“Too many,” I reply, palming my twin daggers.
Amara slices through the air with her short sword before stabbing an invisible opponent with a stiletto. “It seems tonight just got a lot more interesting. Do you still think I shouldn't have stolen back our weapons?” she asks Tristan.
“No,” he replies in a dry tone, checking the sharpness of his longsword with a swipe of his finger.
“I love it when you're wrong.” Amara laughs, following the two males as we cross over the Cascadonian border into the woods.
“Weapons only and no magic,” I instruct. “We're taking a big enough risk as it is by showing ourselves to the creatures.”
“Then don't show yourself,” Tristan replies, glancing between me and Amara as he ducks under a low hanging branch. “We’ll take care of it.”
Amara and I share an affronted look.
“So we can do what? Stand by and watch like good little ladies?” I scoff. “Not happening.”
Amara smacks the back of his head. “These sexist Cascadonians are rubbing off on him.”
“Just thought I'd ask,” Tristan mumbles, rubbing his head.
“It's annoying that you felt the need to.” Sensing the Soulless gaining on the guards, I hurry Amara along with a palm to her back. “I don’t need protecting.”
Tristan comes to an abrupt halt, Amara slamming into his back as I crash into hers. Ignoring our muttered curses, he peers over his shoulder to meet my gaze. “You're wrong. You're the only person in all the realms worth protecting.”
Groaning, I reach around Amara and shove him in the back. “Just go! You're going to make me cry with all the sappy shit you've said tonight.”
“Gods forbid,” he drawls, rolling his eyes.
“What about me?” Amara asks.
Tristan’s gaze veers to her. “What about you?”
“Aren't I worth protecting?” she asks with a pout.
“Of course not!” Tristan says, staring at her as if she's gone mad. “You're nothing more than fodder.”
Features twisting into rage, Amara kicks him in the shin. “Tell the Stars that, you ass! Gods! I don't know how Aurora puts up with you.”
“Focus.” Snapping my fingers between the two, I draw their attention to me. “We don't have time for this. Remember, no Gifts, no shifting,” I order, pointing at Zander, who sticks out his tongue. “And get back over the wall before anyone suspects we left.”
Acknowledging my command with a nod of their heads, we all lift the hoods of our cloaks and slink between the trees, disappearing into the Cursed Woods.
Chapter 18Silas
Sweat drips down my nape and my breath saws from my lungs as I dart between the trees of the Cursed Woods. Branches scratch my cheeks and tear at my clothes, but I ignore the stinging pain. For the trees’ talons are wisps compared to the claws of the creatures stalking us.
A fallen maple appears, blocking my path, and I spring over the trunk, my feet already moving before they touch the other side.
“Shit!” a male shouts, followed by a loud oomph.
Glancing over my shoulder, my irritation spikes when I discover Calder sprawled at the base of the log. Cursing internally, I race back to the idiot guard. “Get up,” I order, my eyes searching the shadows for the Soulless.
“I can’t!” he cries, rubbing his ankle. “I think I broke it.”
“You’re fae,” I hiss. “You’ll be healed within minutes.”
Tears trailing down his cheeks, he pushes off the ground, only to crumble in an instant. “I can’t! My ankle won't hold my weight.”
Curling my lip at the pitiful excuse of a guard, I grip his arm and jerk him up to his feet. “Do you want to die?” I ask, shaking him. “Because if you don't get up, that's what’s going to happen.”
“We shouldn't even be here,” he moans, leaning all his weight on me. “Not with only two guards.”
“It doesn't matter what should be. We are here, and right now there’s a pack of Soulless hunting us.” Hearing the sound of pounding feet closing in on us, I shout, “Run, dammit!”
He pulls his arm from my grasp and hops once… twice… three times, then falls like a sack of potatoes.
Watching the fully grown Nature fae wail and sob while snot drips down his nose, I can't help but to consider leaving him here. In normal circumstances, I would never do such a thing, but he isn't really a male at all. His appearance is mediocre, his power weak, he’s useless at absolutely everything, and he makes this odd donkey sound whenever he laughs. I can only imagine how awful his future children will be. No, this fool should not be encouraged to procreate.
No one will ever know. I'll say he ran off half-cocked into the woods.
I'd be performing a service to Cascadonia! Saving whatever poor female he's destined to pair with from a life of annoying laughter and dimwitted chatter. All I have to do is walk away and allow the Soulless to drink him dry.
Having already spoken my Guards Oath and knowing a male is only as good as his word, I dismiss the idea with a groan and crouch before Calder. “I’ll shift, and you can ride on my back.”
His wailing cuts off and he meets my gaze. “But shifters don’t allow riders.”
I grit my teeth. “I'm aware of that.”
Sniffling, he wipes beneath his nose. “You’ll let me ride you like a horse?”
