She twisted, knowing she needed to locate the red back if she wanted any chance of surviving the next few seconds.
It took only a split second to find her quarry in the wreckage of where her tent had once stood. Only half of it remained upright, the rest shredded beyond all recognition.
The red back shook her big head as if confused about why she was there. She grunted, smacking a piece of cloth out of her face.
She turned in place, her eyes landing on Eva and Caden. She half reared before dropping to the ground again in an explosive movement capable of crushing a full-grown man.
"When I tell you to, run for the archers," Caden ordered in a low voice.
He tapped her right hip and she glanced in the direction he indicated, finding a line of Trateri holding bows.
"What about you?" Eva asked, even though she knew the answer.
His hand squeezed her hip. "Don't worry about me."
"You ask the impossible."
This wasn't a one-way relationship. He wasn't the only one who got to be worried.
If anything, his life was far more dangerous than hers. Filled with violence and bloodshed. A man could only dance on the blade's edge for so long before falling afoul of it.
Eva placed her hand over where his still rested and squeezed, letting him know without words she'd follow his instructions.
It went against the grain to abandon him in the face of a threat. Made her feel small and cowardly in a way she hadn't felt in a long time.
But she'd go. He'd asked it of her. The end.
It helped to know he was right. Without her close, he had options. If she stayed, he'd be preoccupied with her safety. Maybe he'd be alright but maybe his split in focus would cause him to make a mistake.
She didn't think she could live with herself if he died because of her.
Caden didn't need her protection—even if she'd like nothing more than to give it.
"Ready?"
Eva's nod was shaky.
Before either could move, a blood curdling war cry filled the air. Buck raced across the ground, a torch in his hands. He swung it at the red back's eyes.
"Let's go, you mangy beast. Come on! Shea taught me all of your weaknesses."
The red back cowered, trying to protect her face before losing patience. She reared onto her hind legs, extending to her full height as she swatted at the man.
Buck evaded, barely avoiding having half his face turned into bloody ribbons.
He waved the torch at the red back again, enraging her.
"Is that all you got? You're not nearly as scary as Shea made you out to be." The entire time Buck shouted, he wove back and forth, not allowing the red back to catch him.
It was an impressive feat of agility where one misstep would have grave consequences.
Frustrated with Buck's dance, the red back dropped to all four feet and lowered her head in preparation to charge.
"Go!" Caden shoved Eva toward the archers.
She went without hesitation, her head turning to keep Caden in sight as he darted forward to join Buck in harrying the red back.
A scream came from the night. It was the only warning before Sebastian slammed into the beast's back. His hooves and teeth causing an impressive amount of damage in a short time.
