My blade caught his arm and sheared straight through muscle and bone. The man screamed, but he didn’t stop coming for me. I darted right, slamming my shoulder into his chest and sending him sprawling.
Again, the fool refused to acknowledge what his body already knew, as his life essence stained his tunic red. He rose to his feet, snarling like a wounded animal before he lunged.
My blade passed through his torso, slicing deep. Blood sprayed from the wound, dark and arterial, as he collapsed with a choking gasp, unmoving.
About fucking time.
I glanced in Callum’s direction. Vines crept up his forearms, and I studied him with keen interest as he sent them sailing forward. They wrapped around the throat of another Wraith Borne before he tugged. A loud crack reverberated through the courtyard, and I could admit, albeit begrudgingly, that I was impressed.
But I didn’t have long to dwell on it. Another one was already coming toward me, faster this time, her lethal magic pulsing in sick, twisting waves that churned the air.
I barely had time to pivot, parrying the first strike and driving my boot into her chest. She staggered back, and I used my advantage to sweep her legs out from under her. She landed on the ground with a groan, and I advanced, burying my sword in her gut.
“Stay close!” I said, hearing Callum’s breath behind me.
My gaze swept the area, and tension coiled at the back of my neck. The Wraith Borne were attacking, but their numbers weren’t enough to secure a victory.
Something didn’t add up.
It was as if they were testing us, sending a few warriors in to take out as many of our soldiers as they could before retreating.
“Ryker!” Riordan yelled from somewhere above me.
I glanced up and saw him on the balcony overlooking the courtyard. He swung himself over the ledge, pulling two men with him, both howling in surprise. He landed in a heap but regained his footing. Riordan slammed a dagger through the temple of one man before stabbing the other in the eye.
“What the hell is wrong with you? They’re Wraith Borne, and you let them close enough to touch you.”
Riordan scowled at me. “I was careful. And besides, you should have had this skirmish put to rest by now.”
“I’m analyzing their tactics, you moron. We need to understand what they are after.”
The words were barely out of my mouth when an explosion rocked the tower to my left. Chunks of stone rained down, shattering across the hard ground. Callum covered his head and ducked around the rubble as Riordan and I followed behind him.
The fighting intensified as we approached the tower. Three Wraith Borne blocked the path: two men and a woman.
“Go!” I shoved Callum and Riordan ahead of me. “Find Eamon,” I called after them before I turned and squared off with the trio.
They wasted no time as the first man lunged, his hands reaching for my face. I ducked and took him out at the knees with my blade. He crumpled to the ground, and the woman screamed as she leaped over his body. Shadows surged from my palm, and I caught her midair. I used her momentum against her as I slammed her head into the stone wall. She slumped and failed to get back up again.
The third one hesitated.
But I didn’t.
I drew my dagger and threw it, slicing straight through his throat. He tried to shriek, but all that came out was a wet, bubbling sound.
Ahead of me, Callum had reached the tower. Half a dozen Wraith Borne were advancing, but instead of cowering, he stood his ground, erecting a wall of vines, thwarting their advance.
Riordan jogged up beside me, his knuckles split and bleeding, but smiling like he was having the time of his life. “You missed one hell of a show,” he said.
“Not over yet,” I grumbled.
“Eamon needs his head checked. This is a lot more than a dozen Wraith Borne.”
I grunted in agreement.
A fresh wave of assailants hit Callum’s wall, breaking through the vines. One of them was huge, head and shoulders above the rest, his face painted with black runes.
I looked at Riordan. “You take the left, I’ll go to the center.”
