Page 47 of Chains of Nightshade

"I see them," she says, her voice tight with concentration.

Max laughs, a hollow sound that echoes across the courtyard. "Look at you, taking orders from a human. How far you've fallen, great naga."

"The only one falling today is you," I snarl, ripping another guard's throat out. Blood sprays across my chest, hot and sticky. "And I'll gladly kneel to her after watching you die."

More dark elves pour from the mansion, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. The noble's magic grows stronger, feeding off their presence. Black tendrils of power writhe around him like living shadows.

"Vera!" I shout as one tendril shoots toward her. I try to reach her, but three guards block my path.

She deflects it with a wave of her hand, her own magic blazing bright enough to make the dark elves shield their eyes. "Focus on the guards," she commands. "The noble is mine."

I nod, throwing myself into the fray. My body moves on instinct, crushing and tearing through our enemies. But my attention never strays far from her, ready to intervene if she needs me.

I catch movement from the corner of my eye - Max shifting his stance, his magic gathering in a deadly vortex. Vera's locked in combat with another guard, her back turned. She doesn't see the noble's hands weaving the death spell, doesn't notice the sword in his other hand.

But I do.

My body moves before my mind can process the thought. Time slows as I launch myself forward, my serpentine form coiling for maximum speed. The distance between us stretches like an eternity.

"Die, witch!" Max roars, releasing the spell.

The magic tears through the air, a concentrated beam of pure darkness. At the same time, his sword arcs toward her exposed back. My heart stops.

"Not her," I snarl, throwing myself between them. "Never her!"

The spell hits me like a battering ram, tearing through scales and flesh. Max's sword plunges deep into my chest. Pain explodes through my body, but I manage to wrap my tail around his leg, crushing bone.

Max screams as I drag him down with me. We hit the ground together, his sword still buried in my chest. Blood pools beneath us - his and mine mixing on the cold stone.

"Aurel!" Vera's voice seems distant, muffled by the roaring in my ears.

I cough, tasting copper. My vision blurs, but I smile knowing she's safe. This time, I protected her. This time, I didn't run away.

The world blurs at the edges as pain rips through my chest. Max's sword burns like ice where it's buried deep, but I can't focus on that now. My tail tightens around his leg one final time, crushing what remains of his bones. His screams are music to my ears.

"Aurel!" Vera's voice cuts through the haze of pain. She drops to her knees beside me, her hands hovering over the wound. "No, no, no..."

I try to smile, though it probably looks more like a grimace. "Worth it... to see you safe." Blood bubbles up my throat, making the words thick and wet.

"You stupid snake," she whispers, tears falling onto my face. Her magic pulses around us, trying to heal what's broken inside me.

Lady Morana's laugh pierces the air, high and cruel. "How touching! The mighty naga, dying for a worthless slave." Her voice drips with satisfaction. "Perhaps I should mount your head on my wall this time, Aurel. A fitting end to your pathetic existence."

I want to snarl back at her, but my body won't cooperate. The darkness creeps closer, but I fight to stay conscious. I need to see Vera's face, need to memorize every detail while I still can.

"Stay with me," Vera pleads, her hands pressed against my chest. "Don't you dare die on me, not now."

My fingers brush her cheek, leaving trails of blood on her skin. "Sorry... for everything..." The words come out as barely more than a whisper.

Morana's shrieking laughter echoes across the courtyard, a sound of pure, malicious joy.

"I told you...I'd never leave you again," I whisper, blood coating my lips. The pain in my chest burns like molten metal where Max's sword pierced me, but seeing Vera's face makes it bearable.

She cradles my head in her lap, her tears falling onto my face. Magic surges around us, creating a shimmering dome that deflects the dark elves' attacks. Each impact makes the barrier ripple like water, but her power holds steady.

"You idiot," she chokes out, her fingers trembling as they brush my hair from my face. "Why did you do that?"

I try to laugh, but it comes out as a wet cough. More blood. "Couldn't... let him hurt you." My tail twitches weakly against the ground, scales scraping stone. "Not again."

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