The clashing of knives in the distance turned into white noise. Lora closed her eyes, not wanting to have Kelvion’s face be the last thing she saw.
But instead of the sharp edge of the blade, Lora felt a rush of movement and suddenly the pressure eased off her completely. Her eyes opened in surprise to find one of the humans, the young one, had found her fallen knife and stabbed Kelvion in the back. He tried to hold the knife in place, but Kelvion pushed him off, enraged.
The human woman attempted to drag the fallen man out of the crossfire, but Kelvion’s dagger caught her side before they could move out of the way.
Lora ran forward as she took in the two barely conscious prisoners. At the same moment, shackled hands came over Kelvion’s head from behind, pulling tight against his throat. The third human was strangling him. Taken by surprise, Kelvion lost his grip on the dagger.
Lora risked a quick sideways glance. Eyden was still fighting Kayai, who was using her magic to trip him up. The other fae was lying dead at their feet. A small victory, at least.
“Hurry,” the human man said, his face coated in sweat from the effort of holding Kelvion in place. Lora knew she had to intervene. Fae weren’t easy to kill. She wasn’t sure if they could be strangled.
Her gaze flew over the ground until she spotted the dagger at their feet. She rushed forward, ignoring the pain searing her skin. Lora grasped the dagger, her eyes fixing on Kelvion. His hands clutched at the human’s. The skin around his shackles was scratched up and bloodied.
She pointed her weapon, his dagger, at his heart. Her hand shook. Her mind raced. She had to finish him off. She knew she had to. But could she actually do it? Kill him? It was a line she could never uncross.
“Do it, dammit,” the human shouted at her, his face constrained in pain. Kelvion grunted as he struggled against the human’s grip.
Lora tried to shut off her brain, focusing on the feeling of the dagger in her hand. It was all on her now. Her grasp on the dagger tightened in preparation.
Then the human burst into flames.
Fiery heat blew in her face. Lora stared in horror as the man’s back caught fire. Kelvion immediately used it to his advantage, throwing the screaming man’s arms off him before the flames could take him too.
Lora took her chance. Kelvion’s shocked eyes met hers just as the dagger plunged into his chest. She watched as the blood drenched his sweater, turning her fingers red. Her hand was shaking badly as she pulled it back, leaving the dagger in his chest. She never thought she’d discover what it felt like to plunge a dagger into blood and bones.
Painful screams tore her back to the present. Lora kicked at Kelvion’s shin with as much force as she could muster. She didn’t even wait to see Kelvion fall before she rushed to the burning man’s side.
Almost his entire body was on fire now. He had dropped to the ground, twisting around to extinguish the flames tearing at his flesh. Lora tore off her jacket, quickly removing her phone and WiFi cube and half jamming them under the band of her trousers. She waved the piece of clothing over the man, trying to cover the flames. The smell of burned flesh assaulted her nose. She couldn’t stop it.
Her gaze travelled around, catching sight of a group of fae drawing close. One of them must have fire magic. This is what they did, the fae. This is how they chose to use their powers. What her mother had warned her about all her life. As she knelt at the dying man’s side, trying and failing to kill the flames, all hope seemed lost. More fae were coming. Even taking Kelvion out wouldn’t save them.
A scream tore out of her as someone grabbed a fistful of her hair, snapping her head back. She let go off her jacket as she was shoved to the ground. Twisting around, Lora met Kelvion’s furious face. Blood covered his chest, but the dagger was gone. She must have missed his heart or the dagger wasn’t almandine. Lora had been right the first time. She was completely useless in a fight.
Helpless, she tried to kick out, but the fae lowered himself on top of her, pinning her legs. Her hands reached out, blindly throwing punches, clawing at Kelvion. She brushed his open wound and Kelvion yelled out in rage. His fist hit her cheek with so much force her vision went blurry. He threw her back against the ground. The impact stole her breath and pain exploded up and down her body. Her struggle ceased. Her arms fell useless to her sides.
It took all her effort to keep her eyes open. She saw Kelvion’s gaze flicker to her necklace. A bloodied glove clasped her pendant, forcing her upper body up as he pulled. “What do we have here? This is worth more than your pathetic life.” His other hand held the dagger, the edge grazing her stomach. One final strike and she’d be done.
Lora’s eyes slid to the humans. The sight of the burned corpse almost made her gag. The others were still immobile. The group of fae had almost reached Eyden, who was still fighting off Kayai. They circled him. Was this the end for both of them?
A yell drew her attention to another alleyway. Elyssa and Jaspen emerged out of the shadows. The redhead stormed forward, a throwing star hitting the closest fae before he could even turn around. Jaspen had a long knife ready but moved forward carefully, dodging a fire attack.
A sharp pain pulled Lora’s gaze back to Kelvion. The blade had nicked her skin. “They can’t save you now, girl. You’re mine.” The blade started to push into her flesh and a strangled scream escaped her.
It was true, they were too far away still. Eyden was the closest. His gaze caught hers as he yelled her name. The pain in his eyes must have been mirrored in her own. There was no way out of this, was there?
Eyden was about to move, maybe to rush to her, when Kayai stood up behind him. Lora tried to shout his name but it was too late. The sword went through his back. Eyden’s eyes widened as he took in the blade sticking out of his chest. He dropped to his knees, blood dripping from the blade.
The scream piercing the air might have been hers. Did Kayai get his heart? Would she stay alive long enough to find out?
She felt the cold chain of her necklace digging into her neck, still holding her up. She’d never taken it off since her mother had given it to her. She’d promised sheneverwould. But what good was it to be careful, to behuman,when everything was lost around her? What was the point of holding back when the alternative was death? This was a risk she’d regret not taking.
Her eyes met Kelvion’s bloodthirsty ones. “Your turn, bitch,” he snarled, the blade slowly digging in further.
He couldn’t win. He wouldn’t. She’d rather risk it all, go against her every instinct, than see him take them out.No more holding back.
Lora drew in a strangled breath, gritting her teeth as she threw her body backwards with the last of her strength. Her head hit the ground, but she barely registered the pain.
The chain broke, leaving her skin. A rush of something indescribable spread through her.
