“Then we hold her here and buy Alena enough time to get through to her,” Leukos ordered. “But no matter what, she can’t leave the?—”
Katell lunged. Steel slammed against Leukos’ blade with aclangthat rang through the stones. She pivoted, sword angling for the exposed gap beneath his ribs.
Nik barrelled into her with his shield, the edge scraping her shoulder and knocking her off balance.
She staggered but didn’t fall. Twirling her blade once, she tilted her head, a cold smile curving her lips—the first expression she’d shown.
The torn skin at her shoulder scabbed over and vanished in moments. Leukos had been right. She still had her healing.
Katell struck again. Steel flashed, fast and brutal.
“Alena!” Leukos shouted, parrying. “Keep talking to her!”
Alena edged closer. “Kat! Please—it’s me. They don’t control you anymore. You’re free. Come back!”
But Katell pressed harder, each strike forcing the Megarians back. Their footing slipped on wet earth, arms shaking from the strain. No ice to shield them. Only bone and blade.
Alena drew her sword with trembling hands. Despite all her training with Phoebe, its weight felt foreign as she faced her sister. She forced a step forward, every instinct screaming to stop. Her heart pounded as if it would burst from her chest. “I’m here, Kat,” she said. “I never left you.”
Katell hurled Leukos and Nik back with terrifying ease, then turned, dark eyes locking on Alena.
Her blade hissed through the air.
“Alena!” Leukos gasped, staggering up.
Alena’s back slammed against a standing stone. She ducked, the edge grazing her cheek.
“Kat, please!” she cried. “It’s me! Youknowme!”
The next blow came faster, heavier. Alena’s arms moved on instinct, raising her blade. Steel clashed against steel, the impact ringing through her bones like struck iron. The shock numbed her hands, but she held firm.
Katell’s face didn’t change. No hesitation. No recognition. Only relentless force.
Alena pushed back, parrying the next stroke and driving her own blade forward. For a breath, she held her ground, trading blows, Phoebe’s training snapping into place—parry, sidestep,counter. Each strike sang through the storm, sparks leaping when steel bit steel.
“You’re stronger than this!” Alena panted. “You’re stronger than them!”
Katell didn’t answer. Her sword came down in a brutal arc, faster than Alena could deflect. The edge smashed against her guard, jarring her shoulders. Her knees buckled, strength draining with every clash.
Leukos dove back into the fray, seizing Katell’s arm and wrenching hard, trying to break her rhythm. Alena rolled aside, the slick earth sliding under her knees. She scrambled to her feet, splattered in mud.
Katell twisted sharply. Her elbow crashed into Leukos’ gut, sending him sprawling.
Nik surged forward in the next heartbeat, sword raised, but his movements had slowed, breath ragged. Katell’s fist crashed into his shield, the wood splitting with a deafeningcrack. He gritted his teeth and staggered, but before he could recover, she twisted his wrist, forcing him to drop his blade with a sharp cry. She shoved him hard, slamming him into a standing stone, hand clamping around his throat.
Nik’s boots skidded in the mud. He gasped, fighting to stay upright.
Alena’s stomach dropped. “No!” she screamed. “Kat, let him go!”
For one breathless moment, Katell froze. Her grip didn’t tighten. She could’ve killed him—but shedidn’t.
Nik’s lips parted. “Kat…” he croaked. “It’s me.”
Then Leukos slammed into her shoulder-first, sending them both sprawling. Her sword flew from her grip, clattering against a stone. They hit the ground hard, but she was faster—rolling, twisting, springing upright in one fluid motion.
Leukos staggered to his feet and kicked her blade out of reach.
Nik coughed, clutching his bruised neck. With his other hand, he dragged his sword back into his grip, knuckles white.
