Page 133 of Of Shadows and Blood

My throat lodges.

“I’m surprised you made it out,” I call to Killian from behind Poe’s men who jump at my voice. Dragging the severed tip of the blade behind me, I step out from the left of the safety line, taking a quick glance at our numbers. General Kline is not with these men and neither is Avonde or Serene. I pray they are a part of those healing and fleeing.

Killian laughs and crosses his arms, looking me up and down. I angle slightly to hide my form. My clothes non-existent from my fire. Black sludge coats his tunic and pants and his face is marred with scratches. No weapons visible. “That cairn was a surprise for the both of us. Who knew Sawyer still kept the monsters of olden times beneath Krue? Someone was selfish. No wonder that king of yours fights to hold the land.”

Poe orders me to pull back behind the line. They won’t attack with me before them. I ignore his calls.

“What do you want? Surely harming the continent’s healers is not on the agenda,” I croon. “As a cess, I would imagine this image pains you.”

His jaw flexes but he quickly smiles sharply. “I long abandoned my sect. Besides…” He opens his mouth and shows fangs.

“You’re a hybrid?” Everything in me pauses. How many are there like me?

“Yes, which makes you a little less special around here. But he wants you alive now and well, I must deliver. Goodness, we got carried away back there.”

“You stopped serving the half of you that is called to heal, to connect to life. You’re a disgrace.” I lift my chin and bare my teeth.

“I serve power now.”

“Whose power?” My hand warms the pommel.

“King Rolan. Duresden. Though it is all so much bigger than those two pieces. What a large chessboard we have before us. I am curious to see how he wields you, Liv. How you will break to save those around you. Or perhaps you will join willingly. Have you found the answer to your curse?”

“Let’s cut the bullshit and have you explain it,” I growl.

Buy time. Buy time. Buy time.

“Come willingly and we will free you. I personally will free you.” He offers a blackened hand across the distance. The men behind me tense.

Cedric has not yet arrived. We can’t buy any more time.

“Go to hell.”

Every meager moment I trained with Yully, with Grenn, with Avonde, with Garreth, it all comes to a head. My magic has been begging to sing and today it roars. I pray I can keep up this dance a little longer.

Where are they?

At a silent command, Poe’s men from the trees fire arrows, flanking the group Killian assembled. Killian’s cess blast their tips back but a few find purchase. Two immediately go down and he advances through the melee.

A golden arm comes swinging from my right and I barely have a second to rebound to the left, narrowly missing the soldier’s swing. Bodies of soldiers litter the ground, some foe and some not. I try to calculate my steps as he swings left and then right, my blade meeting each of his attacks. Nimbly, I drop to the ground right as an arrow flies into his neck. Avonde nods from the top of a wagon and nocks another bolt.

Poe’s men do not falter but their energy is low. Killian sends red and green blasts across the yard, seizing some on the spot. Others drop before they see him coming. I send a streak of fire to the dry grass, hoping to push us closer to the main gate but his magic washes it away.

A few Lux cess emerge from a building on the west side and begin firing magic to the best of their abilities. The remaining cess, that is.

Bodies everywhere.

Backpedalling will not last forever. I steel my feet and lift my sorry blade high. The rest of the fighting continues but Killian and I will determine the outcome. This was his plan.

“Are you here to finish the job or be a lapdog to Rolan?” I let my heat build, my feet leaving scorch marks beneath me.

“I only wish it was I who cast the spell. We would not be here if I was the one who cast the curse, believe me. It was a valiant effort on your part, your defensive. You don’t remember, but you left me this.” He points to a large, thick scar running up his neck. Cess or vampyr healing couldn’t even touch it.

He blasts green and I throw a single flame right at it. The two magics collide and explode in front of us. I go airborne, landing on my side. Every breath is painful and shortened but I press up, using the now orange-hued blade to lift me. Instinct takes over and I take two lunges before swinging down upon him. Killian rolls to the side, missing my heated strike. I plunge down but he rolls again, getting to his feet and sending a wave of water crashing onto me.

I can’t breathe. Steam billows around me and the wet cloak catches under my foot with each step. His command of power is too strong, too pronounced. Wind picks up, dirt flying with it. A cyclone begins to form and all noise outside of this storm is muffled. Rocks and pebbles pelt my face and the scream I let loose is cowardice. Small cuts line up my arms and face and I try to fight his power but nothing is produced. I’m spent.

The brown wall separates and Killian steps inside the space lazily. “You will be such a joy to break.”