superhuman strength.

I clenched my jaw and pushed back as hard as I could. "Lucas, now!"

He didn't need two reminders. His claws slashed through the air as he snarled and pounced at the guard. The guard staggered back, but Maia was there before he could get up, her knife striking its target.

We didn't pause to watch the guard fall.

Oliver was now nearby, his imposing presence clearly visible even in the thick of the confusion. His cold, calculating stare swept over the carnage as he stood in the middle of the battlefield.

"Anna," Lucas uttered softly. "Whatever happens, we do this together."

With my heart racing, I nodded. "Together."

With synchronized movements and unflinching determination, we charged. Oliver turned to look at us, a sly smile curving his lips.

"Anna," he murmured, his tone full of derision.

I didn't answer. Nothing else could be said.

It was this.

The last conflict.

And at whatever cost, I would see it through.