“What’s the plan?”
Eiravel had come closer too, ready for anything.
“We go in quiet and see what’s waiting for us. I’m pulling on the Tether constantly to see if I can connect. I can feel Kallan more, so I know we are getting closer.”
Eiravel nodded. “So be it. I’ll take point. Cynes?”
“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ll take right flank and Heath can bring up the rear.” The Fae leaned back, as if checking Ash’s ass. “And it’s a lovely one too.”
Even knowing Cynes couldn’t see her, and that he was relieving tension before they went in, Heath still wanted to punch his face in.
“When we get out of here, Eiravel is going to be short a twin,” Heath promised.
“Gotta catch me first,” was the only response.
Cynes was gone, disappearing into the bog and heading to the right to find his position. Eiravel went straight in, the most dangerous position, but one built for a Fae of his kind.
Heath motioned for Ash to get behind him. “I know they can’t see you, but if you know the danger of the bog, it may be able to hurt you.”
Once he knew she was secure, Heath headed in. Thick, black moss covered the gray trees, and white vines twisted and hung from the branches. Even the murky ground was softer underneath his boots.
It was unnatural, the way the terrain changed so quickly. It should have been impossible. Magic was thick here, twisting this space into a dark miasma of clashing power.
What the hell happened here?
“Incoming!”
It was all the warning got from Eiravel as a black shadow, studded with diamonds and stone, swelled in front of Heath. The giant had onyx skin and bright-red eyes. Commanding Wraith—his sword—to create a shadow duplicate of itself, Heath now had two swords at the ready.
“Come on, fucker.”
Eyeing his enemy and circling around, Heath tried to keep the giant’s attention on him to let Eiravel attack from behind. They’d done this a million times before while practicing their fighting together.
The giant didn’t make a sound as he lifted big, hard fists and swung at Heath. His long reach allowed him to hit Heath long before Heath could get his blades into the giant’s body. Heath was tossed into a tree and plowed through it, sending up dust and splinters. His teeth slammed shut at the impact, and blood gushed from his mouth as he’d bitten the sides of his tongue. Heath spat on the ground to save himself from choking and blinked away the stars winking in and out of his vision. His bones ached as he stood.
“Dude, he kicked your ass already?”
Fuck you, Cynes.
Cynes ran in, guarding Heath as he shot arrow after arrow at the soft points of the giant’s eyes. Eiravel swung his blades, dancing in a beautiful arch of deadly precision, the muted red-and-charcoal glow over the metal creating a circle as he worked. Each slam of his blade clanged against the monstrosity before them.
“Cynes, get me an opening,” Eiravel called. “He’s hard as stone.”
“Why must I do everything?”
“Just do it!”
Cynes’s eyes glowed as he lifted his hands at the giant, his magic turning his pale skin bronze. He whispered words too fast for Heath to comprehend.
Heath gripped the hilt of his swords in a tight fist and went back into the fray. The first strike on the giant’s side reverberated painfully through his fingers and up his arm.
“Work faster, Cynes,” Heath bit out.
Another hit.
More vibration.
They needed to cut this fucker down. It was attacking them, but it felt more like it was protecting something. It focused its gaze somewhere over Heath’s shoulder.
