I tighten my lips, stand, and cast my eyes to Yemi. I really hadn’t thought about it at all until the words came out of his mouth. Now that it’s out there, though, I can’t see us leaving him behind if he survives.
“Live long enough for me to be able to say I was right, and you were wrong, and we’ll see.”
“Thayla!”
I don’t have time to react to Yemi’s warning, but I don’t have to.
She raises her hand and lets out a scream paired with a burst of power. There’s nothing to see, yet the man rushing toward me hits an invisible wall and crumbles to the ground.
My mouth gapes as I peer at her heaving chest.
Fuck, the fast ones are coming out first.
In two strides, I tug her into my arms for the realm’s quickest hug. “I don’t know what the fuck that was, but that was amazing. Now use it to protect yourself.”
I turn my back to her and bounce on my toes as more gods walk out of the arches. They examine us, and I’m assuming Dimitri’s group, who is somewhere behind us, preparing as well.
I take as many deep breaths as I can while trying to silence my mind.
I glance out both peripherals, taking note of all the gods slinking their way closer to the center. They’re taking it slow and steady, waiting for the moment to pounce as one.
Breathe, Thay.
You can do this. They’re going to be here any second.
Listen for the giggle you know will come.
Remember what you’ve been taught.
My thigh muscle twitches with the phantom touch of Creed’s sword. His words have a long, drawn-out breath falling from my lips.
They’re unpredictable. You have to be as well.
Don’t give away your move.
One swipe. Instant kill. Don’t hesitate.
I inhale deeply, imagining it’s not the scent of blood that fills my senses but our kitchen priming with the feast of a dinner he made after working my muscles to jelly.
I peek up through my lashes at the war cry that rings out, and the pounding of feet echoes all around me.
My eyes lock with a man running straight toward me and I let my face crack into a mask of faux fear. The grip I have on my handle loosens and I add a tremble for good measure.
A premature victorious smile crosses his lips as I freeze like a startled animal.
Five feet, four, three, two…
He raises his sword above his head, and I drop to a knee.
The sharp metal in my hand glides through his stomach like butter. Blood spurts through his mouth, dripping on my forehead.
Hollowness fills my heart as I slowly stand.
I keep my gaze locked on his as realization of what just happened settles across his face.
My hand comes up as his drifts down. My fingers lace around the handle of his weapon, and his dwindling strength gives him no other option but to give up his sword.
I’m desperate to wipe away the hot trail of blood sliding through my eyebrow, but I don’t. I keep my eyes locked on his as he hits his knees, and I pull my sword free. The gush of blood hitting the sand is nearly my undoing, but I swallow down anything in me akin to guilt.
