Page 71 of Demonic Affliction

The monsters surround our entire group, now, all four of those evil eyes fixed on Willow, talons clacking menacingly.

Vhalthor plants his feet and raises his blade, putting himself in front of what remains of his men. Dagny’s mates form a line in front of her, while my brothers and I circle Willow. Dravik at her front. Nyx at her side. Me behind her, both hands on her, refusing to let go.

They will not have her. Not while I breathe. This I vow.

The creatures advance slowly, the circle tightening around us one pace at a time. Talons clacking. Mouths dripping black saliva. Unblinking, predatory red eyes.

Suddenly, three of them break from the ring and rush straight for Cin. They’re too fast, and I know we won't reach him before their strike.

The first creature gets a grip on Cin's wing and pulls. There is a wet, tearing sound that causes my stomach to flip, and the wing comes away from his back. The membrane splits along the joint, and blood spills out across the frozen ground.

Cin does not scream. He doesn’t so much as blink. Just sits there, taking the abuse, staring blankly out into the shadowed forest.

“Cin! Gods-dammit, Cin!” Before they can do more damage, Dravik flings himself on top of Cin, lashing out at the creature still gnawing at his wing. His attack lands, and the creature is blown backward, smacking into one of the Welwig trunks with a wet thunk.

As the other two creatures advance, Dravik grabs one of Cin's arms and hauls his body back toward the center of our circle. Nyx jumps in, using the last of his strength to fight them back. He’s still weak from his injury, and the creatures overwhelm him.

“Nyx! NO!” Dravik drops Cin, launching back into the fight and ripping the creature off his brother just before it closes its jaws around his throat.

Screaming breaks out to my side, and I look in time to see a dozen creatures launching themselves at Dagny’s group. Vhalthor and his remaining forces are locked in a similar battle, and no one seems to be doing very well.

My throat closes as I watch the struggle, wanting to help but knowing I cannot. I must protect Willow. Must protect my mate.

“I have you.” I clutch her tighter. “I have you. I will not let them have you.”

Something hits me from behind.

I do not see it coming. I do not have time to prepare for it. The forest goes white, then red, and blood runs into my eyes, blurring my sight. Shapes move all around me. Talons and wings and bodies, and I cannot tell them apart. There’s a fierce ringing in my ears that makes it hard to focus, and I wonder for a moment if my skull is split.

I do not have time to worry about it, though. There is something far more pressing to worry about. My arms are empty.

“W-Willow…” I blink rapidly, trying to see past the blood, the dark spots lining my vision. “Willow…”

I fall to my knees and sweep my hands across the frozen ground, desperately searching. I promised. I promised her. I said I would not let go, and I did.

She should have been with Dravik. She should have been with anyone but me. I am the one who whines and fusses and checks her boots for wounds, and when it mattered, when it truly mattered, I could not hold on to her.

“Willow…” I search and search, but she is nowhere to be found. I do not stop, though. I can’t stop. I have to find her. Have to… have to… have to…

A scream cuts through the ringing in my ears. High-pitched. Female.

Willow.

My head snaps toward it, and I catch a flash of her through the blood and the bodies. Then, just as quickly, she disappears into the canopy—hauled away by those horrible creatures.

No… no…

I am mortally injured. I have lost my mind. I know that. But I do not care. I must go to Willow. I must save her.

I get to my feet, and I run.

I do not make it three strides. They come out of the dark in front of me, then more behind me and to my sides, closing in faster than I can react.

Talons sink into my chest. Another set rakes down my back, tearing through the muscle and catching on bone. Mouths clamp down on my wings, ripping and tearing at the joints.

I do not care. I do not care. Willow is up there, and I am down here, and nothing they do to me matters.

I will not let her go.