Page 123 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Once this is done, I’ll gladly drop to mine and show her my devotion. If she’ll have me.

Moving gracefully, her arms swing into an arc as her fingers curve and the body falls to the ground. A trickle of blood drips from his mouth and I know, she’s crushed his heart without blinking.

No one notices his apparent fall. But I do. So do Fee and Reid, both pleased looks on their faces. They see the same thing as me.

She’s a powerful woman and we have a chance at getting out of here intact.

“When this is over,” she breathes, hands falling to her side. “You’re going to explain what you did to me. And how weundoit.”

Gently, I place a stray lock of ebony hair behind her ear, tracingthe delicate curve of her jaw. No matter how furious I am with her, I can’t stop touching her.

It’s this blasted bond. It’s going to be the death of me.

Swallowing thickly, I nod once. “I’ll answer one of those things right now. It can’t be undone.”

Blue eyes narrow on me, a drop of red flowing from her tear duct. The magic is rising so forcefully inside of her, that it’s pulling at her own life force. It’s seeking any blood it can get, even turning against its master.

“We’ll see about that,” she promises, stepping into the battle.

Neither meek nor scared, she walks directly into the fight, hands high as if beseeching them to her. She’s covered in the scent of a blood summoner, no longer hiding, and everyone notices.

In the very front of the gates, through the confides of raider, I see a large white wolf, as big as a Skrull, grinning at her. Wulf can finally see her at the height of her power.

She is death and life incarnate.

Raiders rush her and I react, chasing after her into the battle. But none touch her.

Taking command of her magic, she slices down enemies, bodies crumpling as she squashes their hearts, delicate fist crumpling men twice her size.

It’s more poetic than even the greatest of tales sung in the Black Palace. She walks with ease, dagger forgotten, but her hands are all red, as if stained with her kills. And it’s a glorious sight.

My sword slashes into one raider, quickly curving to meet a sword at my back. Shadow magic rising within me, it provides more defense as men swarm me. Max is an easy target, yet no one can reach her—but I’m the next best thing.

Jumping over the crowd, Fee slices her sword down like a hammer, crashing into the raiders like a dead weight. Men fly back the brunt of her hit, blood spraying against my face and chest as we move back to back.

She rages and my beast follows, a growl roaringfrom my mouth as it pulls at its chains. Eyes submerging black, hands covered red, I smile as the adrenaline of a battle sings within my veins.

This is what I was bred for. Carnage, fight,war. Here I can think and sink into the madness of swordplay and violence, no other thoughts intruding.

Scanning the ground, I see it’s completely swallowed up by thrashing bodies and clawing animals. Sounds of tearing flesh and crushed limbs ring in my ears, but I don’t let it fool me. I’ve lost sight of Max and my heart jumps into my throat, a sickening dread filling my gut.

“Do you see her?” I yell to Fee who turns with a raider, slashing into his back. He falls quickly at her feet, and she plants one foot on his head to look round.

“No. She was right here.” Another man rushes her, and she falls back, his weight toppling them both into the muck under our boots.

My shadows react, grabbing the man by the neck and I snap it without a flick of my wrist.

She stands, nodding appreciatively.

To my left, Reid parries with two raiders, dodging between their hits. I grab one with my shadows, coiling them around his middle and yank him away, as Reid slams the hilt into the other’s chin.

Stumbling, my brother uses his disorientation against him, and cuts into neck with a quick flick of his wrist. Commanding my shadows, I crack the second raid into two, dropping him to the side.

Exhaustion pulls on my limbs as I call back my magic. Using it too much is taxing. That’s why I spent years learning to fight with a weapon. But we’re overwhelmed, and there’s no way out without it.

Rushing to Reid, I look him over, grabbing his shoulder as he stumbles. “Are you good?”

He nods, patting his chest. “Fine. This is just a bit too early for me,” he jokes, as we both dodge a stray arrow, dropping low.