I am not going to let this overgrown ape choke me out without a fight.
I summon all my strength, channeling all those hours of training with Rhyland and Erik. With a burst of adrenaline-fueled fury, I slam my hands down on his forearms. The shock of the blow loosens his grip just enough for me to wiggle free, gasping for air like a fish out of water.
I don't hesitate. I dive for my daggers like a woman possessed, my fingers closing around the hilts just as he lunges for me again.
The world narrows to the frenzied dance of combat; my senses are heightened to a razor's edge as I fight on pure instinct and muscle memory. I'm forced to rely on my skill and determination without my powers to aid me.
The pirate is relentless, his attacks coming fast and furious, each backed by a strength born of desperation and greed. I can see it in his eyes—the hunger for whatever bounty he thinks he can claim by capturing me.
I duck and weave, my daggers flashing in the dim light as I parry his blows and strike back with my own. The clash of steel on steel echoes through the room, mingling with our grunts of exertion and the frantic pounding of my own heart.
Sweat stings my eyes, and my lungs burn with each ragged breath, but I push through the pain and fatigue, knowing that to falter now would be to forfeit my life. I can feel the adrenaline surging through my veins, a wild, reckless energy that lends strength to my limbs and speed to my reflexes.
But even with all my skill and determination, I can feel myself starting to falter. The pirate is stronger than me and has the advantage of brute force. Each blow I block sends shockwaves up my arms, and I can feel my grip on my daggers starting to weaken.
He sees his opening and lunges forward, his sword arcing towards my throat in a deadly slash. I twist to the side, but I'm a fraction of a second too slow. The blade bites into my shoulder, sending a white-hot bolt of agony lancing through my body.
I cry out, my dagger falling from my nerveless fingers as I stagger back, my vision blurring with pain. The pirate presses his advantage, his fist slamming into my face, once—twice—three times in rapidsuccession.
I feel my nose break, the crunch of cartilage, and the warm gush of blood filling my mouth. My head snaps back with each blow, stars exploding behind my eyelids as my brain rattles around in my skull.
The world tilts and spins, and my knees give out beneath me. I hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from my lungs. I try to push myself up to keep fighting, but my arms are like jelly, and my muscles refuse to obey my commands.
The last thing I see before the darkness claims me is the pirate's boot, his foot drawing back in preparation for a final, vicious kick. And then there's nothing but the taste of blood and the sound of my ragged breathing as I slip into unconsciousness, the gypsy's ominous warning still ringing in my ears.
Rhyland
16
"Retreat!" someone bellows, his voice thick with pain and fear. "Every man for himself!"
And just like that, the tide turns. What's left of Bloodbane's crew scramble over each other in their haste to get to the doors, their faces pale with terror as they flee for their lives.
I let out a roar of pure, savage fury, ready to give chase. But before I can move, Erik's hand clamps down on my shoulder, his grip like iron.
"Let them go," Erik growls, his voice low and deadly. "We have more important things to worry about."
For a moment, I want to argue, want to tear my arm from his grasp and go after those fleeing bastards. But then… Dani. And just like that, the rage drains out of me, replaced by a cold, implacable fury that burns in my veins like ice.
I burst into the back room, my heart pounding. The scent of Dani's blood hits me like a punch to the gut, and I freeze, my eyes widening in horror.
The room is a disaster. Chairs and tables are overturned, smashed to kindling. And there, on the floor, is a pool of blood.
Dani's blood.
Her daggers lay scattered on the floor, a stark reminder of the fight she put up.
I reach out instinctively, my voice a raw growl."Baby, where are you? Talk to me..."
But there's nothing. No answer. She's hurt and in a bad way.
For a moment, I can't move, can't breathe. It's like the world has stopped turning. And then the rage hits me, a tidal wave of fury and desperation that threatens to drown me.
I let out a scream that's half agony, half rage, and slam my fists into the wall with all my strength. Wood splinters and cracks beneath my hands, but I barely feel it. All I can feel is the sickening dread, the gut-wrenching fear for my mate.
Erik is instantly by my side, his face draining of color as he enters the scene. He knows what this means and knows that Dani is gone—taken.
I burst out of the tavern, my heart pounding like a war drum. The hot, musty air slaps me in the face, but I barely feel it. All I can think about is Dani, my angel, my heart, my fucking soul.
