Page 79

She spun toward me, eyes flashing. There was a vicious sort of madness written in her features. If we were not fighting for our lives, I would pause my steps to admire every moment.

Hints of refuse and blood mingled with the clean grass and trees. Adira scrambled to her feet, but stumbled.

“Kage!” She screamed. “Behind you.”

I had enough time to whirl around before a thick-boned Immorti encircled me in its emaciated arms. Thin and wretched asthey were, Immorti were horridly strong. My back slammed onto the soil and its heavy teeth bit into my throat at once.

Pain like molten ore lanced down my throat, into my chest. I pounded a fist against the skull. A sick sound of shredding skin and bubbling blood turned my stomach. The Immorti fell beneath my strike, but reared back too soon.

I could not recover swift enough.

The jaw unlatched, ready to dig back into my skin, but the creature let out a wet gurgle. As though choking on my blood. The fire of the bite blurred my vision. But through the haze, I watched the Immorti jolt over the top of me. Poisonous blood leaked from its sunken, empty eyes. From the holes on the side of the skull it used as ears. From between every gap of its teeth.

It fell apart in a heap of blood and bone.

I winced, holding a palm to my injured neck and sat up. Across the clearing, Immorti shuddered and fell over. Black ink spilled from their spindly bodies. One, intent to keep attacking, fumbled toward me.

I clasped the bone bolt and rammed it through the sagging flesh of its underjaw.

The Immorti fell, but managed to curl its hand around my ankle. I tried to kick it off, but the grip was unrelenting.

The creature said something—more gurgled it—before he rammed its claw of jagged fingernails into my ribs. I hissed through the pain, gritted my teeth, and cut the bolt across its throat.

At long last, the beast went still. My head spun. Hot, blinding light filled my head when I yanked the claws from my side.

The night was silent. Only the occasional huffs and snorts sounded from Sleipnir, but the Immorti had gone quiet. Those not slaughtered had faded back to the hellish pits from which they came, deep in the forest.

Adira.

Curled over her knees, Adira gasped. Her spine rose and fell, face in the grass. All around her, like a twisted battlefield, were bloody heaps of Immorti. By the skies, she’d slaughtered them all.

Heat spread like sharp knives across my ribs, up my neck, as Istaggered to my feet. I limped, dragging one leg behind me, then dropped to my knees at her side. Blood soaked and trembling, I placed my palm on her back. Adira startled. Her head shot up. Eyes wild, it took her a few moments to recognize me.

“Kage.” My name spilled out with a touch of disbelief.

“Wildling.” I gently eased her closer, tucking her head beneath my chin. Her hair was damp and sticky, blood splattered across her gown, her pale cheeks. “Are you injured?”

One of her hands gently curled around my tunic, fisting the fabric in her grip. “I’ll live.”

“That was stupid.”

“It was brave, wasn’t it?”

My head was spinning. Black dotted the corners of my eyes. I was losing too much blood, but managed to let out a small laugh. “What were you thinking?”

Adira tilted her face toward me. Fresh tears carved through the grime on her face. “I was thinking I wasn’t finished with you yet.”

This damn woman.

I slumped against her side, and Adira struck her second wind. She sat straighter, easing me onto my back. With care, she inspected the bite on my neck. “This isn’t going to turn you into a monster or anything, right?”

“No,” I said, slurred and distant. “Infec . . . infection is another matter.”

Next, her touch went to my ribs. “That thing wanted to tear you apart. Kage, try to stay awake, okay? I need you to help me get you into the cottage.”

The thought of walking, even one damn step, seemed too great a feat. Soon enough, I discovered Adira Ravenwood did not accept defeat easily. I cursed and spluttered through the ache when the woman draped my arm over her narrow shoulders, and practically heaved me off the ground.

“Stop whining,” she whispered, as though I couldn’t hear her. “Ten steps. Ten steps, Kage. Come on.”