Page 108 of Emylia

Ablur of black sprinted toward me, blade in his hand, ready for blood.

My blood.

Before the warrior made it to me, he crumbled in a heap, his body motionless. Blood instantly coated the jade blades of grass in a sickening scarlet. A scream stilled in my throat, my eyes snapping to Maalikai’s. He held a bow, his face an unreadable mask like he was impervious to having just killed a man.

A loud, piercing whistle cut through the air as Sebastian stormed forward, signaling for our guards to do what they were meant to be doing—guarding us.

Sebastian didn’t wait for them to arrive. Blade in hand, he advanced on our assailants, slicing them down like they were nothing. Muscles moved in predatory grace as he slinked forward. Retribution glowed in the feral heat of his liquid-fire gaze, a storm of vengeance simmering just beneath the surface.

A primal growl grew low in his chest before it erupted in a lethal war cry. No matter how many of the warriors he slayed, they kept coming—multiplying like shadows in the night.

Ten.

Twenty.

Shit.

Where the fuck were the guards? I looked over my shoulder, seeing our guards defending their own lives at the line of Aelinthian Forrest.

We were on our own.

We were so fucking screwed.

“Emylia, get behind us,” Maalikai seethed through gritted teeth.

I didn’t need to move, both Sebastian’s and Maalikai’s bodies were already in front of mine, protecting my body with theirs. They launched forward, cutting and slaying men like it was as easy as breathing.

Everything moved in slow motion as I watched Sebastian and the guy I was falling unequivocally in love with, cut down our enemies, moving with the grace and skill of seasoned warriors.

But there were too many of them and our guards were still fighting for their own lives, or already dead.

My stomach curdled as I watched warriors surround Sebastian. There was no way he would be able to fight his way out of this one, there were too many of them.

If I didn’t act now, he’d be dead.

I nocked the arrow, its weight almost forgotten between my fingertips, and fired before hesitation could take hold.

A body crumpled to the ground, motionless. My heart plummeted, a hollow ache billowing in my chest—heavy, suffocating, inescapable. An ominous shadow enveloped me, all-consuming and asphyxiating, my soul whispering the truth as it recoiled—this could never be undone.

This was a line I could never uncross.

I was now beyond retribution.

With my bow in one hand, I reached for a blade with the other. The familiar weight of a blade felt perfect in my palm. Without thinking, I threw it, sending it hurtling through the air, finding its mark with a sickening crunch.

Blood splattered, spraying the warrior’s comrades with a fresh sprinkling of scarlet liquid before he collapsed to the ground.

Before I had time to react to the man’s death, I sprinted forward, diving for my quiver. I had three arrows.

My eyes found Sebastian. He was trying to fight his way out of the group surrounding him. Without thought, I adjusted the bow and pulled the string taut. I released a single breath and let the arrow fly.

It landed in the eye of one of the warriors who was about to attack Sebastian from behind. The next one pierced straight through the heart. With the final arrow, I went for a warrior that was trying to sneak up and slash Sebastian’s ribs. He fell after my arrow struck his shoulder, and Sebastian turned just in time to stab him with a sword, through his chest.

Sebastian’s gaze collided with mine as he nodded his thanks.

Standing at my full height, I whipped around, facing my foe. How were there thirty of them now?

Where the heck were they coming from?

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