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If Tye had been here, perhaps …

No. He's better far away from this mess.

Holden's grin widened as he looked me up and down, and Korym moved to his side.

The bigger man looked down at the mage. "I'll go first. I never get to have any fun when you go first."

Korym shrugged and stepped back. "Very well."

"I've waited for this day for a long, long time!" Holden sneered, pulling a pair of familiar blades from his sheaths. They glinted in the moonlight as he took a moment to spin and toss each one. "A little small for my tastes, but I can't wait to see Tye's face when he learns his little gifts were used to slice you up."

Gifts?A chill went through me.

"What? You didn't know?" Holden's eyes widened with false surprise. "Guess he never got around to telling you. Don't worry. I'll tell him you got the message … right before I cut him up with the same blades."

Red filled my vision as I lunged for him, throwing a fist towards the sharp jaw I'd dreamed of hitting for so long.

But I was too fucking slow, and he dodged easily, using the opening to slash at me with my blade.

I barely managed to duck in time, taking the pommel of the other dagger to my ear.

The world spun and my head throbbed as I tumbled to the ground.

What the fuck was I thinking, letting him rile me up like that? Stupid, stupid! If I have any hope of surviving this and saving Jaiel, I had to be smart!

I tried to roll away, but a sharp boot slammed into my gut, and I coughed up bile as my stomach spasmed.

Drawing in ragged breaths, I tried to force myself to think. I needed a plan. There had to be some way to get out of this mess!

Holden snarled and grabbed me by my hair, sharp pain spreading across my scalp as he lifted me.

"I have to say, after all I did to you, I'm a bit disappointed. I'd hoped you'd be more of a challenge," he chided.

My sudden smile gave him pause, and I used the opening to spit in his face.

He dropped me with a disgusted growl, and I took the moment to catch my breath.

Think. I need to think —

A kick to my gut sent me flying backward and shards of glass tore through my chest as I tried to draw in air.

Fuck!

I turned to look at Jaiel on the ground a few paces away, tears leaking down my cheeks.

I was going to fail him. Then Frexin would use him for gods knew what.

And Tye … gods. He'd never know how I felt. And the others —

My mind started to slip back to that easy, safe numbness — a fog holding back the crushing weight of my failures.

It hurt so much less in there …

"Given up already?" Holden sneered, leaning down to drag my blade down my cheek.

I barely felt the pain.

"Korym," he shouted. "Do you want me to leave any for you?"