Sawyer made the first kill, slicing the arm of a Draemornian clean off. He pierced the man's neck while he grasped for his missing limb, crying out in agony.
I peered over at Kohen, who was responsible for the next execution. As an enemy took a swing at Pia, he kneed the soldier in the chest, knocking them back. Before they could rebound, Kohen put his blade through the top of their skull.
For each kill we made, three more Draemornians showed up to take the place of the deceased.
The sounds of metal meeting flesh circulated throughout the courtyard as we battled with an army that significantly outnumbered us.
King Beaumont stepped back from the chaos, still clutching his sword, but just a silent observer to the bodies falling.
A soldier lunged for me, and my skin prickled as I was met with a gush of cold air. Sebastian used his magic on the man, freezing him into a block of ice mid-step. I kicked the sole of my boot into his chest. His skin and bones shattered as they hitthe concrete, breaking into frozen, meaty shards of human remains.
The Draemornians kept pouring in, and it was no question that it was going to take more of us to finish them off.
“Where the hell are the rest of our soldiers?” Sebastian shouted over my back to Sawyer.
“Wish the fuck I knew.”
Kohen and Pia inched their way towards us until we finally collided. Our weapons continued to swing as we discussed the best course of action.
“There's no chance of us stopping all of them, they just keep coming. You heard what Beaumont said—the castle is done for, anyways. Let's just try and get out of here,” Pia gasped, raising her sword to counter a swing from an incoming soldier. Metal clanged as she blocked a death kill.
“We can’t give up now,” I countered as Kohen finished the deed for Pia. My plans had changed when this asshole showed up.
Kohen turned his back towards the battle to shout out a few quick words. “She's right, let's make a break for the tunnel. We can?—”
As if Sebastian had used his magic on me as well, my heart froze at the sound of hollow gasping.
The tip of a blade poked clean through Kohen's stomach, just a little to the left of his naval. Without a sound, he sank to his knees, eyes wide with adrenaline as the Draemornian yanked his sword back, twisting and pulling it from Kohen's abdomen.
Pia screamed the most heart wrenching wail I'd ever heard. She fell to her own knees, dropping her sword so that she could hold her hands over Kohen's wound. “You're okay. You're going to be okay, Kohen, I promise,” she cried and tried to heal the hole, but there was too much emotion and chaos surrounding us for her to relax enough to focus on it.
Time seemed to stop with Sawyer's guttural growl as he took charge and brutalized the soldier responsible.
“Get him out of here. Go to the tunnel. I'll finish this and meet you there,” I urged Sebastian, whose skin had lightened to the color of snow.
He started to shake his head, but I interjected with another plea. “Sebastian, I'm begging you. Please just trust me.”
His eyes stayed on mine as he put his sword in one hand—surprisingly steady for only having one arm for support—and stabbed it into an incoming Draemornian.
Sebastian pulled it free, then moved his eyes from me, truly taking in our surroundings. His gaze dipped to Kohen, who was hanging on, but hardly. Blood pooled on the stone beneath him, and his eyes had fallen dark. Sawyer fought off any soldiers who tried to get at Pia while she attempted to heal him, but soon enough they would exceed his capabilities. When Sebastian looked back at me, his expression had changed, and I knew he'd realized that I was right.
“There's no way we can win this. There's too many of them, and now only four of us are able to fight. I'm the only chance we have at making it out of here alive, and Kohen needs help or he is going to die,” I said, my voice hushed. For a moment it felt like it was just him and I.
He chewed the inside of his cheek. “Maeve, if you die, I?—”
“I won't,” I promised. “Besides, you said it yourself, that no veil of life or death will keep us apart. So even if I do…” I forced a smile, which he did not reciprocate.
Another excruciating wail came from Pia. Her body draped over Kohen, blocking anyone from reaching him. I could still see the rise and fall of his chest, but if Pia couldn't heal him in time?—
My soul ached at the thought.
“Go.Please. I’ll be there soon,” I instructed Sebastian toleave me, and though I knew it absolutely killed him to do so, he rose, pulling Pia off of Kohen's limp body, keeping his sword drawn as she fought him, still screaming.
Sawyer lifted Kohen off the ground, throwing him over his shoulder, and the four of them started to back out of the courtyard, fighting off the enemies that tried to stop them.
I turned, unable to give them another second of attention. There were more pressing matters in front of me.
“Call your soldiers off so we can talk,” I shouted my demand to Beaumont, who stood all too casual, unfazed by the bloodbath unfolding in front of him.
