Page 63 of Dark Elf's Good Girl

AIKEN

I shake off the dizziness. A buzzing sound rings persistently in my head as both Calix and I regather ourselves. He reels back, holding his wrist as he gasps in agony.

I pant for breath as my lungs beg for air. Glancing towards Isla, it’s clear to see she won’t be able to hold on for much longer. Her consciousness slips away with each passing moment, her eyes as heavy as anvils as she fights to keep them open.

“Isla!” I call to her. “Just hold on!”

A deep growl vibrates the room, emanating from Calix as he envelopes a grip around his wrist. Drawing a deep breath, he somehow pops it back into place. He grunts then smiles as he rotates it, moving the tendon as if I never broke it.

“Do you think you can get rid of me that easily?” he chuckles as he rises to his feet.

“Son of a-”

He rushes forward with a newfound surge of energy. He’s quick, but not quick enough. I dodge, circling around him where I then wrap an arm around his neck. I apply just enough force to restrain him, for I do not wish to kill my brother.

Calix kicks his leg out but it is no use. I drag him to the end of the bed where I then grasp a tuft of his hair in my hands. I smash his face into the steel bed frame repeatedly, causing a handful of teeth to fall from his mouth. His face swiftly becomes a bloodied mess, and still he is somehow conscious.

“Is that all you got?” he hisses, spitting out blood. He reels back, pushing up from the floor and breaks free from my grip. With ferocious speed, he spins around and delivers punch after punch, most of which land with heavy force.

I successfully catch his flying fist and use a spell to hurl him away. The surge of magic causes me to become dizzy once more. I glance ahead, spotting a blur of movement blasting towards me.

This time I sidestep, grabbing him with one hand by the neck and the other by his waistband. Drawing all the strength I can muster, I use Calix’s momentum to send him face first into the wall.

Blood spurts from his face at the impact as the rest of his body goes limp. I throw a hand to his neck, glad to detect that there’s still a pulse. It’s at that moment that exhaustion hits me like a brick wall as I collapse to my knees.

Blood from my nose and cheeks drip down onto the wood below but there’s no time to attend to my wounds. I whip my head up at Isla and rush to her side.

“Isla!” I snap as I untie her restraints with shaky hands. “Gods, please let her still be with me!”

I cast a spell, holding two flat palms at each of her temples as I mutter to myself. A blue glow surrounds her head for a few seconds as her eyes slowly open. Some of her wounds seal up as consciousness returns to her. Isla cries out as I envelope her into my grip.

“I’m so sorry,” I groan in her ear. “I never should have left you at home with Calix.”

“Aiken…” she whispers, tightening her grip on my shoulders.

“I’m never ever going to let you out of my sight again,” I say, strength coming back into my body. “I promise no more harm will come your way.”

“I’m… so happy you’re here…” she chuckles before wincing with pain.

The wind blows outside as I glance towards the door. I then dart my gaze to an unconscious Calix, suddenly becoming aware that we’re not out of the woods just yet.

“Come on Isla,” I say reassuringly. “Let’s get you to your feet. Can you walk?”

“Yes,” she replies. “Just let me put an arm around you.”

I hoist her arm around my shoulder before we walk slowly out of the door. Standing just outside is my equu alongside the carriage upon which Calix rode in with Isla. I glance between the two options, my mind running amok as I try to figure out what to do.

“Take a seat for a moment,” I say to Isla.

“What are you doing?” she asks, clutching her wounds.

“I need to think, just give me a minute.”

There’s no way we can stay here, it won’t be long until Calix wakes up. We best get a move on before then.

I walk to my equu who whinnies and neighs at the sight of me. I take one of the reins in my hand as I consider my options.

It’s far from the manor but the equu rides quickly. We’d be back home before sunset, and then I can-

---