Page 115 of Chosen By the Fae King

My heart lodged in my throat, torn between the urge to fight and the desire to flee. But Nox needed me, so I gritted my teeth and remained behind his shield to deflect incoming spells.

Rodrik hurled another spear of ice at us, fury contorting his features. Nox deflected it and I felt his magic shift as he prepared a counterattack, only to stagger, a knife hilt protruding from his thigh.

“Nox!” I screamed, reaching for his leg. Blood seeped between my fingers where I gripped him, the metallic scent of it filling my senses.

A growl rumbled in Nox's chest as his eyes began to glow, the whites leaching into amber. “Shift,” he gritted out. “Shift and protect yourself.”

I called to my beast. She hissed and spat, but felt muted, like a sound underwater. I looked at my hands, trying to force claws to extend. They shook, unable to do my bidding.

Nox pulled the blade free from his thigh and threw it into the eye of an attacker who'd almost reached me. My spine stiffened.

“Shift, damn it!” he snarled, voice dropping into a register that made my hair stand on end.

“I can't! Portia did something to me!”

Nox cursed. “Then pull your daggers.”

My hands were wrapping around their handles when he kissed me quickly. “Don't get dead, kitten.”

“Same.”

His nails lengthened into talons as shadows warped around him, his magic altering him into something feral and deadly. The umbral emerged with a roar just as Nox dropped the shield. He launched his body at Rodrik.

I followed close behind as they tumbled down the steps.

Movement caught in my peripheral and I turned to find a new opponent, guard up and adrenaline thrumming through my veins. No one would get near Nox while I still drew breath.

Raina let out a yell as a spell shot towards Nox's back, icy magic forming into sharp spears that flew with deadly accuracy. She shot out her own to intercept.

I darted forward, snarling, glaring at the fae who dared attack my mate. His beady eyes widened at the sight of me, like he hadn't expected me to fight back, like he'd believed me weak.

I bared my teeth in a mockery of a smile and lunged, one dagger stabbing into his shoulder. He howled in pain, the sound cut short as Raina froze him solid, her magic wrapping him in unforgiving ice.

“Thanks,” Raina said breathlessly, glaring down at the body. Recognition, then guilt registered in her eyes. “Fuck you, Wesley.”

Her voice came out small, when she said, “He taught me how to ride a horse.”

“You did what was necessary,” I said firmly.

Raina hesitated before nodding. I could see the effort it took for her to steel herself, and could understand why she struggled to take a life she knew, even in self-defense.

A roar echoed through the courtyard, Nox's fury and pain entwined into a sound that raised the hair on the back of my neck. I whipped around to find him battling Rodrik and three others, shadows and ice clashing in a maelstrom of power.

“Where are our guards?” I frantically looked around, searching for Lorne or Liam. Anyone assigned to stick close.

“Fighting for their lives,” Raina answered.

She was right. Nox's soldiers were taking on the bulk of the attackers, keeping most of them at a safe distance. I then noticed Lorne cutting through several trying to get to Nox.

Gripping my daggers tightly, I started towards the fight.

Raina followed, forming long ice blades and firing them as we went. She took out one of Nox's opponents easily then engaged the other, giving me a window.

I lunged at Rodrik, blades slicing towards his throat. He turned just in time, my daggers cutting deep furrows into his shoulder instead. He howled, his uninjured arm flying up, hand clutching at the wounds.

Nox continued his assault, chest heaving and claws flying while I tried to find another opening to cut our enemy down. I'd just angled my wrist when a weight slammed into me from behind.

Portia screamed with vengeance as she pinned me down. Unhinged, with spittle flying from her lips, she screeched in my face.

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