“As much as I love to see a woman beg,” Vikros said with a savage grin, “we can’t leave any witnesses to this incident.”
I struggled against him with a scream. Fury, pure and volatile, coursed through my veins, igniting a fire within me. My horror and shock melted away, making way for the red creeping into my vision.
Vikros turned to the soldier closest to him and gave a quick nod.
The men in front of the children raised their swords.
Theron screamed something unintelligible. I channeled all of my focus on those innocent children who shared blood with me, who did not belong in this battle…
I bit down hard on Vikros’s arm. He yelped and staggered back, loosening his grip on me. With my free hand, I dragged my dagger along his stomach, digging deep. Blood gushed, running freely from his wound. He roared in agony, but I was already sprinting away, diving in front of the closest swordsman before he could strike the doe-eyed girl before him.
“Eira!” Theron shouted.
The blade struck me, slicing through flesh and bone, cutting a path of fire through my chest. White light consumed my vision as I collapsed, feeling nothing but the burn of sharp steel. Hot liquid ran down my body, drenching everything.
And then, all at once, the pain vanished. I gasped as myvision cleared, and the blood stopped flowing. Stunned, I looked around. Was I… dead?
The soldiers all stared at me in shock and confusion. One of them turned to Vikros, who was clutching his own wound, though it was not nearly as fatal as mine had been.
“Sir?” said a guardsman uncertainly.
“Eira, move,” whispered a familiar voice.
I didn’t have to look to know it was Frisk. In a flash of white fur, he dived for the nearest soldier, connecting with his face and clawing at the man’s flesh. Shrieks filled the air, followed by the clopping of hooves. The children dropped to the ground, arms covering their heads.
I sat up in alarm to see a horde of animals emerge from the forest. Mauro arrived, followed by several other creatures: deer, squirrels, rabbits, birds, and some I had never seen before. Even Kendra was among them, white wings flapping and blue eyes blazing.
Kendra, who always hid from a fight. Kendra, who was too frightened to show her face to strangers.
She was here now, undeterred and unafraid.
All the animals charged forward with snarls and chitters and chirps, heading straight for the soldiers.
“Blood and ice,” I whispered. My eyes flew to the human children, worried they would be trampled. But the animals seemed to be targeting only the soldiers. The creatures easily weaved around the children. A few of the little ones peeked around their arms, one eye open as they watched the fray in awe.
In a flash, Theron was by my side. The creatures must have attacked the men who held him. Panic creased his features as he looked me over. “Eira. You—are you?—”
“I’m fine.” I patted my chest in bewilderment. Though myclothes were still soaked in blood, the pain had completely vanished. I tugged down my collar and gasped.
A large gash was carved into my flesh, but… it wasn’t bleeding. Not a single drop oozed from it. It was like it was suspended in time, frozen solid. I wasn’t healed, but I wasn’t dying, either.
“How?” I asked weakly.
Then, my eyes fell to Theron’s hands. They glowed ice-blue, his fingers flexed as if poised to strike.
Something in my chest hummed in recognition. I stared at him. “What did you do?” I couldn’t keep the awe out of my voice.
“I—I don’t know.” His hands started to shake as his gaze dropped to the glow. I recognized the chaos in his eyes; it was similar to when he’d told me his mind was frazzled.
He was about to lose it. And we couldn’t have that.
“Help me up,” I ordered.
“Your wound…”
“Do it, hunter. We don’t have time. We have to get the children out of here.”
The little ones seemed to realize their lives were not in imminent danger. Several of them were openly gaping, wide-eyed, as the animals attacked the soldiers.
