King Traevon yelled, “We aren’t going to make it. Prepare yourselves!”
I skidded to a stop, sliding on the slick leaves. I pulled my favorite short sword from its scabbard and turned to face the enemy with my feet braced and sword high. My eyes narrowed on the deer while drool dripped from their mouths, their charge not ending in the face of the rulers and myself ready to kill them.
My chest pumped hard, and adrenaline pushed in my veins. I roared and raced forward, slicing upward in a clean arc, carving through the first neck. I pivoted quickly and stabbed my sword back into the beast ready to bite my head off, its jaws wide and its teeth wet with hunger. I palmed the handle of a dagger and whipped it to the side into another deer’s neck.
I yanked blades out of flesh and stepped forward to meet the three deer charging me. One reared up while the other two curved around me. I hurled my dagger into the throat of the deer on its hind legs and whirled in a full circle with my sword braced out, slicing the other two across their throats.
I ducked under a hoof aimed at my head and slammed my sword up into the belly of the beast, ripping it out hard. I sidestepped the entrails and shoved up into another throat bearing down on me. I heaved my sword out and turned in a slow circle.
All the deer had fallen. None still alive.
Father twirled his sword playfully, flicking blood at all angles, barely out of breath. “I am still better than you, my daughter.”
I flashed my fangs. Out of air, I gasped, “I got eight.”
“And I killed thirteen.” He smirked.
“And you lied, Princess Trixie.” King Athon stepped over one of my kills. “You are better than someone merely tinkering with a blade.”
I bent down to clean my sword off on a carcass and shrugged my shoulders, peering up at him through the mist. “I may have downplayed my ability with a sword.”
He snorted and yanked my dagger out of the throat of the dead and tossed it onto the ground next to me. “That is as accurate as me saying we now have food for quite a while.”
“You’re sick,” I grumbled.
“And my belly will be full.” King Athon grinned. He rubbed at his stomach and peered around with glee. “Who wants to help me with these?”
Queen Mikko stomped forward. “I’ll do it. These Fae damned creatures made me fall into my own piss.”
Father tipped his head back and laughed loudly. “I wondered where you had run off to.”
“A rat would have been better than that pack of deer.” Queen Mikko sneered. “I should have stayed with Queen Alora and Princess Trixie.”
I pointed at her in agreement. “The rat was polite.”
* * *
My stomach purred in happiness. Those beasts had made a fine meal. The meat had also given me energy. Not too much, but I wasn’t quite as shaky as I was before. I asked bluntly, “Are we going to sit here all day, or are we going to search like we should be doing?”
The tent was our backdrop as we sat around a campfire, with the mist over our heads and swirling around our bodies. The sun was at high noon, and this was the best light we would have today.
King Elon picked at his teeth with a sharp stick. “We’re waiting for the food to settle. That was a large meal compared to what we’re used to here.”
Queen Mikko snorted softly. “You say that every day.”
“Let’s go.” King Athon stood to his feet and brushed off his leather pants—brown this time after changing. “King Elon and Queen Alora, make sure the fire is put out properly. King Traevon, clean up from our meal. Queen Mikko and I will pack up the tent.”
King Elon sneered. “I think I want to sit longer.”
“Then you will get left behind, and you’ll need to catch up.” King Athon bared his teeth. “Do you wish to traipse through the Blood Forest alone?”
“I don’t know who made you our leader here, but you are Fae damned annoying,” King Elon griped, though he did stand up. “Queen Alora, we apparently have another job to do.”
“What would you like me to do?” I asked patiently.
King Athon scowled down at me. “Rest while we work, Princess Trixie. You willnotbe holding us up today.”
I lifted my chin high. “That could not be helped before.”
