Page 80 of The Lands Defying
I give him a nod, letting him know I hear him as I try to stop my heart from crumbling.
Darius unsheathes his blades and we all follow his lead. “Let’s go.”
We head back into the cover of the trees and walk silently to the left so we can get around the back of the building. Keeping our eyes on the guards, we trail after Darius.
Leo has an arrow already nocked in his bow, Zaide has his twin blades ready, and Jerrod has his axe in his hand with Taylor at his side. Josh, Hudson, Colten, and Damian are at the back with me, faces set into hard lines and I pull my mask up to cover the bottom half of my face.
Killing never comes easily, but it does with the enemy. We could just render them unconscious, but there is no guarantee we can do it quick enough that the others won’t port out and call for backup and inform the Highers’s witches. Then the Higher’s themselves could come, knowing we are here and Darius’s plans to keep them in the unknown for as long as possible will be forfeit.
We know that the Higher’s guards aren’t out in the Drylands for a fucking picnic or a change of scenery.
They are guarding something important.
Darius motions for me to move forward toward the tree line. “Wait here with Josh,” he whispers to me, begrudgingly. I open my mouth to protest, but he puts a palm over my mouth. “We know how each other works,” he says, nodding to his men. “I’m sending Hudson, Colten, and Taylor to watch the other side. We can handle this easily, I don’t need to be worrying where you are. I know you can fight,” he tells me quickly, and it soothes me a little. “But when we need to take them down as fast as possible, just know we can do it without a hitch. Tell me you understand and you will do as you’re told.” He implores me with his eyes.
I look deeply into them, and I see the worry there he’s trying to hide from me.
“Kyt,” I whisper to him. “I understand.”
And I do. They have fought together for years. Their moves and placement will be natural, throwing my pack and I into the mix and risk being known, it’s not worth it.
Darius’s shoulders relax instantly, and he leans forward and pulls my mask down, rubbing his nose against mine before putting my mask back in place. Everyone follows suit, hiding their faces as Darius nods to his Elites. With one last look at me, he moves, his men following and my pack to do his bidding, leaving me with Josh.
Two guards appear at the back of the building, not even scanning the area, far too comfortable to not know the threat that lurks within the trees.
Josh and I watch as the Elites silently pick up speed and walk toward the back of the building where the two guards begin to talk quietly.
Too relaxed for their own good.
I see Leo adjust his bow, and not a second later, the arrow flies through the air, hitting its target in the side of the neck. The other guard barely has enough time to blink before a small knife from Zaide lodges in his throat.
Both their hands lift to their necks, blood seeping out of their mouths before they collapse to the floor, just as the Elites reach them. Darius places his blade on one of the guards chest and pushes deep while Jerrod brings his axe down on the other. Leo pulls his arrow out of the now-dead guard’s throat and they all split up.
All of that happened in mere moments.
Darius, Leo, and Damian move to one side of the back of the building, as Jerrod and Zaide move to the other. I look across and see my pack in position to watch them as we do, our gaze moving to the remaining guards up front around the campfire.
They heard nothing of the Elite’s silent attack behind the building.
Then without warning, they attack the remaining guards. They don’t bother to hide themselves this time as they emerge around the building and the guards turn, shouts of surprise coming from them.
That’s when I hear it, a twig snapping.
I move to stand, the sound of footsteps reaching me.
“Josh.”
“I know.”He replies instantly.
We didn’t even hear them until they were practically on top of us, too focused on the others. That is a mistake that shouldn’t happen.
Nerves running through me, and I turn as Josh gets to his feet. I take the blade from my hip, tightening my grip on it as two guards emerge from behind a tree and come straight for us.
With no other choice but to act, I go for the one on the left, Josh on the right.
I raise my blade and swing, aiming to take off his head as Runa growls within me. The guard’s ragged face twists into a snarl, leaning back to avoid the strike, then raises his foot to kick me in the stomach.
Fuck.
