Blood slicks my fingers.
A shout distracts me before my mind can wander. I spin just in time to seea guard grab Jace from behind, arm locking around his throat. Panic spikes in my chest.
I sprint, leaping onto a crate and kicking off of it, launching myself at them. My blade sinks into the guard’s shoulder. He roars and loosens his hold, Jace drops, driving his elbow back, and finishes it in one brutal motion.
His eyes flick to mine. A question in them.
I nod.I’m fine. Keep moving.
Dakota is flipping off a crate, landing behind a guard as she lands a brutal blow to a guard’s spine. Blood streaks her cheek, the smile feral as the guard drops. Luca dances through the chaos, I swear, he’s humming under his breath as he disarms another guard, flicking his dagger across the space into another.
Two more guards charge Jace and I. I don’t hesitate, letting instinct take over. He pivots at the last moment, pain detonating across my side. I glance down just in time to see the blade sliding free of my flesh.
Shit.
I slash my dagger, catching his arm but my footing slips. The crate behind me catches me, my legs don’t listen the way they should.
The guard grins and lunges.
Jace hits him from the side, full force, knocking him off balance. Steel flashes. The guard goes down and doesn’t get back up.
“Iz.” Jace’s voice slices through the fog in my head.
I try to straighten. My side is on fire. “I’m fine.”
“You’re bleeding.”
Another guard rushes us. Jace shoves me back behind a crate and steps into the open, taking him head-on. I hear the dull impact, a strangled gasp, then silence.
My vision blurs at the edges.
I press my hand to my side. It comes away slick and red. Too much. Definitely too much.
My eyes flash to a different pool of blood.
“Stay with me.” Jace’s face appears in front of me. One hand bracedagainst me. He tears a strip from his sleeve and presses it hard against the wound. I bite my cheek to keep from crying out.
“I know,” he murmurs. “I’ve got you. Just breathe.”
Footsteps echo nearby.
“I can still fight,” I say, even as my knees threaten to give out.
“Right,” he huffs. “Just fight to stay alive.”
Luca comes around the corner. “Shit.”
Dakota joins him. “Area’s clear. We should move.” Her eyes widen, rushing over. “You’re bleeding.”
“I’m okay.” I turn to face her, but her eyes are on Jace; there’s a scratch on his arm where he tore his sleeve. He shrugs her off.
“Don’t touch me.” He turns back to me, helping me up slowly, keeping one arm around my waist.
Luca comes over and takes my other arm, helping hold me up.
I hate how much I need the support, but I let them help.
“Can you walk?” Luca asks, his voice low.
