Page 44 of Ares' Shield
Dax stops just in front of the wards, and I jog forward to cut him off. I plant my feet directly in front of him and flinch when empty eyes stare down at me.
“Dax, come on. Snap out of it.” I wave a hand in front of his face.
White-hot pain pierces my ribs as Dax punches me quick as lightning. I fly back, smacking into the ward, and slump to the ground.
Why the hell do I keep getting the shit kicked out of me today?
9
Idust the dirt off my legs as I hop to my feet.
“Are you okay?” Jayden asks.
I drag in wheezing breath and flinch as pain sears through my ribs.
“I think Dax busted a rib when he punched me.” I clutch at my side.
“You should probably let Raven handle this, Beth.”
“You know I will jump in if she’s in trouble, Jayden.”
Raven rushes in front of Dax and shoves him back, hard. Dax swings at her and she ducks him easily, falling to the ground and then rolling back up onto her feet.
“Dax, stop,” Raven shouts as his sword appears in his hand.
“What the hell?” I step closer to Jayden.
Dax would never raise his sword against Raven unless they were training. This is bad.
Dax, or whoever’s controlling him, isn’t playing games. This is fucking dangerous.
“I think we need to move. I don’t want to get in the middle of an Ares fight,” Jayden says.
He grabs my hand, tugging me back away from them.
“You might have to wrap him in chains for real before he and Raven hurt each other.”
Raven pulls her broad sword from nowhere just in time to block Dax’s swing. The clang of metal rings out through the air.
She shoves him back with her sword and crouches into a fighting stance. Dax’s movements are clunky and unpredictable.
“What the hell is Raven doing? She can’t kill her own brother.” Jayden’s shadows writhe up his arms.
Dax isn’t even fighting like himself. It’s like a puppeteer is pulling his strings. I hate it.
“She’s not going to kill him,” I whisper. “She has to defend herself though. Dax is bigger than her and that can be used to his advantage.”
Draven and Adrian jog next to us and I glare at Adrian for bringing the idiot with him.
“Fuck,” Jayden mumbles, glaring at Draven.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
“Adrian said I might be able to help.” Draven crosses his arms over his chest.
Great. Let’s just give the asshole more of an ego boost. Good job, Adrian.
Metal scraping against metal catches my attention and I turn, glancing back at the fight. Raven is only on the defensive. Dax is seriously trying to kill her.
