Page 54 of On Brutal Thrones

I watch him carefully for any sign that he’s waking. There’s nothing.

For now, that’s probably a good thing.

Still, as we prepare to move deeper into the forest, I can’t help looking at the spot on Talon’s head where Thorian must have struck him. That’s going to hurt like hell when he wakes up.

“Can you drag him?” Thorian asks, nodding down at Fenric, who’s still passed out. Just like the last time he went berserk, parts of his clothes have been ripped by the transformation.

I look down at him and swallow. “Yeah. I can do it.”

I hate the thought of dragging him over roots and rocks when his body has already been through so much, but there isn’t another choice. Thorian can carry Talon, but even he can’t carry both men while watching for whatever else might be lurking in these woods.

“I’ve got him,” I say, more firmly this time.

Thorian nods and shifts Talon higher on his shoulder. Our bag is slung across his chest, probably taken from Fenric sometime during the fight. Seeing it reminds me that we still have some water and food left. Not much, but hopefully enough for Fenric when he wakes.

I crouch beside Fenric. His tunic is torn across one shoulder and down the side, and several new rips split his pants, but thankfully the transformation left most of his clothes intact. I brush a few leaves from his chest before sliding my hands beneath his arms.

“Sorry,” I whisper. “This isn’t going to be comfortable.”

I start pulling him backward. The damp forest floor makes it easier than I expect, but that doesn’t make it easy. His boots catch on roots, leaves tangle in his torn clothes, and every few feet I have to stop and adjust my grip. I hate every jolt that runs through his unconscious body, but I keep reminding myself that getting everyone away from the blood field matters more than a few bruises.

Thorian moves ahead of me with Talon over his shoulder and our bag across his chest. Even injured, he seems aware of everything around us. His gaze moves constantly through the trees while his head tilts at every unfamiliar sound. He isn’t only carrying Talon. He’s watching over the three of us while Fenric and Talon are unconscious.

“Keep going,” he says whenever I start to slow. “We have to keep going.”

So I do.

The forest is already so dense that the canopy blocks most of the daylight, leaving us in a cool green gloom, while also offering protection from bats and other creatures. The farther we travel, the more aware I become of everything living around us. Birds call somewhere high overhead. Small creatures dart through the undergrowth. Claws scratch against bark, leaves rustle without any wind to move them, and occasionally the high chirp of a bat reaches me through the trees.

That sound never bothered me before.

Now it sends a chill down my spine.

I look at Talon hanging over Thorian’s shoulder, and anger burns through me. The gods put him in a field of blood, knowing exactly what it would do to him. They turned his own nature against him, then left us to suffer the consequences.

As scary as it was to see him like that.

We keep moving until the metallic stink finally fades from the air. I hadn’t realized how completely it had overwhelmed my senses until I can finally take a breath without feeling surrounded by blood.

The trees finally thin, opening onto a small clearing carpeted with moss. Thorian stops beside a fallen log and looks around, making sure we’re alone.

“Here.”

I’m grateful enough that I nearly collapse beside Fenric.

Thorian lowers Talon carefully before taking the bag from his shoulder. He passes me the canteen, and I take a small drink, forcing myself to stop after a few swallows even though I could easily drain the rest. There’s no telling when we’ll find more.

Blood has dried across my skin, and my injured arm still needs attention, but finding water will have to wait. Right now, I’m grateful we’ve found somewhere to stop.

Only after Thorian drinks do I finally ask the question that has been circling through my mind.

“What happened?”

His expression hardens. “I had to fight both of them to keep them from killing each other. Fenric burned himself out eventually, but Talon got away from me.” He looks toward the unconscious vampire. “The only reason it took me so long to reach you was because I had to bring Fenric with me.”

His gaze drops to one of his hands.

“And I think Fenric broke my hand.”