But I was out of fucking swords. That stupid fucking idiot had taken all of my spares.
I stilled.
Except for one …
The red shard. I reached over my shoulder, my fingers wrapping around the hilt as I brandished it in the fading sunset. Small flames erupted along the sharpened edge, the crystal glowing as heat spread to my hand. A heat mirrored in my heart. And then I charged, with no more thoughts, except for one.
Stop the threat. Stop the threat.
I stabbed the blade through the akadim’s belly, grunting and pushing with all of my muscle. The akadim screeched, his hand opening in surprise.
The soldier fell to the ground, screaming and crawling away, before getting back to his feet. He ran forward, stumbled onto all fours, and then got up again, his arms flailing as he ran.
I used the moment the akadim was distracted to pull my other sword out from his arm.
He hollered in pain, and I retrieved the red shard next.
I pounced, a blade in both hands, crossing the swords in the air, and pressing them both against his neck like scissors. With the right amount of pressure, I could decapitate him. And from the look in his eyes, and the blood spouting from his stomach, he knew it.
But I wasn’t going to kill him. Not yet.
“Have you seen Rhyan?” I asked, my chest heaving. “Rhyan Hart? Lord Rhyan Hart. He’s an akadim, too. Have you seen him? An akadim named Rhyan. In a collar like yours.”
His eyes glowed, blood spouting from his stomach. “You ask too many questions,” he hissed.
“Rhyan! Rhyan Hart!” I demanded again. “Do you know an akadim named Rhyan? Have you seen him? Tell me and I’ll let you live.”
“Let me live.” He laughed.
“Tell me!” I roared, pushing the blades together. His eyes bulged out, and blood seeped to his shoulders. “An akadim called Rhyan! Rhyan Hart! Rhyan Hart!”
A sadistic grin spread across his face, his fangs protruding past his lips.
“LYRIANA!” Auriel screamed.
I looked back. Both akadim were on the ground. Their heads cut off. Dead. Permanently dead. Their souls lost to thein-between, never to return. Nor pass on—not until the years passed, their natural lives over.
Tears pricked my eyes. Sorrow for the first time at a dead akadim. An akadim I wouldn’t be able to save. The other soturion though had survived. He was on his knees, bleeding from a slash to his forehead.
“Too many questions,” my akadim growled. “And I’m hungry. So feed me, fuck me, or kill me.”
I whirled around, but suddenly, his claws lifted, slashing through my arms. I was standing too close. Again.
I screamed in pain, my hands opening. Both swords fell to the ground. I stumbled back, but the akadim grabbed my waist with both hands.
“Stop!” I yelled. My feet were kicking now, dangling in the air as he lifted me higher, so much higher than should have been possible.
I could hear Auriel behind me, screaming my name, commanding the akadim to put me down. But he sounded distant. Because all I could hear was my thundering pulse. I kicked again, trying to pry his hands from my waist. But it was impossible. He was too strong, and now, my arms were badly injured. I couldn’t reach my weapons. I had nothing to fight with. They were all strewn across the ground. My swords. My dagger. The red shard.
But not the stars on my belt.
With a grunt of pain, I bent forward, and ripped one off of its leather strap. My arm screamed in agony as I slashed the star across his neck.
Blood spurted, but not enough. Not fucking enough. He smiled viciously, baring his fangs.
What the fuck!
No matter how many times I cut or injured him, he just kept fighting. And then his mouth opened as he started pulling me in—his eyes on my neck. He wanted my blood.
