Page 77 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

Another large gust of wind is the only warning before she tries another swipe. I throw Max down to the ground, my body covering hers as I use my shadows to act as a shield, trying to solidify them.

But this creature is daring. Her talons pierce my shadows before they’ve hardened, blindly grabbing inside for her prize.

Those sharp claws scrap my back and clamp down,hard.

Fuck!I shout out as blood soaks my back. Keeping Max down, I ignore the pain and curve to protect her. I need to keep her safe.

But the Fury latches on and lifts, slicing me like a dozen tiny knives cutting into my flesh. She swings me high, legs dangling in the air as my shadows dissipate.

The sword in my hand arcs over my head, wide and powerful, cutting into the tender joint of the Fury’s ankle, as I saw through. I have to get back to the ground. If she drops me from too high up, I’m dead.

My blade cuts right through her flesh, like hot metal to butter and she shrieks, releasing me.

I fall, my shoulder taking the impact but thankBel, I’ll live.

Max’s wide blue eyes scan my face, red stained fingers grabbing my shoulders to steady me. Fucking hell, her touch feels too good for such a simple gesture.

“Bel,” I sigh, body aching. My muscles scream as I shift, everything so painful, I can barely breathe. “Shit.”

The cuts are deep. Too deep. My healing is sapping what little strength I have left,and inside my skull, my beast purrs.

This is exactly what I didn’t want to happen.

A trickle of fear drops into my gut as I gaze at Max.

I’ve been feeling possessive of the woman lately and although I might have control now, my beast won’t. He’ll kill her in his bloodlust.

Clawing into the dirt, I resist.I will not hurt her.

Ineedher.

“You have to go,” I pant, pushing on to my forearms, body shaking. “She’s coming back, and I can’t control this for long.”

“Control,what?” She looks at my back, wincing. “We need to get you to Taylay. He’ll heal you.”

Her voice is muffled, drowned out my the beast roaring in my ears as my control lessens.

Fuck, this is happening.

With my last scrap of energy, I shove the beast further into my mind, exhale and look up at the blood summoner. I have to remember what I lose if I don’t hold on.

I risk who I am but above all—I risk Max.

I’m not prepared to lose her. Not yet.

“You need to leave.”

“Not with you like this.” Her hands are almost black, her magic fighting to break free. “I’ll need you to walk with me. I can’t carry you.”

Inhaling, I glance overhead as the Fury swoops low again, face contorted with anger. Her red feathers glint against the dying sun, her talons like the claws from death come to collect. She’s the gods’ wrath on our continent, come to punish me for being a wicked male.

I certainly deserve it.

Those same claws dig back into my shoulders again, reaching and clasping and I shout out. They burn as she tries to lift me again and I grab my sword.

But my arm is too weak, too tired to lift it. I’ve lost too much blood and with it, my magic.My control.

She flies into the air and I look down, watching as the cliff drifts away.This is it.This is how a wretched creature such as myself dies.