He turned in circles frantically as anxiety cloaked his features. “Find him. Alive. Or it'syourhead,” he ordered as he took off running back toward where the wyvern continued to circle above, screeching.
“Gods-dammit!” I shouted as I kicked a helmet that lay on the ground at my feet, sending it flying directly into the cinders of a dying fire.
I stormed around the camp, aggravated to no end at this bullshit, as I used my foot to overturn bodies and examine the fallen soldiers.
None of the ones I came across were the prince.
My gaze shifted upward, and I caught sight of three figures jumping off the wyvern and into the camp that held what remained of our army.
Which could only mean one thing—Elianna was on the ground.
Elianna
I crept around the camp, hiding behind the few burning structures that remained standing as I searched for Kellan through the floating embers and ash.
Nox let out a thunderous screech, forcing my neck to snap in the direction of where he was. I watched as Jace, Zaela,and Gage leapt off from him, just as I had only minutes ago, likely to search for me.
“Gods-damn those three,” I huffed.
The fires were dying down, and since Nox was out of flame, it meant we would need to finish the rest of the soldiers off with our blades.
I peered around a collapsing supply wagon and noticed horses tied off in the far distance. I was about to turn around to head back deeper into the war camp when one specific war horse caught my attention.
My eyes widened in surprise. “Matthias,” I breathed.
I sheathed my sword and took off in a sprint toward my horse that I hadn’t seen since before I left for Ceto Bay.
My steps came to a skidding halt as I reached him and threw my hands around his neck, a sob slipping from my throat. I pulled away, and he nuzzled his nose into my soot-stained chest armor.
“I can’t believe they brought you here.” My eyes roamed down his body and fell upon the dreaded emblem that Kai had seared into my horse’s back. “I’m so sorry. I will make him pay for everything.” My tone darkened with each word.
I unsheathed my dagger and cut the rope that held him to the post. I pulled on his reins and gestured to the fields in the distance. “Go! Lead them from here. I will try to find you! Go!” I ordered, my voice cracking in desperation as I prayed to the gods he would listen. My heart stuttered as he took off into a gallop.
My feet were moving before I could form a thought as I ran down the lines, cutting the ropes to free the remaininghorses. As soon as they were loose, I turned and watched as he led them into the wild fields.
I leaned against the tree the last of them had been tied to and blew out a shuddered breath. Right when I was about to turn back and continue my search for Kellan at the camp, my attention was abruptly drawn to the creak of a branch coming from directly above me.
My body stiffened, instantly going on high alert, and I reached for the pommel of my sword. A shrieking battle cry then sounded from within the tree’s branches.
My neck snapped up just in time to see Kai as he leapt from the shadows of leaves, aiming to land directly on top of me.
Chapter six
Elianna
I didn’t have timeto unsheathe my sword before Kai dropped on top of my body, sending both of us crashing down to the ground with a grunt and rolling through the thick mud left from last night’s storm.
“Finally.” A cackle left me as I sent my fist directly into his jaw. He roared in pain as his teeth cracked beneath the force of my knuckles.
Our bodies continued to tumble as we both threw punches anywhere we could. The little shit got a few decent ones on me, but I didn’t care. I barely felt them as the revenge I craved so deeply consumed me now that it was within my grasp.
The thickness of the mud slowed us down, and he pulled himself atop my body. Kai hovered his face directly over my own, and only madness lingered in his stare. His blood-stained teeth were bared in a menacing smile—but so were mine.
“Any last words, Elianna?” he breathed as he went to reach forhis sword.
“Let’s start withfuck you!” I yelled as I shoved my knee directly into his groin and swung my head upward in tandem, head-butting him so hard that I saw stars myself.
I shoved his body off of mine as he howled in agony. Pulling myself to my feet, I cackled wickedly as he rolled around on the ground, clutching his manhood while blood poured from his nose. It couldn’t be more clear that he had never been struck before. The sight of it was pathetic, but I wanted to enjoy this and prolong his misery, just as he had threatened with me in the dungeons.
