Page 121 of Bloodguard

Their helmets were of no use. Father’s arrows angle through their eyes and out the bases of their skulls.

I’m almost to the terrace when I glance behind me and see our bench. The one where my family and I watched the sunsets. Back when Papa was free, we lived in peace, and the manor was our summer home. But now…now our home burns, and I can’t save it!

That moment of distraction is all the guards need.

One races across the terrace, striking me with a heavy dining chair and knocking me from my horse.

Another guard jumps from the ledge and prowls forward. A tiny estrella leaps at his face, biting and scratching the guard to try and save me. He smacks her away, and the crunch of tiny bones makes me scream.

Something knocks me in the head.

“Fool!” a deep voice barks. “You were told not to kill her.”

I open my eyes, I think. It’s hard to tell with the shadows framing my vision.

Something chitters. Another estrella.

She bats at my nose.

Tibeta.

“Go,” I tell her. “Go, now.”

My voice is slurred. I hope she understands.

I roll to my side. It’s the best I can do. Around me, the house is falling apart. Glass shatters, and smoke pours out. We’ve lost the east wing, the closest part of the manor to where I lie.

The central hall follows, the wood whining before it snaps, caving my home inward.

Elves heal faster than humans. It’s the only reason that my vision begins to clear. Ahead of me, Knight bucks and thrashes, kicking away the guards trying to capture him. He doubles back, trampling the fools who jump in his way.

My eyes close for a moment or maybe longer.

I awake to the crunch of breaking skulls.

Bodies land beside me. Some with arrows, others with indented faces. It’s Father. He’s helping me. He’s here for me, as always.

Knight nudges me with his nose, urging me to my feet.

I try to move my hand. It’s hard, but I’m able to push myself to sitting. There’s so much of me to heal, even my elven body can’t keep up.

Knight nudges me again when I make it to a knee. I lose my balance and fall right back to the ground.

Everything hurts.

I start to take deeper breaths, I start to hurt a little less, and I start to hate a lot more.

Good. Hate will fuel my vengeance.

And I have plenty to unleash.

chapter 44

Maeve

My feet sink into the soil as I push to a crouch, body shuddering with pain, and pull my sword from the dirt. Knight sidesteps closer, and I use his mane to pull myself up to stand, then finally walk. It’s all I can do to remain steady, my normal gait impossible to maintain. But I am gaining some strength.

Knight lowers one of his front legs and bows his long neck, kneeling on a foreleg so I can mount. My motions aren’t graceful or easy, but they’re sufficient to permit me to ride.

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