The small sword and throwing stars bounced against her sides as she nudged the horse into a gallop. Its hooves thundered across the earth as she neared the small side door. When she was still twenty feet away, it started to close.
It didn’t surprise her. The palace had protected her against Becca and whatever lay in those woods. It was seeking to protect her now, but she would not have it.
“NO!” she shouted, and for a second, the door hesitated, but then it continued to close.
Lexi leaned over the horse’s neck as it galloped faster. She would crash into that door before she stopped, something the palace seemed to realize as the closing door slowed before swinging open again.
Then she was going through it. The door brushed her side but didn’t knock her from the horse as she raced onto the battlefield. Most of the fleeing civilian fae had already arrived at the safety of the palace; the ones still fleeing now were fighters.
The wind tore at her hair and plastered her clothes against her as the horse flew across the ground. A craz landed in front of them and released a hideous shriek. The horse leapt to the side as it twisted away from the monster.
The sudden motion nearly unseated her, but years of riding had made her capable of handling most anything when it came to horses. She righted herself and regained control of the horse as it danced away from the craz.
The glow of the fires played over the monstrous beast, illuminating its leathery flesh and yellow eyes. It was revolting and determined to eat them.
When the craz lunged for them, Lexi slid her hand into her pocket and removed one of the skin-melting potions she’d taken from Sahira’s stash. She ignored the twinge of discomfort that came when she shifted the reins into her burned hand.
She steadied the horse and threw the vial as the craz came at them with its jaws hanging open. The vial burst in its mouth before its jaws clamped around it.
The creature screeched hideously, but she didn’t look back as she steered the horse toward where she last saw Cole. And then, she topped a rise in the earth and spotted him on the battlefield.
Cole shoved aside another dark fae as he strained to get at Durin and Nissa. He clenched his teeth against the agony of the blade in his heart as every movement caused it to shift and cut deeper.
Fuck! He inwardly snarled and nearly went to his knees when someone stumbled back and hit the hilt of the sword.
Durin and his men were trying to fight their way through Niall and some craz. Nissa’s men were struggling to get her free of the king’s men and the craz. He used his claws to decapitate a dark fae who ran at him before plunging the dagger into the heart of another.
He nearly went down again but managed to catch himself by grabbing the arm of Nissa’s man. The blade of a sword whistled through the air, and though he couldn’t see it, a breeze cooled his cheek as it arced toward him.
He swung his head to the side in time to avoid losing an eye. The blade slicing across his temple spilled more of his blood. He didn’t think he had much left in him to lose.
The craz above screeched excitedly as they dove out of the sky. With their talons fully extended, they impaled their victims into the ground and picked their skin away like crows on carrion.
He was about to hammer his fist into another fae’s chest when a craz crashed into the man’s side and tore him away to expose Nissa.
Chapter Eight
Cole sneered as he lunged forward. His claws extended, and fangs filled his mouth as the lycan sought to break free. Unsure of how much more damage it would cause him if he transformed, he suppressed the impulse.
Nissa scrambled to get on her horse, but she wasn’t fast enough. Grasping her shoulder, Cole yanked her back as one of her men sank a sword into his ribs.
He grunted as it pierced through bone and embedded in his lungs. He tried to draw in air, but the sharp pang the motion caused made it impossible.
Releasing Nissa, he twisted as much as he could with the fae still holding the sword, seized the man’s throat, dug his claws into it, and tore it out. When the man staggered away, he pulled the sword with him.
Cole winced as the sword scraped across his ribs before tearing free of his flesh. Blood filled his lungs while he gasped for breath. He didn’t know how much longer he could remain standing, but he would take his enemies down before he fell.
He lunged for Nissa. This time, when he got his hands on her, he didn’t let go. Pulling his hand back, his fingers clamped around her throat, and he sank the dagger into her heart.
Nissa’s mouth parted, and her hands shook as she clawed at Cole’s face. Cole smiled as he twisted the blade deeper.
“Fuck you,” she spat, and blood sprayed his face. “You’re already dead too.”
Cole didn’t reply as he yanked the dagger free. Blood gushed forth, and Nissa’s hands went to her chest as she sank to her knees. Cole turned to fend off the rest of the men protecting her, but they’d already turned to flee when their mistress fell.
More were fleeing the craz and the king’s guard as they hacked their way through the rebels. He smiled grimly when Niall cleaved Durin’s head from his shoulders. It rolled across the ground before a craz dove down to swallow it.
And just like that, what remained of the rebellion fell apart as its leaders perished. The fighters turned and fled.
The craz killed most of the ones who the king’s guard didn’t take down, but some fled over the hills. He would have to send men after them, but first, he had to get off this field.
The blade in his heart shifted when he staggered toward Niall, who was carving his way through what remained of the rebellion. He was almost to Cole and extending a hand toward him when a craz crashed onto Niall’s back and dragged him from his horse.
Niall and the craz vanished as they rolled across the ground, with Niall battling the craz as they rolled over a hill. Cole released the dagger as he stretched a hand over his back for his sword.
A scream rushed up his throat and clogged there as the movement sent a wave of blackness across his eyes. Straining against passing out, Cole pulled his sword free.`
He panted for air as sweat ran down his forehead and into his eyes. He didn’t dare try to wipe it away; he’d probably pass out if he did.
Cole stepped toward where Niall vanished before his legs gave out, and he went to his knees. His sword fell at his side as he remained kneeling with his head bowed as he tried to draw air into his brutalized lungs.
With thick, fumbling fingers, he clawed at the handle of the blade in his chest as the blood seeping around it soaked his chest and dripped onto the ground. He no longer cared if removing it would cause him to bleed more; he couldn’t have the thing poking and digging into him every time he moved.
No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t get it out. Giving up on trying to remove it, he lifted his head and gazed at the spreading fire as it leapt higher. Fae and horses fled from the slaughter of the craz as more of the birds dove from the sky.
Lexi. I have to get back to her.
He dug his fingers into the ground as he pushed himself to his feet. He couldn’t die out here on this field and leave her behind, not after what happened with the Lord and Malakai.
They would tear her apart.
The possibility of that happening propelled him forward a couple of steps toward the closest horse. Grasping the reins and the pommel, he tried to pull himself onto the saddle, but the blade in his heart made climbing onto the horse difficult.