“Come out, come out, children.” The dark one laughed as theclangof swords rang throughout the air. “We know you’re in there.”
“I won’t let you take any of them,” Storm raged. Sweat dripped down his face as fire and sword fought once more.
The dark one cackled, as two more swept in behind him. “Children are the easiest bait. So easy to manipulate. To mold into the perfect solider of darkness.”
Storm stabbed him straight through the heart. “We will defeat the darkness, and your time will come to an end. Faster than you think.”
Around him, others fought the dark ones with fervor. I had no idea if they possessed training or not, but they were here. Battling valiantly for their lives.
Raya and I leapt from our horses and engaged the two dark ones who had replaced the fallen, lying dead thanks to Storm.
Raya was a skilled fighter, even on her worst days. She glided through the air with a pose and grace most would never accomplish. Her enemies never stood a chance.
My attacker appeared unfazed by her change in position. He parried; I blocked. I struck; he struck back.
“Aren’t you tired?” I asked between pants. “Living with this evil inside of you?”
His brow raised as his blade clashed with mine. “Are you not tired of being nothing? You could join us, you know. You could have power and status. Things you could never even dream of. All you have to do is say yes.”
“I would never,” I hissed.
Our swords clanged together once more as a voice behind me yelled, “The barrier is down, get the children!”
Shifting my eyes to the right was all the dark one needed before he twirled his sword around and dislodged my dagger from my hand. The blade bounced off of a rock and ricocheted out of arm’s reach.
Ian would be ashamed, and my heart dropped low in my belly. I knew better than to take my eyes off my opponent. Innocent lives were at stake, and I’d made a foolish error. It was a mistake like this that would get me killed. Avoiding using the white dagger that might trigger my magic, I took a deep breath and placed my balled fists in front of my face for protection.
But the dark one charged past me as I avoided his final strike. With the magical barrier that seemed to protect the house broken, the dark ones still standing ran directly to the building. We followed, chasing them down.
If they breached the safe house and grabbed the children, I’d be out of options. Preparing, I grabbed the white dagger stored in my boot. I’d have to pray the Fates let me use it without detonating with uncontrollable magic.
The dagger warmed at my touch, reminding me it contained more secrets yet to be discovered. It was sharp and ready, and so was I.
Jax and Storm had already entered the building and were standing their ground, fighting those trying to make their way inside.
One of the few dark ones left, who hadn’t made his way up to the door, turned and watched me approach. He licked his lips in feral anticipation. “Any last words before you meet the Fates?”
“The Fates already know my wishes, no need to bore them with anything else.”
As the dark one rushed at me, a vine shot up from the ground, tripping and felling him. A young boy darted behind me, his hands held out toward the man.
“Well done,” I told him.
“I don’t think a few vines will keep him down, miss.”
I didn’t hesitate—my dagger found the Fae’s chest. A dark wisp of smoke left his wound as the muscles in his face relaxed. “Thank you.”
He looked content.
I expected to see anger or fear etched into the dark one’s features as he fell, but relief?No, that didn’t make sense. Or did it? Something scratched the back of my brain.
I turned to the boy. “Find somewhere safe to hide.”
“No need. That was the last one.”
“What?” I turned, running inside the house to discover the rest of the dark ones lay dead just inside.
The battle was over.
