“I suppose you did have your uses,” I conceded. “Before you betrayed me, and I learned how snake-like you are.”
“By the dead gods, Isolde, you’re so ungrateful. The least you could have done was risewith me. Instead, look at what you’ve done. You’ve torn a kingdom in two. You and your idiot husband.”
“Mymate.” I thrust the sword at him.
He had only one good leg and his eye was injured, but Roar’s arms remained strong, and his grace and agility were impressive as always. Turns and turns of training among the strongest fae in the kingdom meant he was still a worthy opponent, and Roar deflected my attack with ease.
His lips curled into a snarl as he held out his own sword. “I should have known, shouldn’t I? To fall for a lug like that when I was right in front of you. Offering you the world.” He shook his head. “The stars truly can pair them.”
“Get over it—with what little time you have left.”
I thrust a wave of winter magic at him, and he retaliated in kind. I gauged his strength against mine. He hadn’t been modest about his winter magic. Compared to the raging storm inside me, Roar possessed a light snowfall. A revelation I was sure that he was having too, as my magic rushed over him.
The vibration on the deck changed as he worked to negate the freeze I’d sent his way. He managed, but barely, judging by his blue lips and the way his hands trembled.
“You could try and run like you did before.” I released the surge with a gasp. “Perhaps you can shift into something fishy and save your rotten skin?”
Taking the bait, he snarled and rushed me, sword arching high. I accepted the challenge, and our steel met in a dance. I spun out of an attack and rushed around a pole reaching skyward from the deck. Roar’s sword bit into the wood as he chased me. I twisted to strike back, and in doing so I didn’t see the pile of rope on the floor.
I tripped, and Sassa’s Blade flew from my hands as I landed hard. Roar was there in an instant, bloodthirsty metal descending so fast all I could do was roll out of the way.
Not fast enough. His sword sliced off the tip of my left wing, and pain rushed through me like a tidal wave. Roar laughed at my shriek.
“I’ll give it to Vale; he trained you well, but you’re no warrior yet, Isolde.” He kicked me in the stomach, and tears stung in my eyes as I tried to control the nausea rolling through me. Tried to go on. To get up and fight.
With one palm splayed on the ground, I pushed myself up, only for another kick to strike my lower back. I gasped and doubled over.
“This reminds me of the day we met.”Zupriansteel met my neck and pressed into my skin. “You were on the ground looking so pathetic I could barely dare to believe my hunch about you might be right. And of course there was me standing there. Above you. As I should be.” The blade dug harder into my skin. Blood welled and trickled. “I won’t be saving you this time. I?—”
Droplets sprayed against my face, Roar’s blood, and the sword’s pressure on my neck vanished. I rolled again and jumped to my feet.
In the air, Thyra and Caelo fought sailors. My sister held her bow, and while she was engaged in fighting, she cast a glance over her shoulder, her face wild with fear. When she spotted me standing, I caught the barest flicker of relief.
A moan hit my ear, and I spun to find Roar on the deck, gripping his shoulder. Thyra had made a shot to save me. While in the middle of her own fight.
Heart racing, I searched for Sassa’s Blade. The sunlight was nearly gone and with the crush of the night, ominous clouds were rolling in from the north where they already blanketed the sea and limited visibility.
Finally, I spotted the glint of my sword behind Roar. I lunged forward, but the bastard seemed to have expected my move and his own sword appeared, the blade arching.
My wings caught me, pulled me back, and I hissed through my teeth at the strain that single movement put on the injured wing.
With a chilled gust, Roar shoved me back into the mast. My head slammed into the wood, and I slid down. Stars filled my vision.
“I’ll kill you!” a male voice cut through the haze, and the surrounding air moved as someone ran by me.
Roar laughed, and metal struck metal. Once. Twice. So many times.
I blinked, trying to regain my vision, and when the stars dissipated, leaving me able to see once more, I found Aleksander and Roar engaged in combat.
Arla circled above, but the hawk did not dare dive and help Aleksander. Perhaps because they moved too fast for her to be sure where her talons would strike.
I groaned. I’d been so sure before. So cocky, but Roar had gotten me on my arse twice in short order. Embarrassment welled inside me, but I didn’t allow it to thrive because what good would that do?
I may not be the best soldier in the army, or even on this ship, but I was still here. Still fighting. And I would not stop until I found Vale and Thantrel. Until Magnus and Rhistel floated at the bottom of the Shivering Sea and Érebo left this world one way or another.
I pushed to my feet. Swayed.
Shadow magic roiled inside me. Around blood, the shadows were even more active. More excited. The shadows had been waiting to be released since the start of the battle.
