The woman reached down, making a grab for Terena’s dagger. Terena shoved her forward. Falling to a knee, the woman looked up, brandishing Terena’s dagger.
The woman panted, her lips peeled back in a victorious sneer as she looked at Terena.
“Aye, much stronger than last time,” she said.
“You’ll forgive me if I don’t remember you,” Terena said, swinging her sword arm out to the men on her left. Rydon circled closer to her, standing at her side as the three attackers moved to stand at the woman’s side.
“Oh, you remember,” the woman said. “Why else would you come in here?”
“Remind me again why you want to kill me?” Terena asked.
“Oh, I’m not here to kill you,” she said, as if they were having a cup of tea. “I’m here for your sister.Youkeep getting in the way.”
Rydon’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. Terena’s blood went cold. She moved, her steps so fast the two men on her left had no chance. Before they could react, she swung, slicing the man on the far left across the throat, the gash opening and bleeding out before he dropped. Terena spun, thrusting her sword back into the other man’s stomach.
She pulled her sword out and he fell to his knees. The woman’s eyes flew open wide as Terena turned and narrowed her gaze on her.
The woman touched the pendant hanging between her breasts and began chanting; the man at her side instantly snapped out his short blade. Terena watched in horror as he struck Rydon in the chest.
She roared, heat flashing through her body and she reached out, a pulse of power bursting through her hand, throwing the man hard against the wall at his back. His skull caved and he dropped to the floor like a rag doll. Terena turned to the woman, this time lifting her up with invisible hands, like she’d done to Isher, only this time she was more controlled, stronger. She snapped the woman’s neck before she could scream.
Terena gasped and ran to Rydon. She slid to the ground at his side, her hands shaking as she moved him to his back. Tears stung behind her eyes and she impatiently blinked them away, her mouth dropping open when she saw the blade still in his breast.
“Rydon, oh please no,” she whispered. He groaned, and she gasped, her hands an inch from the blade.
His eyes blinked open slowly.
“How are you still alive?” Terena squeaked. She didn’t want to remove the blade because he’d surely die. But honestly, how was he still alive?
As she sat there trying to figure out what to do, Rydon reached up, his face screwing up in a grimace. Jaw tight as he gripped the hilt of the dagger, he yanked it out. Terena sat back on her heels, mouth wide as she exhaled raggedly.
Rydon sighed and closed his eyes, dropping the blade with a loud clatter at his side.
She sat in stunned silence, her eyes searching his face.
“What the fuck, Rydon?” She shuddered, feeling lightheaded.
Rydon swallowed, the column of his neck dripping sweat as the tendons worked and he tried to speak. He opened his eyes and looked at her, resigned.
“It’s as she said,” he replied, his voice rough, barely above a whisper. “I am a Eudaemon. A Guardian. I am sworn to protect you.”
Terena opened her mouth, then scoffed, her hands splayed. “So… so… so you can take a fucking blade to the heart and live?”
He had closed his eyes after he’d spoken and it took him a few seconds more before he opened them again to stare up at her.
“I can’t die unless you do.”
Rydon wincedat the pain from the wound in his chest. Terena seemed dazed, her eyes unfocused. They sat in thick silence while their assassins lay dead nearby. Rydon moved to stand and Terena reached out reflexively, helping him as he made his way slowly to his feet, her arm strong around his waist, her feet sure and stable when a bit of lightheadedness had him swaying.
“You’re unusually quiet,” Rydon said gruffly. He took a few slow, deep breaths and covered the wound with his hand.
Terena watched him warily. “Lots to think on just now,” she said at last.
He nodded. “I expect you have questions.”
She snorted.
Terena took her arm from his waist, slowly, as if expecting him to fall down dead. He worried she was right to fear, but when she took a step back, he was fine on his own.
