Pain exploded through my shoulder and, awkwardly, the knife had gone through the hand of one of the men holding me, pinning him to me. He screamed.
I screamed.
Hale turned, his muscles bunching as his grip shifted on Dove, getting a solid hold on her chin, so he could break her neck.
Then… he screamed, blood flying as his hands came away from her. Dove fell to the ground limp with fear.
“I’m here now, fight!” I heard Midnight’s voice.
So, I did.
Pain was a distant thing, whether from my spirit-gift or just because of the fury I was feeling, I didn’t know.
I kneed the man holding me — but not pinned to me — in the groin and he released me. Which freed an arm to pluck out the knife in my shoulder and with a quick slash across his throat, the third man was flailing back mouth open, but no sound coming out as he died.
I grabbed a fistful of hair of the man in front of me, who’d had the knife initially, and pulled his head up from where he knelt holding his groin. I sank the knife into his throat, not caring for the carnage I was wreaking. I was seeing only red, fury blinding me as I stalked toward the third man, while Midnight fought Hale.
I would have thought she’d cut him up quickly, but it seemed he was quick for a man of his size and with his long arms he had significant reach over the much smaller Midnight. He had a dagger out and was easily keeping her short sword at bay as he backed toward the carriage. Even if she disappeared, he seemed able to track or predict her movements and though she was able to cut him, none were deep, nor hindering him much. He was truly a frightening foe. Luckily, he’d abandoned Dove, who still sat quivering in the laneway.
“Keep the last one alive!” Midnight called to me.
And it was only with an extreme force of will that I stopped myself from gutting the third man. Instead, I kneed him in the face and he went slack. I tossed the knife away — over the wall into the gardens — and stalked toward Hale.
He saw me coming and bolted, jumping into the carriage as it took off down the alley.
“Let him go!” Midnight called. “Save your sister!”
No, he has to die, now!
No, Legs, stop. If Midnight couldn’t take him, I don’t think you can, not yet, not now. Tend to your sister, I don’t doubt you’ll have another chance with him.
Auwei was right.
I ground my teeth, but my fury slowly subsided.
Dove was not far away, stunned and weeping. I went and knelt next to her, holding her tightly. There was nothing I could say that would make this right. It was clear now that her beau had only been courting her to get to me, and he was very much not what he seemed. And… that was my fault. This had all been my fault.
Spirits! When would this madness end!
Chapter 12
“We needto get you and your sister out of the city, now.” Midnight was all business.
“I need to kill that man,” I said, low and vicious, hugging Dove’s head to my chest.
“No, we need him alive to lead us to whoever’s behind all of this,” Midnight said with an edge of excitement in her voice. “Don’t you see? They finally made a mistake. Our plan worked. Once we catch up with Hale, we can finally get some answers and find out who’s behind all of this.”
“I thought that’s what he’s for.” I nodded my head to the one of the three brutes still alive.
“No, he’s to lead us to Hale. Then we question Hale.”
“Then we kill Hale?”
She sighed, shaking her head. Motioning to my sister, she asked, “Can she walk?” Then as if a side note, she added, “You’re bleeding.”
Was I?
Yes, your shoulder, but the wound isn’t as bad as it should be. I think your gift is already closing it up.
