“Raven, Dax, any ideas?” I whisper.
“Adrian, hang back,” Raven says. “Keep your bow at the ready for an opening.”
“Got it.” Adrian backs away, hiding behind the SUV for now.
I roll my shoulders back as I raise my sword. I don’t like it and we’re probably about to get all our asses kicked by the indestructible Achilles, but the warrior isn’t giving us a choice.
Dax and Raven circle him as Jayden pulls his obsidian sword from the shadows and plants his feet beside me.
“You’re children. Do you really think that even with your numbers you stand a chance against me?” Achilles laughs.
“We’ve faced bigger monsters than you and came out on top,” I say with more bravado than I feel.
“Monsters lack the ability to reason. I do not,” Achilles says.
He pulls a second blade from its sheath and lunges for Dax. Dax spins but not fast enough and a line of blood drips down his shoulder. He grunts in pain but continues the battle.
“We need to help him. Achilles drew first blood in one move,” Jayden whispers.
“I’m pretty fast at jumping now. Between the two of us, I think we can distract him enough so someone can get a shot at his ankles, maybe?” I chew my lip.
“That could work. I’ll zag left and block Dax while you zag right and have Raven’s back.” Jayden pulls his shadows around him.
“Perfect.” I jump by Raven and flick my whip out. Electricity crackles in the air.
Achilles’ sword bats the whip away from him easily but it’s enough of a distraction for Draven and Kira to get Dax out of the way.
“Beth, watch out,” Raven yells.
With barely a thought, I jump to her side, narrowly missing the swipe of Achilles’ sword.
“Thanks.” I roll my shoulders back and jump again, behind Achilles this time.
I take a swipe at Achilles’ heel, but he jumps over the swing and flips backward until he’s on his feet behind me. I roll to the side and lift my sword to block his next strike.
“You’re a skilled warrior, demigod, but you’re no match for me.” He swings at me again.
Shadows engulf me a second before the strike would have hit me and transport me next to Raven with Jayden standing in my place, his obsidian sword clanging against Achilles’.
“Mine,” Jayden snarls, all the blue bleeding to black in his eyes.
“Shit, Jayden’s losing control.”
“What’s the plan?” Raven holds her swords out in a fighting stance.
Jayden wraps the shadows around him and every time Achilles swings, he shadow walks out of the way before a blow can land, but he’s flagging with the excessive use of magic.
“Adrian, do you have a clear shot?” I call out.
“Not yet, Beth.” He peeks over the hood of the SUV.
“We’re losing. There has to be something we can do to stop him. He keeps blocking my sword and my whip, and Jayden is just evading and wearing himself out at this point.”
“What if the three of us all rushed him at the same time?” Raven chews her lip.
Greyson’s shoulders ripple as if trying to control his change. “If I shift into my wolf, I’ll be a lower center of gravity he won’t be ready for. It could throw him off, especially if we all charge in together.”
“Are you sure?” I ask him. “You’re kind of a super shifter now and you got dosed again. Do you have control?”
