When it elongated and glowed white, Balor’s eyes narrowed. “Shoulda known you’d resort to sorcery. Too much of a pussy to survive without it.”
Vade snarled, wiping blood from his nose. “A traitor does what he needs in order to survive.”
Balor raised his sword and dropped into a fighting stance. “Time for me to finish what your Pa started.”
Vade roared as he threw himself at Balor. The two clashed and clanged, their weapons ringing out in the night. Vade’s glowing axe blurred as he moved so fast she almost couldn’t see what he was doing. But Balor was just as quick, meeting each thrust and slash.
Orelia crept closer, sticking to the darkest of the shadows, as Vade had taught her in day’s prior. Though he had practiced with her after Ricaboro, a sword still felt foreign in her hands.
Vade narrowly avoided his legs being cut in half, but he fell back against a tree, and Balor tackled him. They slid to the ground, Vade palming Balor’s face, yelling, “Fuck you!”
Orelia snuck closer, raising the sword above her head, clutching it tight. She’d only have one shot at this.
Balor’s face turned bright red. “I’ll kill you once and for all, you fuckin’ traitorous bastard!” When he went for the seax in his belt, Orelia rushed in and brought the sword down on his head.
The fae instantly went limp and slumped on top of Vade.
Orelia looked at the cleaved skull of the man she’d just killed. She tried to focus on her breathing like Vade had helped her with after the Freebeasts incident, but panic was rising.
She’d killed someone.
Vade rolled Balor off him and jumped to his feet. He cradled her face in his hands. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, thankful tears falling free. “You are though,” she said, eyeing his beaten and bloody face.
“I’m okay. Here, take this.” He shrugged out of his leather top and helped her put it on. It swallowed her, but she was thankful for the cover.
“Fuck all you bastards!”
They both spun to see Elshar sauntering forward wearing a proud, crimson grin. His furs were drenched in blood, face looking the same, axe dripping.
Orelia jumped into his arms.
He caught her, laughing and patting her on the back. “That happy to see me, aye?”
He set her down, and she stared up at the beast of a man. “You saved me. I owe you my life. What can I ever do to repay you?”
Vade came to stand at her shoulder. “What in the hells are you doing back here?”
Elshar took a swig of water from his waterskin, swished it around his mouth, and spit it out. “Left Heart Carver at the damn outhouse when I was takin’ a shit. Had to come back for her.” He patted the hunting knife on his hip. “Caught Balor talkin’ ‘bout wantin’ to find the green-eyed beauty and slittin’ your bastard throat while I’s there,so I tracked ‘em here.” Elshar’s icy eyes met hers and softened. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner, lass.”
She wiped away a grateful tear. “You got here just in time. If not for you, I . . .” Her voice trailed off.
“Aye, don’t worry ‘bout it.”
Orelia wrapped her arms around him again, not caring about getting blood on her clothes. “Thank you so much, Elshar.”
He patted her back. “Anytime, lass.”
“Can I heal you? Are you hurt anywhere?” she asked.
“Happy to say most of this blood is theirs. I’m all right.”
She stepped back and looked at Vade, taking in his face and remembering his ribs that must have been killing him. Orelia reached for his side. “Let me hel—”
Vade stopped her and thanked Elshar for showing up.
The fae smacked him on the shoulder. “No problem. Now, if you two don’t mind, I’ve actually gotta be on my way, so don’t go gettin’ into no more trouble, ya hear?”
