Page 89 of The King of Frost and Shadows

With my weapon broken, I tried raising my armor to block, but lifting it caused the injury to pulse more, and the world spun.

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t use anything on my left side to help me, leaving that side wide open to more attacks. I had to find a weapon, but what was there in an open arena?

Rona took her time, enjoying the fear on my face. With how uncomfortably warm my body had become and the way my heart pounded, I could feel the fear in every ounce of my blood. I didn’t need Bran to increase my dread further.

I stumbled back, causing Rona and Bran to laugh, but I needed to buy time. The only thing I had going for me was that they weren’t flying and using their magic anymore, but that also meant they knew they had the advantage. They didn’t need to use their fae abilities to take my ass down.

I needed to do something … and make them irrational. That was the best chance I had of surviving. But how?

I heard the faint rattle of someone breathing like they were moments away from dying.

Dougal.

He had a sword and armor … which meant I could get a replacement weapon.

I kept my head straight, not wanting to give away my plan to Bran or Rona. If they suspected anything, they wouldn’t hesitate to fly over thereand take the weapons before I got halfway there, especially with how slow I was. Each breath made me feel closer to death and increased my agony.

If I wanted to get to Dougal’s sword, I couldn’t make it obvious.

“What’s wrong, sunscorched?” Rona quickened her pace. “Are you hurting?”

“Nope, just taking a lovely stroll while bleeding profusely from my side.” Luckily, sarcasm worked since I didn’t mean the lie.

Still, the answer thrilled her, and she expanded her wings, ready to fly. She cooed, “Oh, that’s just the beginning. It’ll get worse from here.” She flew toward me, her sword pointed straight in front of her chest to stab me in the neck or shoulder.

I dropped so low that my butt hit the ground. Rona flew past me, missing me completely. My side screamed in agony, and I swayed from side to side. I needed to stand, but bile rose in my throat.

Fall to the side.Eiric’s voice popped into my head, startling me.

That alone had me toppling over to my injured side as Rona’s sword swung where my right shoulder had been. She stumbled forward, leaving her wings open to me.

I jerked to the right, with my broken sword raised high, and stabbed her left wing close to the base. Using my momentum, I brought my feet under my body and stood as she released a bloodcurdling scream. She crashed into the dirt before me.

Adrenaline pumped through me, taking the edge off my pain. I placed my right foot alongside her back and ripped the sword out. Her wing lay limp at her right side.

“You blasted wildling!” Bran screamed.

I balanced on my left leg, preventing myself from falling over, and Bran was on me. He swung his sword at my neck, and I ducked, the swordswooshingoverhead. As he flew over me, I punched upward, hitting him in the stomach with the hilt of my sword. He grunted and crashed a few feet behind me as his sister stood back up.

Her injured wing hung haphazardly at her side, and her chest heaved. She jabbed forward like her brother had when he’d injured me. This time, I stumbled back, tightening my abs to keep myself steady. Though I’d evaded the sword, it wasn’t by much, and fresh pain exploded in my side.

Pushing through the queasiness, I kept my feet moving and spun toward her, jabbing her in the injured wing again since it was closest to me. This time, I cut through the base, and she fell to her knees.

Guilt knotted in my stomach. I hated what I was doing to her, but if I didn’t defend myself, I’d die a slow and gruesome death. If I believed I was in pain now, I could only imagine what torment they’d put me through for their own pleasure. At least, this way, they’d likely kill me faster.

“Lira, above you!” Lorne screamed, and the clash of metal meeting metal sounded erupted.

I looked up to see Bran dropping toward me. He held his sword in front of him, aiming for the top of my head. I shuffled backward, the dust billowing around me as he followed me, maybe five feet away.

I flung up my left arm, meeting the tip of his sword and altering the direction of his thrust marginally. Though his sword missed my head, his body crashed on top of me, pressing me down.

My head, wings, and back smacked into the dirt andsand with his entire body weight on me. My head throbbed and the air whooshed from my lungs. I struggled to breathe. If I didn’t get up, I’d die within seconds.

Though my side and ribs screamed, I rolled over, shoving him off me. I straddled him, yanking the sword from his hand, and lifted it, preparing to stab him in the chest. I needed this fight to be over.

Before I could do it, a body crashed into me. I held on to the sword as my side crumpled, and Rona sat upright to do the very thing I’d nearly done to her brother. As she raised the sword, I swung mine upward and smacked hers to the side. I rolled again, causing her to crash to the ground, and jumped to my feet.

Bran flew past me toward Dougal. No doubt he was snagging the sword since I’d taken his, but I couldn’t lose focus on Rona. She kicked up her feet, stood, and gripped her sword.

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