“Ithink you got him,”Kaleosmumbled.Hisvoice and pale face snapped me out of whatever tranceIhad been in.Iran over to him, and planted my feet against the wall, gripping his shackle.Myfingers burned, butIbarely felt it asIripped him free.Hecollapsed to the floor.Iripped cloth from the pants of the very dead guard and used it to bindKaleosas bestIcould.ThenIgrabbed his sword, holding it in one hand.
Igritted my teeth and slung my injured arm underKaleosand did my best to lift him.
“Betterjust to leave me,Tori.”
“IthoughtIalready told you to shut up.”Thedoor hadn’t been locked, and we inched along the hallway.Ilistened as bestIcould.Wewere clearly in the lower level of an ancient stone complex.Where?Ihad no idea.Lightand the sound of voices peeked around the next corner.Igently setKaleosdown and leaned around the corner.
Fourmore guards sat at a table, dice and coins scattered about.Ishould have stayed and listened, tried to learn something, butIwas far past that now.Icharged and swung the too-heavy swordIcarried straight through the first’s neck.Ispun as blood flew and jabbed straight into the heart of the next.Thesecond two had flung themselves back, one falling off his chair and trapping himself.Iwent for him next but the fourth caught my sword with his own.Iswung at him again and again, but he was a decent fighter and met my attacks.
Eachstrike moved my shackles, irritating the weeping burns on my wrists, butImoved using the speed and strengthIhad gained back these last few weeks.Soonhe was falling behind, his defense slowing, untilImanaged to break through and slash across his thigh and blood flew against the stone wall.Hefell andIknewIhad struck true; he only had a moment to live.
ButasIspun, pain hit me across my ribs.Thelast man had sliced me.Istumbled, and he swung again butImanaged to block him as sparks flew.Iknew our fighting was too loud, more would come soon.Ilet my rage surge andImoved fast— faster thanIever had.Inthree strikes,I’dcaught the fae through his chest and his final breath left him.
Iran back toKaleos, trying to hoist him up, but he couldn’t stand on his own.Hewas mumbling something, his voice so soft, “Maybeone of these daysI’llrescue you…”
“Weare getting out of here,”Ipromised him.
“MaybeI’llget that cute healer.”Notonly could he not walk, he was also delirious.Myside still bled freely, the wound refusing to close with the iron still impeding my healing.Myhead spun, but we couldn’t stop now.
Ionly had one option.Kaleoswas bigger than me, butIhad ripped us free from our dungeon.Icould carry him.Itwould have been easiest to put him over my shoulder, but his wound didn’t allow it.Instead,Iscooped him up under his knees and back, ignoring the strain in my arm, and the way my vision tunneled asIlifted.
“Embarass…ing,”Kaleos’ voice was even weaker now.Islowly hobbled up the stairs, andIfelt the air grow cooler, less stagnant.Ilistened again, hoping to hear any would be assailants.
ButIwas surprised to hear the clashing of swords, the moans and screams of a battlefield.Hada rescue come for us?
Inearly bumped into the back of twenty guards asIrounded a corner but managed to backtrack.Ishould have setKaleosdown and fought them.Butmy knees collapsed under me, and we both slid to the floor.Luckily, they were facing the other way, swords drawn, staring at a closed door.Icould hear it louder, the clashing of swords, just beyond that portal.
“Captain, how many are we facing?”Icould hear the man’s voice shake.
“Justone, but, sir, he’s not a man.He’sa demon, he—”Thedoor shook violently, and the men fell silent.Theirgrips tightened on their swords.
“Stickto formation, we have the advantage, don’t forget—”
Thedoor was engulfed in flames that glowed an eerie, bright emerald green, as it exploded off the hinges.Andfrom the heart of them flewAbraxas, his hair and face covered in blood.Hiseyes glowed that same deep green with fire and rage.Icould feel the dark starting to claim me, butIcouldn’t take my eyes off him, even if he was too fast to see.Halfthe men were already dead, and it had only been two breaths.Therest scrambled to block or to flee, but the flames found them, andIcould smell the charred flesh as even more fell under his blade.Onlyone man remained, andAbraxasgrabbed him by the throat and slammed him into the wall.Thecrack of bones against stone would have been sickening ifIhadn’t been using every ounce of my energy to stay conscious.
“Whereis she?”Hisvoice was like thunder, deep and eternal.Theman gasped, trying to free himself to no effect.Abraxasonly squeezed harder, “Where…is…she?”
“Down…hall…”Theman’s neck snapped underAbraxas’ hand, and he dropped him to the floor.Hespun, but our eyes met, and suddenly all the fire was gone.
“I’mhere, little bird.”
“Abraxas, how did you find me?”Iwas also delirious.
“Itold you;Ialways know where you are.”
“Couldhave gotten here sooner then.”Hedidn’t laugh, just moved to pick me up. “No,Kaleos, he needs healing,I’mfine,Abraxas…”Thedark was so close now.
Abraxasclutched me to his chest, “You’resafe now,Tori.Youare both safe.”AndIwas gone.
Chapter46
Abraxas
I’dlet her get hurt again.
Icradled her in my arms as we rode back toXyr.Sheslipped in and out of consciousness, asIheld her tight against me.Thatshe had achieved so much with iron wrapped around her wrists spoke to her strength and her actions had savedKaleos’ life.Ofthat,Ihad no doubt.
Unfortunately, between me and her, there had been no one left alive to interrogate.Butwith so many fae in the group, there was no way this was a simple group of raiders from theBarrens, despite what their clothes and weapons suggested.Somethingmuch more nefarious had happened, right under my nose.Avlynwas right,Ihad let these weeks of bliss make me sloppy, and it had almost cost me everything—again.
