‘I don’t intend to,’ I called after him as a shadowy figure leapt off a high shelf. Pab sprang to meet them, dragging them to the ground, while Matthias struck his other sword in their chest. I clutched my throat as the intertwining threads sought out the dying. They’d been starved for too long. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep them at bay.
He turned to face me as books flew through the air, striking the attackers, knocking them senseless.
‘I need to get me one of those,’ he said, grinning at the wolf returning to my side. Matthias grabbed my arm and, stepping over the dead attacker, led me through the library.
I made out Glesni, a wall of fire snaking away from her and somehow missing all the books and paper, only striking the figures in black. I jolted as Ifan roared, his sword sweeping in a blur as he tore through the intruders as though they were the finest sheafs of paper. The library was a swirling nightmare of smoke, shadow, panic.
Matthias clung to my hand so hard he may have broken bones, but I needed him. Needed him to anchor me. We stood on the shards of broken glass, panting, our swords raised, Pablo snarling with a menace I’d never seen before. Matthias spun about. I cursed my vision as shaky figures moved through the cloying space, no idea who they fought for. I strained my ears, my chest easing at the lack of crashing steel or dying cries.
Matthias dropped my hand, wiping the sweat from his brow.
‘Guards! Rossing!’ he cried, his voice commanding, while turning in a circle – darkest crimson dripped from the sword he still held aloft.
‘I think we’ve done it, my liege,’ Glesni called out.
I looked in her direction, heaving out a long breath, relieved to see the mentor unharmed.
‘You did well. Your father would be damned proud.’
Matthias nodded his thanks. Guards stood, swords and daggers held high. Another fire Anomaly spun nervously, a small blaze flaring in her hands.
‘Have they gone?’ I asked, my voice trembling. ‘Could there be more?’
‘I think we got them.’ He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. ‘They didn’t seem to have a single Vyrium blade or Anomaly among them.’ Matthias lowered his sword and took my hand again in his. I shivered, noticing it wasn’t sweat making his grip slick, but thick, scarlet blood.
‘Are you hurt?’ I cried, suddenly realising it may be his.
‘A scratch or two. I’ll be fine once Keya’s sorted them with a balm.’ His head craned as he gazed about the library. The guards lowered their own swords but remained on alert. ‘Asher!’ he called again, his brow furrowed. ‘Captain Rossing.’
He tugged me forward, and I followed numbly. A shiver ran through me as I surveyed the damage. The curtains catching as they billowed against the shattered glass.
‘Asher!’ he shouted again, and a spike of worry struck me. Where was his captain?
‘He’s okay, isn’t he?’
Matthias’s jaw tightened. ‘He’d better be. Or I’ll kill him all over again.’
‘Matthias, he’s here!’
My pulse spiked at the panic in Skye’s tone.
We passed Glesni, hands on her hips, shivering as she hurled limp bodies out of the window.
Skye propped up Asher. Matthias swore, and I furrowed my brows, my pulse jolting at the blood on his shirt, theslice bisecting his dark chest. Matthias grabbed him, and Asher slumped, his lips pale and trembling.
‘It’s all right. She’s being dramatic,’ he said, attempting a weak smile while Matthias placed Asher’s good arm over his shoulder.
‘Damn. We need to call out to the town for a healer. Where’s Keya?’ Matthias said, leading Asher towards a low settee a few paces away and settling him down. ‘Has anyone seen her?’
He grabbed a passing guard. ‘Have you seen Keya Grace?’
The guard shook her head and bowed.
‘Who were they?’ Skye asked, kneeling before Asher and laying her hand on his cheek.
‘I don’t know.’ Matthias paced back towards the library, checking to see if Keya was there.
‘Did we take prisoners? I didn’t see any sign of Vyrium in their weapons,’ Asher said, wincing as Matthias ran to another door, checking to see who was there. ‘They looked like rebels.’
