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The iron and reclaimed wood is too heavy, though. The General is pinned beneath it, blood soaking through his uniform. Color drains from his face.

I strain against the edge, but it won’t budge.

I’m too weak. Just a human.

I curse under my breath.

“Don’t worry, cadet,” the General says. He lifts his eyes. Not to me—to Yal behind me. “Don’t let him escape.”

I pivot.

Yal is trying to crawl towards a discarded blade, leaving a streak of blood in his wake.

No.

I charge and slam him to the ground. When I straddle his back, he bucks under me, an elbow driving into my ribs. Pain shoots through my side.

My blade finds his cheek. First cut is too shallow.Shit.

Even injured, a fae Decarios is powerful.

He hisses, blood staining his teeth. “I will not die at the hands of a human.”

“Yeah,” I say through clenched teeth, trying to keep him down. I grip the back of his skull and drag my blade across his throat. “We’ll see about that, asshole.”

He gurgles, convulses, and stills beneath me.

Suddenly, I have nothing left to give. I collapse next to the body. My muscles shake so hard, I drop the bloody dagger.

Just one breath. One damn breath.

There’s movement at the corner of my eye.

The damn fae with braids I knocked out earlier is back on her feet.Damn it. I should’ve finished her.

Her eyes are feral as she stalks towards the General. Blood trickles from her temple.

The General moves fast for a man half crushed. He yanks two iron stars from his belt and hurls them into her chest.

She staggers and snarls. “You think this will stop a Caligos? We endure much worse to earn our keep.”

I lift my bow with shaking arms.

Don’t fail me now.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Let go.

The arrow splits the air. A heartbeat later, it lodges deep in her chest. A lifeless body crumples besides the General.

“Nice shot, Wildarrow,” the General says, voice faint.

I blink, eyes wide. “You know my name, sir?”

He chuckles, which turns into a wheezing cough. One of his lungs must be punctured.