Page 89 of Her Blood Revenge

‘No.’ I refuse even to entertain the idea. ‘She’s alive.’

Archietakes a sword and plunges it through a man’s chest.

‘What the hell do we do?’ he asks, wiping blood spray from his face as we face the regrouping wall of soldiers.

There’s a low groan. Both Archie and I know who it belongs to. We turn together and face Cole, who is pushing himself to his feet with his one remaining hand. We get barely a step when the guards enclose both him and the prince. Traitorous little shit stains.

‘I think it is official,’ I say. ‘Our work with the humans has come to an end.’

‘Thank fuck for that. So. No more hiding?’

I look at him and his hopeful grin. ‘No more hiding, Arch.’

He releases a roar and shifts, becoming the great wolf in the blink of an eye. The court yells and hurries back, horrified at this beast’s sudden appearance.

He ploughs through them as I follow, hacking at anyone in my path.

My focus lands on Cole, and all I am is vengeance. He’ll pay for touching her. For using that trigger on her. But the prince has him close, and the guards are determined to protect them both.

Fire shoots past my shoulder. Turning, I see that strange little fire witch again.

I get a blast in my shoulder. The heat radiates through me, and I yell in agony, retching at the smell of my flesh burning.

Before I can turn to fight, Archie grabs me in his teeth and runs, barrelling through the soldiers as I yell out in anger.

He’s running? Coward.

His massive body breaks through the doors, and we’re outside, sprinting for the forest.

When we’re miles clear of the prince and his men, Archie drops me and shifts back into his human form. We’re at the side of a stream and far from civilisation.

‘You good?’ he asks, reaching out his hand as I lie beneath him.

‘Oh. I’m great,’ I snipe back, letting him lift me to my feet. I shrug off my coat and thrust it into his arms. ‘You didn’t need to drag me the entire way by my arm.’ I roll my shoulder, clicking it back into place. ‘You almost tore it off.’

‘Should I have left you there?’ he jeers back, sliding on my coat.

‘You could have let me ride you.’

His eyes narrow in utter disgust. ‘No one rides me. I’m not a fucking horse.’

‘You let Pixie ride you,’ I remind him.

‘Yeah. I did. But she lets me put my cock up her backside.’ He raises a brow. ‘Wanna make me an offer, Shaw? Or are you content with the dragging?’

‘I’m fine with the dragging,’ I reply.

‘Thought so.’ He looks around as I head to the water. ‘I hope they’re together. I’m sure they are, right? Her and Dorian, they’re okay?’

I grunt my agreement. My skin still burns hot from that fire witch, and I make a note to myself to get my hands on her and return the pain she’s inflicted on me tenfold. The water helps cool the wound, and when I spythe green sludge speckled with pink at the stream’s edge, I grab a handful and put it on the burn.

‘Maiden’s moss,’ Archie says as he drinks a handful of water. ‘Pix been telling you about different plants as well?’

‘Maiden’s moss to soothe burnt skin.’ I feel its cooling effect and am most thankful for it. I grab some of the flat black leaves growing from the plant above. ‘And widow’s son to protect from infection.’ I press it on firmly, groaning against the pain. The fire the witches use is different from usual fire. It hurts like hell and takes a few days to heal. ‘Who knew the mud witches knew anything useful.’

I fall to my knees and watch the water tumble past us. The reflection of the moon breaks through the ripples of the rainfall.

‘The prince has sided with Cole and Neve then,’ Archie sighs, washing the dried blood from his face and neck. ‘Did you see what Pix did?’

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