He released the reins. Teeth clenched, he smashed his fist onto the hilt of the sword again and again.
He grunted, and blood sprayed from his mouth as the blade pierced out his back, and he buried it to the hilt in his chest. Clinging to the saddle, he swayed as he tried not to pass out.
Sweat dripped off his face, his vision blurred, and the horse leaned to the side as he slumped against it. But he didn’t pass out, and once he could see clearly again, he could move better now that only the hilt of the sword protruded from him.
Better able to maneuver, he grasped the reins and started to pull himself up when a craz hit the side of the horse. The animal screamed and lurched forward as the craz snapped at it. Rearing, the horse spun and hit Cole.
Flung back by the blow, Cole hit the ground and crashed into a couple of bodies before coming to a halt. The impact knocked the air from him.
He labored to inhale oxygen into his already brutalized lungs as his mind spun and weakness crept through his muscles. His fingers had gone numb, and he couldn’t feel his feet, but it wasn’t enough to keep him down.
His fingers sank into the blood-drenched earth as he pushed himself to his knees. The thud of something hitting the ground drew his attention as a craz landed three feet away from him.
The creature released a screeching bellow that sounded like a cross between a lion and an irate hawk. As it charged toward him, Cole reached for his sword again. It didn’t matter if he could breathe or not; he’d carve this thing to pieces.
It opened its mouth to reveal its flesh-rending teeth as it raced toward him on its two, stork-like legs. He managed to pull the sword free and rise as he braced himself for the impact of the nearly two-hundred-pound creature.
It was nearly to him when it released another screech that could shatter glass. And then, it began to dissolve even as it tried to take flight again.
Its skin sloughed off the side of its face, falling to the ground in a puddle that bubbled as it dissolved. Its wings flapped like a butterfly with broken wings, and it didn’t get an inch off the ground before collapsing.
From behind it, a large gray horse came into view as it raced toward him. What remained of his heart lurched when he spotted the red flowing around the horse’s neck. He couldn’t see her face behind the horse’s head, but he’d recognize that shade of red anywhere.
Lexi.
Chapter Nine
Cole opened his mouth to tell her to leave, but she was already dismounting and running toward him. As she did, another craz landed and ran at her. She spun and threw a vial at it. When the contents exploded over the creature, its skin started to boil before peeling away.
Her long hair, having worked its way free of its braid, whipped around her face as the spreading fire ate the land with deafening intensity. As the dark fae scrambled to escape the battle and the craz, there was no one left to put out the fire. And he certainly wasn’t in any condition to do it.
The light of the flames playing over Lexi’s face emphasized not only her beauty but also the steely determination etched onto her features.
“Get out of here,” he hissed when she arrived at his side. It was difficult to get words out when he could still barely get air into his lungs, and every movement caused the sword to dig deeper into his heart.
“Not without you.”
“You shouldn’t have left the palace.”
“I know.”
He hadn’t expected the acknowledgment on her part, and for a second, it knocked some of his anger away. He lifted his head to survey the battlefield full of dead men, horses, and craz. Blood, death, and fire consumed the land, and she should not be anywhere near any of it.
“We have to go!” she shouted to be heard over the fire.
She clasped his hand and draped his arm around her shoulders. Cole refused to let her see how much agony he was in or the weakness seeping through his body. He steadied his wobbly legs as she led him to the horse.
The animal’s head was held high; its ears flicked as it took in the noises around it. It looked ready to bolt from the spreading fire but held its ground.
She leaned him against the saddle as Niall burst through the smoke and raced up to them. Blood streaked his face, and ugly gashes marred his shoulder and left arm. Lexi pulled out another vial and prepared to throw it at him before Cole seized her arm.
“Not Niall,” he told her. “You can trust him.”
She frowned at him but put the vial away as Niall skidded to a halt beside them. His breath came in rapid pants; he was bloody and bruised but still quick and sure.
His eyes fell on the sword in Cole’s chest, and his eyebrows shot up before he met Cole’s gaze again. If there was ever a time to try to kill him, it was now when he was weakened and more focused on getting Lexi to safety, but Niall would not try to do it.
“Durin is dead,” Niall said.
“So are Nissa and Fiadh,” Cole said. “The rebellion's leaders have fallen, and the remaining traitors are running. When we’ve had time to regroup, send men to hunt down the rebels and destroy them.”
He would do it himself, but if they survived this field and made it back to the palace, he wouldn’t have much left in him for commands.
“It will be done,” Niall vowed before glancing at Lexi.
“Keep her alive,” Cole commanded.
“I will.”
“Get on the horse,” Cole said to Lexi.
“After you,” she said.
“Lexi,” he growled.
“If you’re sitting behind me, you could fall off. I should be behind you. I can avoid the sword.”
“And you’re going to be strong enough to stop me from falling?”
Lexi lifted her chin as she glared at him. “I made it this far, and I’ll do whatever it takes to get you safely back to the palace.”
The fire in her eyes eased his dread over having her standing on this field. She would do whatever it took to protect him, and she’d made it farther than many others. What amazed him most was she’d done it for him.
He knew she loved him, but many immortals and mortals loved another and wouldn’t risk their lives for them. Not his Lexi, though; she was brave, selfless, and she loved him as deeply as he loved her.
He clasped her chin and gave it a small squeeze before gathering what little remnants of strength he still had to sheath his sword and grab her waist. With shaking arms, he lifted her off the ground and onto the horse.
She was still sputtering protests when he grasped the reins and pulled himself onto the horse behind her. It was the most awkward and uncomfortable way he’d ever settled onto a horse.
He almost released the lines and fell when he jarred the sword in his chest, but willpower and Niall grasping his foot to push him further up finally got him settled in the saddle. Stars erupted before his eyes as he hissed in a breath.
“Cole?” Lexi asked.
“I’m fine,” he grated out.
When he was sure he wouldn’t pass out, Cole lifted her a little and settled her on his lap the best he could before grasping the reins.
“I’ll lead the way,” Niall said.
It was then Cole saw that he’d found another horse and was already sitting on it.
Did I black out for a little bit?
If he had, he couldn’t let it happen again. He had to get Lexi safely back to the palace, and if he fell off the horse, she would stop for him. She was not going to leave him out here, and while it only made him love her more, he wouldn’t allow her to die because of him.