Help him!Veda’s cry resounded in her ears and in her mind.
He’s okay, Veda,Daya reassured, realizing this was not the first time the girl had seen her protector in combat.
Ember radiated fury but couldn’t do much to help in the enclosed space except claw at the man to keep him moving in the direction Connor was trying to get him to go.As she chased the man out, Daya caught a glimpse of Rodric and the captain crossing blades.The third man was noticeably absent from the fight.
Ereven!He’s going to run.Get Rogue!Connor had spent the afternoon teaching his horse to respond to certain signals from the hawks while they’d watched the fortress.
But he has Opal!Veda exclaimed.
Easy, nestling.We will follow them,Ereven replied.He won’t get away with her.
Finally pushed outside, Ember dove at the man’s face with a vicious cry, claws stretched to swipe his eyes.Connor aimed low with his sword, finishing their kill.The practiced movements of the hawk and warrior felt completely in sync, as if they’d been hunting together for years.
The black steed raced out of the barn as Ember regained her equilibrium after the attack.Celina shifted into view nearby, pulling a dark-haired girl near Veda’s age behind her protectively.
Circling just above the battle, they saw a flash of metal as the captain threw something deadly toward the women.Connor shouted as Celina fell and Rodric finished off the captain.The third man rode with Opal through the yard and cleared the barrier wall with ease.
Ereven streaked through the sky after them, disappearing into the trees.The thud of hooves sounded as Rogue ran up to the low, broken wall that surrounded the fortress.Connor rushed to meet him, using the crumbling stones as a mounting block to jump onto Rogue’s back.
“After them, Ember!”Connor yelled to his winged partner as Rogue took off.
Distracted by the feeling of fullness at all of them working together, even without Connor joined to them magically, Daya was startled when her mind was shoved toward Ereven’s.
Opal!Veda’s emotion surged through Daya, exacerbating her own.
Taking control of the shift, Daya guided Veda the rest of the way into Ereven’s mind so that neither of them would be hurt by the forceful pulse of magic powered by the girl’s rampant emotions.Their vision filled with the fast clip of trees as they wove through the darkening forest, prey in sight.
Chapter 17
Duckingtoavoidalow branch, Connor kicked Rogue faster.The black hindquarters of the lieutenant’s horse flashed into view as they began to catch up to their quarry.Deep black, with the faintest sheen of purple.
His mind insisted his instincts weren’t wrong.He knew that horse.
Ereven screeched at their prey, flying close enough to aggravate the soldier and horse.The man nearly fell, swearing loudly as he raced through the night.Thundering hooves got louder as he and Rogue got closer.They were darting through the dark forest at a dangerous speed, given the unfamiliar territory.How was he going to stop them without risking Opal?
Keeping his gaze honed on the horse ahead of them, he let Rogue choose his path through the trees.A swatch of moonlight glinted brightly as they entered a semi-clear area, flashing a familiar shade of lustrous purple as it hit the horse’s black coat.
Elation sparked as the chase shifted into his favor.His lightning team partner’s horse, Midnight, ran in front of him.He didn’t know how that was possible, but he was grateful.
Pushing Rogue into a burst of reserve speed, they came even with the ones they hunted.
“Vetech, Midnight!Vetech!”he yelled.
The horse he’d helped train slammed to a halt and reared at his command.The man cursed sharply from the doubly jarring movement and fell hard.Connor took a second to verify that Opal was alive and clinging to Midnight before leaping off Rogue to tackle his prey.
A foot collided with his ribs as he landed, shoving him back and away.Uninjured, Connor jumped up and pulled his spare knife as he blocked the upward movement of his opponent.Twisting to protect his injured side, the man jolted sideways towards the horses.
With a roar of anger, Conner brought the full force of his blade down, slamming the hilt into the space where the neck and shoulder met.Grunting in pain, the man fell to his knees.Connor kicked him in his injured side, forcing him all the way to the ground.
“Stay down!”Connor commanded, pressing the point of his blade to the man’s neck.
His vicious, winged partner dove to assist, staying on the opposite side as they threatened their enemy with knife and claw.A moment of worry over Opal witnessing more brutality made him pause.
Reining in his desire to end the man, Connor fought the river of avenging energy running through him.Dipping into the cold pool at his core iced his emotions to a sharp point.
The brief second of delay gave time for something to spark in his memory.Fractured images of two men beneath a tree, one a known comrade, the other a stranger.This stranger.With so much of his mind jumbled loose, old memories were constantly flickering alive.He pressed the blade tighter while he shoved the memory back, but the damage was done.
“I know you,” Connor said.
