On the western front of the United Kingdoms, Nyxian arrived with a confidence she did not entirely feel.
Her black-and-crimson dress fluttered in the breeze as she stepped down from the portal platform, Pixelle perched on her shoulder and looking unusually serious.
Outside, twenty thousand soldiers had assembled on the rolling plains beyond the forest city of Briarwatch.
Briarwatch was an old woodland stronghold nestled between towering pines and ancient oaks. Elves had founded it centuries ago, but over time it had become a gathering place for all manner of forest-aligned races.
Wolfkin scouts.
Elven archers.
Fairy battalions.
Demonfolk from Nyxian's homeland.
Incubi and succubi in elegant armor.
Dryads and treants.
And more.
All of them waiting.
All of them looking toward the road the Empire would soon use.
Their objective was simple.
Hold.
Delay.
Bleed the enemy.
Then drive them east.
Toward Solmere.
Toward whatever insane plan Jax Darquebane had waiting.
Nyxian wished she were with Jax.
Or Bunny.
Or Llandra.
Or Zee.
Someone who made her feel invincible.
Instead, she had Pixelle.
A three-inch fairy queen.
A tiny creature who could command plants and somehow turn every serious moment into chaos.
Pixelle patted Nyxian's neck.
"We're going to do great."
Nyxian stared at the massive army spread before them.
"We're either going to do great or die horribly."
Pixelle considered this.
"Those are, admittedly, the two most likely outcomes."
A large lion-headed Beastkin approached.
His golden mane framed a stern but noble face, and his armor bore the crest of the Lion Clans.
He bowed deeply.
"Mrs. Darquebane."
Nyxian twitched.
That title still made her blush.
Even now.
Even after the wedding.
Even after two unforgettable days alone with Jax.
The lion-man straightened.
"I am Leon Vandermane, commander of the Briarwatch defense forces."
Leon Vandermane
"We've heard many stories about the Vixens."
Pixelle grinned.
"All true."
Leon gave a respectful nod.
"Then our soldiers will be honored to fight beside you."
Nyxian smiled outwardly.
Inside, she wanted to throw up.
Leon lowered his voice.
"Your husband instructed us to place you at the center of the formation."
Of course he did.
Front and center.
Exactly where everyone could watch her either become a legend—
Or embarrass herself.
Leon bowed again and departed.
Nyxian exhaled slowly.
Then summoned Echo.
The small shadow ferret-like familiar appeared in a swirl of darkness and immediately climbed around her shoulders.
Pixelle folded her arms.
"Really?"
Nyxian scratched Echo under the chin.
"I need emotional support."
Pixelle narrowed her eyes.
"I'm emotionally supportive."
"Yes, but Echo doesn't talk."
Pixelle huffed.
Echo flicked his tail smugly.
The rivalry continued.
The soldiers had gathered in a broad clearing outside Briarwatch's walls.
Thousands of faces turned toward her.
Waiting.
Expecting a speech.
Nyxian's stomach dropped.
"No."
Leon looked confused.
"My lady?"
"I don't do speeches."
Pixelle flew into her line of sight.
"You absolutely do speeches."
"I flirt."
"Then flirt at them motivationally."
Nyxian stared.
Pixelle shrugged.
"It worked on Jax."
That was not entirely wrong.
Before Nyxian could object further, a Fairy mage touched her shoulder.
"Whenever you're ready, Lady Darquebane."
Her voice would be amplified across the entire battlefield.
Wonderful.
Nyxian stepped forward.
Every eye was on her.
She swallowed.
Then sighed dramatically.
"All right."
Her voice echoed over twenty thousand soldiers.
"My name is Nyxian Darquebane."
A few cheers rose immediately.
She winced.
"Let's get one thing out of the way."
She crossed her arms.
"I'm not thrilled to be here."
The army blinked.
Some nervous laughter spread.
Nyxian continued.
"I'd rather be in bed with my husband."
The demonfolk cheered.
The fairies laughed.
Even several Elves smirked.
Nyxian pointed toward the road.
"Unfortunately, the Empire has decided to interrupt my honeymoon."
Boos thundered across the field.
Now she had them.
Nyxian rolled her shoulders.
"So here's what's going to happen."
She gestured to the assembled troops.
"Those idiots are going to march in here thinking they're fighting separate kingdoms."
She pointed at the Elves.
"They'll think you're fragile."
At the Wolfkin.
"They'll think you're savages."
At the Fairies.
"They'll think you're tiny and adorable."
Pixelle raised her hand.
"We are adorable."
Nyxian nodded.
"Yes, but we're also terrifying."
Laughter rippled through the ranks.
Nyxian's voice hardened.
"They still don't understand what Jax taught us."
She drew Lilith's Kiss, and the black-and-red weapon unfurled with a sharp crack.
"That alone, we're strong."
Her crimson eyes blazed.
"Together, we're unstoppable."
The mood shifted instantly.
Twenty thousand soldiers stood straighter.
More focused.
More certain.
Nyxian smiled.
"My husband believes in you."
She touched her chest.
"And if Jax Darquebane believes in you, then frankly, you'd have to be an idiot to doubt yourselves."
That earned a roar of approval.
Nyxian lifted her whip.
"Our job is simple."
"We hold."
"We hurt them."
"And then we drive them east."
Her smile turned wicked.
"Straight into whatever insane trap my husband has waiting."
The soldiers laughed.
Then cheered.
Louder.
Longer.
More confident than before.
Nyxian raised her voice over the thunder.
"So let's show the Empire what happens when they interrupt a newlywed succubus."
The response was deafening.
Weapons slammed against shields.
Fairies buzzed in excitement.
Wolfkin howled.
Demonfolk roared.
Leon Vandermane grinned.
Pixelle hovered at Nyxian's shoulder, stunned.
"I can't believe that worked."
Nyxian exhaled shakily.
"I have no idea what I just said."
Pixelle patted her cheek.
"That's leadership."
The cheers faded as the horizon darkened.
Dust rose in the distance.
The Empire was coming.
Nyxian stepped to the front of the formation.
Echo coiled around her shoulders like a living scarf of shadow.
Pixelle settled beside him, chin high.
Nyxian raised one hand.
"Grim."
A massive shadow bull emerged beside her.
"Steed."
Its twin materialized.
The two Grimsteeds pawed at the earth, crimson eyes glowing.
Nyxian smiled.
"Flower."
The ground trembled.
Roots burst upward as a colossal carnivorous plant rose from the earth behind her, petals unfurling like a monstrous blossom.
Gasps spread through the ranks.
Even veteran soldiers stared in awe.
Nyxian tightened her grip on Lilith's Kiss.
For the first time since arriving, her fear began to fade.
She was not alone.
She had her shadows.
She had Pixelle.
She had twenty thousand soldiers.
And somewhere beyond the horizon—
Jax had a plan.
Nyxian's wings unfurled behind her.
The army fell silent.
The dust cloud grew larger.
The Empire had arrived.
And at the head of the United Kingdoms' western army stood the Shadow Queen of Briarwatch.