Page 59 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“I need to help,” I whisper.

“You need tolive.” He pulls out his sword, softly as to not alert the prowling Skrull of his location. “If you die, who will save yourpreciousWitch?”

Pushing from the log, he slinks behind me, body blending into the shadows. What I wouldn’t give to be able to use my magic like that.

Looking back into the clearing, the two Skrull pause in their attack, the third, coming behind them. Out of the shadows, the Dark Fae emerge, Kaden at the front, his siblings to his side. They look formidable, swords gleaming, faces severe.

Now, I’m no longer the bigger threat. They spilt up, each Skrull taking a sibling while the guards see to the volunteers. My fingers grip the bark, as I watch transfixed.

Viciously striking the Skrull, Fee hits with a brutality I’ve only seen in men. Her eyes burn with fury as a few guards distract the beast and she rams her sword into its side. Not a drop of blood gets on her, she moves too quick, too lethal, as the beast slows and she continues to attack.

Reid grins as he fights, dancing around the second beast. Quicker than his sister, he glides along as if on ice, rapid slices hitting vital spots as the Skrull misses attack after attack. He darts in, cuts and darts away before a hit. It’s entertainment, meant to enthrall.

But his brother, the heir, is different. He hits with brute force, mind calculating the best spots to slice before doing so. It’s ruthless, quick, a confident warrior with a sword that dries my throat.

And this is the male who defended me—touched me in the creek. His hands, soft then, wield a weapon that cuts down a beast with such precision that I lean back, surprised as a gasp leaves my mouth.

It distracts him, pulls his attention my way as a massive paw swipes out along his midsection.

Blood sprays the muddy ground, forming a wide arc.

Hand to my mouth, I watch as his amber gaze meets mine, submerging black. Wrapping an arm around his wound, he twists his blade high into the air, a beautiful display of talent, before swinging it into the beast’s neck.

The head lops off, rolling across the clearing.

His siblings finish their marks, all Skrulls dropping into a puddle of their own blood. The only sounds are the volunteer’s heavy breathing.

Then, as a collective, a rush of joy erupts from the volunteers mouths, cheering for the beasts’ demise. I deflate, dropping against the log, body aching.Thank the Gods that’s over.

Glancing to the Dark Fae, they do not share the same relief. The heir locks eyes with me, fangs long, eyes black, body hunched. It’s primal, predatorily and I shudder, unease creeping along my nerves.

Why does he look like that? And why do his siblings flank him, swords ready as if another beast is to attack?

Dropping to my side, Taylay, grabs my shoulders and I yelp, pain spiking through the fog of apprehension. “Max! Shit,” he curses, peering at my shoulder. “You’re injured. What happened?”

Swallowing, I look back into the clearing, Dark Fae gone.

“Skrull attack in the clearing.” I wince as he pulls my shirt back. “One bit me. Their bites are?—”

“Poisonous, I know,” he says, nodding. “I can heal you but it won’t be pleasant.”

“Is it ever?” I joke, bracing against the tree. “Are you injured?”

“No,” he answers, hands to my shoulder. The pressure causes a whimper to escape my lips. “You were at the creek. How did you get attacked?”

“There were two there.”

“Two?” His eyes grow wide. “And you survived?”

“It wasn’t just me,” I explain, body shifting as his magic stirs. It’s a cool touch, wrapping around the burning skin and throbbing pain. Wincing, breaths short, I say, “The heir was there too. He helped me. Foughtwith me.”

“With you?” He shakes his head, eyes confused. “That goes against everything we know about their kind.”

He’s not wrong. They’ve been known to leave weaker ones behind to escape. The heir let the beasts attack the volunteers if it meant his people were safe.

He only fought back when I pleaded with him.

The magic increases and my shoulder mends, flesh pulling together. I bite my lip to stop from screaming, the flare of pain almost too much to bear.