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But the wraith surged toward the threesome, as did the first line of his army.
Jade pulled back. The wraith swooped in, a sword in his left hand, since Davian had hacked off the right one during the fight at the church.
She withdrew her second sword and swung it soundly. The wraith’s blade clashed with hers. She’d been prepared for the jarring impact and remained steady. Her two demon companions were instantly immersed in battle with the outlaws, and Toran charged in to join them.
Jade fought the wraith while her agitated horse responded to the fire blazing close to it. Finally, the animal jerked and launched Jade from his back. She landed in a thick bank, thankfully with her sword still in hand. Leaving his own horse, the wraith advanced on her with powerful blows that rattled Jade to the core of her being. Yet she kept swinging.
He opened his mouth and a fireball shot out. She’d been expecting it this time and skillfully dodged the fiery orb. It exploded as it connected with the tree next to her and the branches burst into flames.
Jade kept her focus on the wraith. She absorbed strike after strike against her blade, but managed to deliver a few solid hits herself. Yet her strength waned. And the heat emitted
from the wraith made her burn from the inside out. Perspiration dotted her hairline. Her heart thundered. Her pulse hammered in her head. The ache in her fingers from gripping the hilt so tightly flowed into her wrists and radiated throughout her body. But she didn’t give up.
She caught Michael in her peripheral vision as he tried to assess the situation and seemingly find the best move to make in order to distract the wraith so she could better attack him.
“Michael, no!” she yelled, wanting to keep him safe.
Luckily, he was not presented with an opportunity to assist her. Though, miraculously, others were as the roar of the king’s militia suddenly echoed all around them.
Jade spared a quick glance to the north and saw at least five hundred of the king’s men charge toward the field. She knew he must have dispatched similar numbers at various points to encircle the perimeter.
In the distance, she also heard what she believed to be Morgan’s patrol, coming up behind the renegades.
A sense of relief and renewed energy vibrated within her and she found the drive to put more aggression behind her swings as she continued to challenge the fire wraith. His attention was clearly split, otherwise she likely wouldn’t have lasted as long as she did with him. Knowing this, she took advantage of the diversion when Morgan’s group trapped the wraith’s army.
She swiped at the ghost’s midsection. He let out an ear-piercing screech that sent her reeling backward. Jade stumbled, tripping over a tree stump buried in the snow. She fell on her ass again, but kept hold of her sword. The shrieking wraith lunged toward her, his blade slicing the air, targeting her. With the agility she’d gained from her work with Toran, she rolled away, unscathed.
“Jade!” Davian called out.
She could see his and Morgan’s men hastily reduce the wraith’s army. Only a few stood, and those rebel demons initiated an attack on Toran and Michael.
Jade scrambled to her feet and raced toward her friend as a shapeshifting wolf lunged at Michael.
“Stab him any place you can!” she implored.
Michael was keen enough to raise his blade and penetrate the wolf’s chest. The animal landed on the ground and thrashed in pain in the snow, howling wretchedly.
Jade ripped her gaze from that scene to check on the wraith. Davian took him on once more, so she raced toward Michael. The animal was just getting to its feet when Morgan appeared and slammed his own body into the wolf’s. They grappled in the crimson-stained snow for mere minutes before Morgan had the shifter on its back. A heartbeat later, his fingers grasped the beast’s throat and he tore the flesh and fur away.
Michael turned in apparent disgust as blood spewed in all directions. Jade sighed with relief.
“Thank you,” she said to Morgan, her breath coming in heavy pulls. “I wasn’t looking forward to doing that.”
He nodded. “But you would have, anyway.”
“Yes.”
Another shrill screech from the fire wraith made Jade whirl around, just as his sword took another swipe at her. He’d caught her off guard. She was paralyzed with fear.
“Jade!” Davian yelled once more, terror in his voice.
Morgan shoved her out of the way at the very last second and raised his own sword. Davian ran the ghost through from behind and it incinerated before their eyes, the ashes of the cloak sprinkling to the ground.
Jade’s pulse still pounded. Somehow, she managed to ask, “Can you kill something that’s already dead?”
Davian glared at her, causing a foreboding sensation to slither down her spine. “If you know where to strike.”
He marched toward her, bent at the waist and brushed his fingers over her cheek. Tenderly, despite the palpable rage coursing through him.
