Moments were slipping into each other. I lost track of time as the battle raged on. All that mattered was staying alive.
A sword swiped along my cheek, the stinging informing me the weapon had hit its mark. I shrieked, slicing my dagger down the arm of my attacker.
“Bitch,” the Winged Soldier yelled. “I’m going to kill you.”
I seethed, but before I could respond, the commander yelled from somewhere behind me. “Don’t hurt the king’s pet. The prince wants her alive.”
I screamed, taking my anger out on the nearest soldier. “I amnotthe king’s pet!”
Despite my rage, the commander’s order meant that his guards were watching themselves around me. Their caution gave me the upper hand.
Using every advantage I could find, I sliced through one male’s arm. I spun on my heel, narrowly avoiding the spurt of black blood as I raised my second dagger and sent it hurtling through the air towards another guard.
Behind me, Xander snorted. “Nice shot,” he said, panting as he fought two Winged Soldiers side by side.
The clash of metal filled the air as all around us, the battle raged.
“Thanks,” I replied as I grabbed a sword from a fallen soldier. Spinning around, I threw the sword as I moved. It twisted in the air before catching another guard by his wings. The swordtwangedas it pinned the soldier against a nearby tree. He screamed, the sound ear-piercingly loud.
I turned, my face paling as I saw Daegal fighting a trio of soldiers less than twenty feet from me. He was doing his best, but even I could tell that he was slowing down. My heart lurched in my chest as the soldiers fighting him forced him into a defensive position, his back against a tree.
The tallest of the trio drew their sword, angling it toward Daegal’s face.
“What a pretty elf,” the Winged Soldier crooned. “If only we weren’t enemies. I’d quite enjoy spending an evening alone with you.”
The commander scoffed, his voice coming from behind me. “Keep it in your pants, Dray. You can take his pretty head back as a trophy.”
Apparently, the commander didn’t believe in fighting his own battles.
Coward.
Dray chuckled, the sound mirthless and tinged with barely contained violence. “Good idea, Commander. I’ll definitely do that.”
I spun around, shoving my own opponent aside as I ran towards Daegal.
“Stop trying to kill my friends!” I shouted as I jumped. Sailing through the air, I shoved my dagger in the back of Dray’s neck.
A sense of satisfaction bubbled through me as the male collapsed to the ground in a heap. I would have no guilt over his death.
My elation was short-lived, however, as Daegal’s eyes widened. He jolted forward, yelling, “Duck!”
I did, but within seconds, I realized the command wasn’t for me.
A scream came from behind me. The second I heard it, something shattered within me. I paled, my heart stopping in my chest as I pivoted.
“No,” I whispered. “It can’t be.”
I blinked, hoping the scene would change.
But it didn’t.
Xander was on his knees as bright red blood dripped down his tunic. A sword was lodged in his left shoulder, pinning him to a tree. He was panting, still fighting with his right arm, as a trio of Winged Soldiers circled him. They taunted him, jeering, as one of them lurched forward and grabbed the hilt of the sword.
The Winged Soldier pulled on the weapon, and a shriek came from Xander that Ifeltin the depths of my soul.
A terrible squelching sound filled the air as Xander’s entire body seemed to waver in front of me. Sweat glistened on his face as he lifted his head. His golden eyes seemed to burn as his gaze caught mine. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.
Something within me cracked at the sight of Xander on his knees. His silver-white hair was covered in black blood, and his tunic was torn where the sword had penetrated it.