Page 113 of A Fate Unwoven
Dodging another swipe of razor-sharp claws, the world swayed beneath him as more blood dripped from his wounds. He couldn’t keep this up for much longer, and there was still no sign of Yana or the general and her reinforcements.
There was no way they could defeat the Corrupted and get through the remaining cultists alone. And every second they tried was a second Lenora didn’t have.
Dimas drew back, putting as much space between him and his opponent as he could. He needed time to think. To figure out the creature’s attack pattern. But blood loss was making him woozy, and each swipe of his sword was becoming more desperate.
The creature lunged again and Dimas whirled out of the way, his sword following him in a graceful arc that should have lopped off its head. But as it had done every other time, thewylfendarted out of reach.
There was no time to catch his breath. No time to do anything but keep moving as the creature continued its attack. He couldn’t risk looking away to see how Maia, Finæn, and Casimir were faring, but considering neither had come to his aid, things weren’t looking good.
Another swipe of thewylfen’s claws had Dimas darting backward. There was barely any space left between him and the wall now. One more dodge, and he’d be trapped.
Thewylfenwould be expecting him to counter its attack. To make one last desperate attempt at severing its head from its body. It’s what a warrior would have done. What hisfatherwould have done.
But Dimas was not his father.
The wolf-like creature reared back, fangs flashing as it released an unearthly growl. Any second now it would be on him, teeth and claws tearing him apart, and there was nothing Dimas could do to stop it.
Thewylfenlunged, and Dimas did not raise his sword.
His heart thundered in his chest, adrenaline coursing through his veins, and as the creature crashed toward him—
Dimas dropped to his knees.
He slid his sword along the ground beneath thewylfen,and just enough space for Dimas to roll between its legs as thewylfensoared past him … and into the cavern wall with a sickeningcrack.
Dimas scrambled for his sword. He whirled around on unsteady feet, facing the Corrupted as it reared back onto its hind legs. The soft underside of its throat was exposed as it shook its head in a daze.
Dimas struck.
His sword pierced the ancient creature’s neck, blood pooling at the corners of its mouth.
He sucked in a shaking breath just as footsteps echoed behind him.
Dimas turned to find Iska approaching him, her marked palm raised. “Iska, please, you can still stop this!” Dimas held up his hands, searching her eyes for some glimpse of the cousin he’d grown up with. “We can go home together—”
Iska let out a sharp laugh. “You will never go home, cousin. Even if you succeed here, Milos and the rest of Venysa’s followers under his command will ensure Wyrecia’s throne will never be yours.”
Blood roared in Dimas’s ears. He could accept the idea of losing his throne if it meant stopping theHæstafrom resurrecting Venysa. He could even accept that he might never get to clear his name. But he wouldneveraccept Milos controlling the church. Not now that he knew what his cousins and his uncle were: corrupted disciples of an abomination.
Dimas pulled his sword free of the Corrupted’s neck. “Then I’ll stop all of you.”
“No,” said Iska, “you won’t.”
The symbol on her flesh darkened as shadows began to form at her fingertips. Dimas felt the hum of magic, raw and powerful, fill the air. Felt his body tense as he waited for a blow that never came.
Instead, a scream of pain rang out, and when Dimas opened his eyes, he found Iska pulling a bloodied arrow from her shoulder.
Boots thundered against stone as, with Mirena at the helm, a handful of imperial forces flooded the chamber. They wasted no time in descending upon the cultists, breaking them from their chanting as they were forced to infiltrate the dais to defend Roston.
Bodies fell by the second, the scent of blood and metal so thick in the air it was hard to breathe. Beside him, Casimir had taken down hiswrecenand was fighting alongside Yana, whilst two of the general’s forces moved in to help Maia and Finæn take down the remainingwrecen.Maia was holding a hand to her waist, her fingers soaked in blood as she tried to wield a dagger in her free hand. Her brother was faring little better; he was covered in sweat, his breathing rapid as he barely dodged blow after blow.
And then General Alræn was beside him. She came up behind thewrecenand, in one quick strike, sliced straight through its torso.
The Corrupted had barely split into two before the general was moving again, and this time, her fierce gaze was fixed on one person.
Iska.
Dimas saw the moment his cousin realized she was the general’s target. Saw the shadows twisting around her fingers once more.
