Page 18 of Vows Forged in Blood

“Alaric, don’t—” Before Elias can finish, I reach up and grip the shaft of the arrow, pulling as I hold the Revenant’s gaze. The arrow tears free of my skin, taking a good chunk of flesh with it, and I hold it wordlessly out for Elias. He takes it and I smile at the Revenant.

His crimson eyes that had only seconds ago been gleaming with delight now flash with fear as I streak across the field towards him, faster than a lightning strike. He tries to fire off another arrow, but I’m on him before he can even get it nocked. Blood pours down my arm, my fingers coated with it, but my grip on Night’s Fury is as strong and steady as ever. I knock the Revenant to his back, leaping atop him and pinning him down easily. Night’s Fury is at his throat a heartbeat later and though there’s still fear in his eyes, that triumphant smile returns just before I separate his head from his body.

On some signal I don’t see, the rest of the Revenants turn and flee, falling back from the killing field in a wave. Elias is there a moment later, hand over my shoulder to staunch the bleeding.

“How in the bloody fuck did that arrow pierce your armor?” he asks as he hauls me up and we join the rest of the men.

“Stay alert,” I tell them. “Fall back to the ridge. You six—scout at our backs.” Like the well-oiled machine they are, my men (and women—the term “men” just encompasses the fighting force as a whole, of course) configure themselves into defensive lines as we draw back, ever alert. My scouts remain, fanning out and disappearing into the trees like ghosts as the rest of us retreat to our camp.

“Alaric,” Elias snaps as he falls into step beside me. “How did?—”

“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly. “I don’t fucking know, Elias.” It shouldn’t be possible. This armor is all but impenetrable, made from a mix of Treshian steel and the scales of the last dragon to ever walk Braxhelm. It had been a gift from Sebastian when I’d first become High General.Legendary armor from a legendary beast for a legendary man, he’d said. So how the fuck could a simple arrow pierce it?

“Get that arrow to the weapons masters and alchemists. I want it analyzed as soon as possible.”

Once back in camp, I tear through my pack to find a vial of Dahlia’s blood, pulling the stopper out with my teeth and downing the sweet contents in one long gulp. My shoulder throbs and burns, but the wound isn’t nearly the worst I’ve ever had. With Dahlia’s blood, I’ll heal in an hour or two. Already the pain is fading and the blood flow ebbs.

“Are you alright?” Elias asks as he ducks beneath the flap of my tent.

“Fine,” I grumble. I’m not used to being injured, and certainly not used to being taken care of. I’m pissed more than anything, honestly. Pissed that I was distracted enough not to notice the archer. Pissed that he somehow pierced my armor.Pissed that all I can think about right now is Dahlia and wishing she were here beside me more than anything in the world.

“Make sure we have a watch rotation set up for the night.”

“Already done,” Elias assures me and settles down on the pile of furs beside me, arms tucked casually behind his head.

“And what, exactly, do you think you’re doing?”

“You’re injured. I’m going to stay with you and nurse you back to health, my liege.”

“Fuck off.”

“Oh come on now. A sexy healer is a very common fantasy, no need to be shy. I’m sure I can find something resembling the cream robes they wear, if that will help…” He waggles his blonde brows at me and I kick him in the thigh. “Oof! That hurt.”

“It was supposed to. Go away.”

“I’m comfortable right here, thanks.” He turns his head to study me. “Unless you’d like me to bathe you? A sexy healer bathing you isdefinitelya fantasy?—”

Despite my injury, I lunge for him, smothering him with a blanket. He laughs as he fights me off and I wince slightly as I settle back into the furs.

“You have such a funny way of saying ‘why thank you for wanting to stay with me through the night and be sure that the arrow that miraculously pierced my unpierceable armor wasn’t coated in some kind of demon venom or something and ensure I’m alright. You are a wonderful friend and the most adept and handsome First Lieutenant in the history of the vampiric army.’” I frown, not even having thought about the arrow possibly being poisoned. I don’t feel as if there’s anything running through my veins, don’t smell any toxins, but still, he makes a good point.

I settle back, grateful for him, but I refuse to stroke his ego. I stare at the ceiling of the tent but all I see are green eyes staring back. With her blood flowing through me, Dahlia is all I can think of, filling up my entire being. I sigh, not trying to fight it,and let the thoughts of her settle my tumultuous heart. After a long bout of silence, I speak into the darkness between Elias and me.

“You aren’tthathandsome…” I hear him laugh low.

“You’ve lost too much blood and are now clearly delusional. Sleep, your highness. You need your rest to recover.”

I chuckle and drift off to sleep with visions of Dahlia drifting through my head.

Chapter 10

DAHLIA

Alaric remained gone for another two weeks. One of his soldiers came to collect my blood twice to take back to him on the battlefield. Though I’ve grown used to it after the long days, the strain of him being gone is still there, like an ever-present thrumming in the back of my mind.

“Is it normal for them to be gone so long? For battles to take weeks?” I ask as we walk towards one of the sparring rings. I’ve found it quite entertaining to watch the men practice their hand-to-hand combat…especially when they happen to do so shirtless. Takara has been very supportive of my new hobby, much more than my time in the shop with Braddock.

Things have been much better since that first day that she helped me start my climb out of the dark. I still miss my home and my family, as I always will, but it’s getting easier every day.

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