Page 72 of Of Wind and Terror

I ignore the Fall Prince and lower myself into a ready position—legs shoulder-width apart and arms loose. Cayetana made me practice this just last night.

The tallest wraith pauses a short distance away from us. It cants its misshapen head to the side. The rest of the creatures freeze as well.

Watching.

Waiting.

My heart pounds rapidly. I can feel it crashing against my breastbone. Fear crawls its way up my throat.

“What are they waiting for? A formal invitation?” Aleksander asks.

As if Aleksander’s indolent statement was the cue they’ve been waiting for, the largest roars, spittle visibly flying from its mouth.

And then all of the wraiths charge at us as one.

27

TREYTON

Iraise my sword with practiced efficiency and slice it through the first wraith’s neck. Years of training with Cayetana have prepared me for this moment. I may not be as skilled as Blaze or even Aleksander, but I can hold my own in a fight.

And I can protect my mate.

Kassandra weaves her way between the three of us with the gracefulness of a dancer and the agility of a seasoned warrior. Her whip moves as if it has a mind of its own, coiling around necks and then tugging. She keeps her left hand glove free in case any wraith gets close enough for her to touch.

Hopefully, it won’t come to that. None of us have any idea of how her powers will react when in contact with these mythical creatures.

“Kassandra! Dammit, female! Get behind me!” Blaze roars as Kassandra stealthily moves in front of him and wraps her whip around the nearest wraith’s neck.

The head pops free of the body, and the two collapse in opposite directions.

Kassandra turns towards Blaze with an arched eyebrow.

“I can fight,” she signs, her fingers quick and nimble.

Behind her, a wraith inches closer, its fangs bared.

I rush forward with a yelled, “Duck!” and slice the head off.

Kassandra pops back up without a sliver of fear in her cerulean gaze.

“Or I can be bait and allow you guys to dispatch these monsters quicker,” she adds, barely even flinching as another wraith charges at her from behind.

So fucking trusting.

Blaze swings his ax, and the monster falls to the ground, dead.

“You’re not going to be fucking bait,” he snarls.

“As the self-appointed bait, I disagree.”

Their conversation ceases then, all of us focused on the fight at hand. I would’ve expected a male as large as Blaze to rely on brute force to kill the wraiths, but even I can admit that he’s a skilled and seasoned fighter. He makes each movement look effortless.

And Aleksander…

Why did I ever think I could get away with teasing him? That elf could rip me apart with his bare hands if he felt the desire to.

He moves like water, unrestrained and fluid, the corded muscles in his jaw belying his lackadaisical attitude. To the outside observer, he’d appear almost bored. He slices and parries and flips, all while maintaining a tiny smirk.

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