Page 31 of The Edge of Darkness

I could feel the energy pulsing off of him.

He was here to protect me.

Once Roirdan, Remic, and Niall took note of it, they turned their focus on the rest of the room, collectively deciding that the unfamiliar Dionach was the lesser threat . . . for now. Arguing over who claimed who would have to wait until later.

“I’ll cover Maeson and Fallon,” Roirdan said, readying his weapon.

The feline creatures sank on their haunches, fixing their attention on him the moment he spoke. They let out a hiss in unison, yellow liquid dripping from their teeth.

Roirdan swore. “Stay away from their mouths.”

Niall’s shadows shot toward the creatures, not waiting for them to strike first. One was ensnared and taken to the floor, rolling and struggling until the shadowfire slipped down its throat and choked it into stillness. The others dispersed, their agile bodies dodging and snapping at the shadowfire that got too close.

The Immortals moved, coming at us from all angles. Silas was a blur of gold and white in front of me as he cut down one after the other with his twin blades. A creature darted around him and lunged for Niall, but I threw out a pulse of light, knocking it off course. It scrambled back up and tried again, but this time, shadows engulfed it, turning it to ash before it could get within ten feet of us.

I swayed, feeling faint. My power was waning; I had already used too much. Morah told me to conserve it, but the thought of taking refuge behind everyone else while they risked their lives was abhorrent.

As if he read my thoughts, Niall snagged me by my waist. You’re tiring, he said silently, searching my eyes while his shadowfire took down enemies around us.

I didn’t want to admit it, but the look I gave him confirmed it.

Don’t use any more of your power, he commanded.

A moment later, he whirled, catching a feline by its throat, mid-air, with the shadows that sprang from his hand. The animal wriggled and writhed under his steely death grip while he stepped up to it and assessed it closely. When the creature snapped its jaw at him, he dodged it with preternatural grace. He took one last look at the strange beast before the shadow around its neck turned to black flame and clipped the creature’s head from the rest of its body. The smell of burnt flesh filled my nose, as thick, black blood splattered onto Niall’s bare chest.

Behind us, Remic launched off the altar and slammed to the ground, bringing his boot down on the skull of one of the creatures with such force that the animal’s brain matter slickened the stone in a bath of black ink.

Our adversaries quickly dwindled to nothing again, and in a growing panic, Ramil began hauling Morah closer to the doorway, realizing his tactics weren’t working.

Just as I took a step in their direction, I heard a hissing sound to my right. But this time, the sound didn’t come from any of the creatures . . .

It was from a fae.

I looked to see Roirdan clutching his forearm in pain from where one of the feline’s teeth had torn across his flesh.

Then I remembered what dripped from those teeth . . .

Poison.

He kept fighting, kicking the animal against the altar and driving his sword through its navel before swiping upward and severing the entire body in two. Its blackened innards spilled out onto the stones below.

Suddenly, Maeson gasped so loudly, that I swore half the room’s air went into her lungs. “He’s back!” she cried out, scrambling to lift Fallon’s head. The male’s chest rose and fell in a staggering rhythm, and his eyelids fluttered. “Roirdan! Help me!”

Roirdan shook out his arm and slid to his knees at Maeson’s side.

“We have to get him out of here, now,” her voice echoed across the chamber.

The commander reached for Fallon, but his strength faltered and he fell forward, catching himself on his uninjured arm.

“Get to Roirdan!” I shouted to Niall. “We have to get out of here!”

The last of the Immortals fell at the hands of Silas and Remic, who now stood side by side, a twin image of wings and might.

Across the chamber, Morah let out a whimper as Ramil’s blade drew another bead of her blood.

“You cannot win this, Ramil!” I called out. “Let her go and we can discuss terms!”

Remic shot me a look over his shoulder, but I ignored it. I would not be negotiating. I was only trying to play the same game Ramil was.