Page 47 of A Shadow of Betrayal

I can feel sweat beading on my temple, my body hot even though it's freezing outside, a reaction I think may be from the wounds on my thighs. They sting more than they should, and I vaguely remember Jordan talking about Demons having venom. The Demon moves to my right, and I shift my body, ensuring I have my Kalis in front of me as I slowly reach down for another throwing knife. A growl of warning comes from the beast, as it moves closer shifting on its feet. Now it moves to the left, stalking in a half circle as it eyes me up and down, looking at the blades in my hand but not coming close enough to attack… almost like it’s waiting for something.

The agony in my legs grows until not even the pain of the shredded muscles in my shoulders compares. They start to shake violently, and I curse as they give out, sending me to my knees in the blood-covered snow. The Demon growls in approval, and I realize this is exactly what it was waiting for. It wanted me down on the ground, easy prey to kill since I’m already wounded.

“Come on then,” I grind out, my vision darkening as I glare at the ugly monster in front of me. But before the Demon or I can move, something big flies past my head, maybe an inch or so away, tearing a startled scream from my lips before the Demon suddenly collapses on the ground next to me, a giant ax lodged in its head.

TWENTY-FOUR

Meyer

Faster than I can process what's happening, a thick arm winds around my waist, and I’m being hefted up against a big body, my limbs hanging at my sides as the Kalis falls from my weakening hands. Something is wrong with my body. I can feel it shutting down, but I don’t seem to have the will to care at the moment.

“Don’t you fucking dare,” the hard voice of the person holding me snarls into my ear. Don’t what? I wonder, blackness slowly filling in my senses as my eyes fall shut. “Open your eyes, Ranger Smith!” the voice yells, as my body starts to shake uncontrollably.

More cursing and movement that is too fast makes me crack an eye open, and my head spins as I rest it against a firm chest. The person holding me shifts me in his arms and grabs the big ax lodged in the Demon’s head. He yanks it free before hoisting the impossibly large weapon up and slinging it at another fast-moving shadow.

“Meyer?!” another voice yells, and I groan, recognizing that voice.

“Theo?” I manage to whisper.

“Get them all back to the Castle, Ranger!” the angry voice yells. “Send Umbra Regalis this way, and tell the Seniorem that a Legion of Alpha-class Demons is just over the south ridge and heading this way fast.”

“But…” Howling echoes in the distance, making the hair on my arms rise at the eerie sound. My consciousness flickers; moving from peaceful darkness to fear, knowing danger is lurking nearby.

“Now!” he roars, and I wince, the loud noise making my head throb. I can feel the man walking, his body shifting as he keeps me close to his chest. He grunts, and I try unsuccessfully to get my blurry eyes to focus I shut them again, which apparently the guy doesn't like because he growls under his breath as he lowers me to the ground.

The bitter cold of the snow is almost a relief as my heated skin continues to burn. “Come on, Little Hunter. Don't let those bastards win. Open your eyes,” the angry voice rasps, warm fingers trail over my cheeks before they run down my neck and brush over my wounded shoulder. A comforting warmth blooms there, different from the searing pain that courses through my body. After a moment, the warmth shifts as big hands move to my stomach and then down to my hips.

I whimper as the hot burst of pain fights against the warm feeling. They war inside me, making my back arch with the severity of the agony as his hands move to my injured thighs.

“Fuck! Meyer?”

I hear a loud sound and try to turn my head away before I realize that sound is coming from me. I-I’m screaming? Shit, I’m screaming. I bite my tongue until I taste the sharp metallic taste of blood, cutting off the horrible sound as my body thrashes out of control in the snow. I concentrate on the comforting warmth slowly filling me, the warm hands on my hip and thigh, letting them ground me. Slowly, my body stops shaking until only my arms and legs jerk occasionally.

“That's it, Little Hunter. Fight the venom, not me,” he grinds out breathlessly, the soft warmth spilling through my body, fighting off the fire of the Demon's venom. I take a deep breath, then another, using them to measure time as my body slowly relaxes and the fog in my mind clears.

“Good girl. Now open your eyes,” the voice demands, no longer angry but still sounding breathless. Wincing, I shake my head a little, not ready to open my eyes, knowing the throbbing in my head will only hurt more. “Meyer,” the voice growls, dipping low and sending chills down my spine. The fire in my veins from the Demon’s venom has cooled, and the warmth is slowly receding, slipping away and leaving me feeling colder than normal. “Open your eyes. Now.”

I still, my mind finally deciding to come back online, and it clicks to whom that voice belongs. I groan internally and slowly crack my eyes open, squinting up into the angry face of Lennox Regalis. His dark green eyes scan me, and his shoulders visibly relax when I open my eyes. A mixture of emotions crosses his face, some I can't decipher, others clear as day, mainly the anger, since that’s what I'm used to seeing on his handsome face, and maybe… concern? I frown and shake my head. No, I must have hit my head during my fight with the Demon.

Not sure what to say, I stay silent, looking up at Lennox as he sighs and leans back on his heels, staying crouched by my side. He closes his eyes and runs a hand down his face, brushing the snow from his beard before he looks back at me.

“Are you hurting anywhere else? I can’t tell if I got it all out,” he mutters, and I take a moment to acknowledge the aches and pains in my body. My shoulder still hurts, and I have a wicked headache, but besides that, I feel oddly energized.

“No, I’m fine.”

“Don’t lie to me,” Lennox growls, the anger filtering back into his voice, and I scowl up at him.

“I’m not. My shoulder hurts, but nothing else,” I snap back, then wince, the pain in my head escalating as I raise my voice.

“Obviously, you have a headache,” Lennox points out and stands before reaching down, grabbing me by the fighting leathers on my chest, and yanking me to my feet without warning.

“Jesus, Lennox!” I snap, my head spinning at being moved so fast. “Give a girl some warning next time,” I gasp, my hands flying to his chest as the world spins.

“Stop complaining, Ranger. We need to go before that Legion gets here. This is the Seniorem’s problem to deal with. Let them risk their asses for once,” he mutters darkly, brushing my hands from his chest and turning away from me.

“Hey, I think you lost something,” someone hollers, and I look up the small hill about forty feet away, finding Creed walking down toward us, something big slung over his shoulder. He smiles at Lennox, who grunts in response, brushing the snow from his pants. “He’s still alive, so I’m guessing you and Elaine made it there on time?”

“Yeah, that one is. The other one we found wasn't so lucky. Elaine and Razar took her back down the mountain and will find her family,” Lennox says, reaching down and grabbing the handle of his big ax. “I was just about to take that one back down when I heard screaming, and well…” Lennox looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes narrowing. “I got distracted,” he finally says, looking away.

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