Garrin moved between her and the soldiers, and he and Zirel fought back the men, clashes of metal on metal rending the cool night air.
Eyeing an opening, Garrin charged with his sword, forcing Jasper toward the entrance before the soldier could make his way to Lex.
The Fae sidestepped a powerful blow and slashed back, aiming for Garrin’s head.
Garrin ignored a light nudge on his back as he blocked blow after blow from the soldiers. He swung his blade, missing Jasper’s sword arm but slicing the man’s side.
Garrin straightened while the other man stumbled, and a pounding on his back caught his attention. He looked over his shoulder.
The small Halven was beating him with her fists.
Did she think to harm him? “Stand back, female. You’ll only hurt yourself.”
“Don’t kill Jas! Let me go! I don’t belong here.”
“Belong or not—you are mine now.”
An animal cry sounded from the Fae who sought Lex. He stormed forward, his pale skin red with fury.
Garrin shoved Lex aside and deflected a blow that nearly clipped her.
Rage had Garrin’s chest pulling taut. The man Lex so favored had nearly injured her.
Garrin could use his magic, but it might frighten Lex, and he didn’t need it to best the others. He made several strikes with his sword in quick succession and forced Jasper to retreat.
Garrin feinted a move, and when Jasper went to block it, Garrin kicked the Fae in the chest, sending him flying out of the cave.
“No!” Lex launched herself onto Garrin’s back, and he sighed.
“Female, what did I say about hurting yourself?” She was trying to strangle him, but it felt more like a neck rub. “Very well. This serves my purpose.”
Garrin held on to Lex with one arm behind him and ran to where Amund stood, his face strained as he held open the portal. Garrin jumped inside and tucked his sword close to his body, away from the woman on his back.
Colorful magic inside the portal momentarily blinded Garrin, but he sensed the pull of the landing. At the last moment, he spun and protected Lex from the fall, swiftly rolling them out of the way before Zirel and Amund crashed down.
“We must hurry,” Amund said, panting. No magic came without effort, and Amund had portaled them to the cave and now to Tirnan. “There was a portal creator with the soldiers. A woman they call Camille. I met her when I supported New Kingdom’s queen, Theodora Rainer.”
“Rainer? The human lover?” Garrin climbed to his feet and pulled Lex up with him.
After they found Amund in New Kingdom, he’d told them stories of Theodora Joelle Rainer, the New Kingdom princess who’d married a human and borne his child. It was her full-grown Halven offspring who’d saved Tirnan from a disease made to kill every immortal Fae. Only Dark Kingdom had remained untouchable. Not even disease penetrated the magical barrier that set his people apart from the rest of Tirnan.
Garrin felt a blow to his stomach and looked at the woman in front of him. “That one I felt, little Halven.” He cocked his head to the side. “You are stronger in Tirnan.” He glanced at Amund. “Is this normal?”
Amund was the most knowledgeable out of the three of them when it came to Halven, having fought beside the New Kingdom queen’s Halven child. But on this matter, Amund merely shrugged.
Excellent.Even Amund didn’t understand Garrin’s Halven.
Lex’s light brown eyes flared with anger. “You jerk! Where is Jas? What did you do to him?”
“Your Fae friend? I assume he is braving the mountains where I left him. Or he and his men are on their way here…” Garrin looked at Amund.
“On it.” Amund waved his hand in the air, drawing on his magic, though his hand shook.
Amund would be able to create the portal, but it would take longer. His power was waning, and they hadn’t much time.
Garrin ushered Lex closer to his men. “The soldiers from New Kingdom will arrive within seconds. As will your friends who wished to cut out our hearts. We must go.”
“Yourheart,” Lex said. “They wish to cut outyourheart, not mine. I’m not going anywhere with you.” Lex glared at the shimmer of the beginnings of another portal. “And not in there. Whatwasthat?” She looked around suspiciously. “How did it take us here?”
