Fang descended on her shoulder and sank a bite into her neck.

She screamed and tried to throw him off.

Get her.

I sliced my sword down hard and hit her armor repeatedly, denting one piece in and popping off a section over her arm. I slashed my blade across her arm, drawing a river of blood that dripped onto the stone.

“Ahh!” Now she was furious. She was back on her feet and releasing a flurry of blows I couldn’t keep track of. She got me good in the arm then kicked me in the stomach. I’d wounded her, but that only made her stronger.

She barreled down on me with everything she had.

Fang landed on her again, wrapping his body around her neck and squeezing hard.He’s almost here. Hold on.

Undeterred by Fang’s squeeze, she came at me, wanting to kill me even if it cost her own life. She caught my blade and shoved me forcefully then punched me so hard in the face I flew back and hit the stone.

My world went black for several seconds. So disoriented, I didn’t know what was up or down. The sun was out, but I couldn’t see the light. And then my body jerked as something pierced me.

Nooooooo.

I suddenly felt warm. Felt stiff. And then…felt pain.

Hiiisssssss.

I heard the sound of fighting…and then I heard nothing at all.

26

KINGSNAKE

I threw off my helmet because the sweat was killing me and it restricted my vision. I reached the bottom of the stairs and looked up, seeing Ellasara and Larisa engaged in a heated battle.

Hurry.

I moved up the stairs as quickly as I could, taking two stairs at a time and ignoring the scream in my legs from carrying fifty pounds of armor after hours of battle. I finally reached the top and nearly fell to my knees.

Larisa was on the ground—in a pool of blood. “No…”

Fang was on the ground, his body between Ellasara and Larisa, and he dodged to the left to avoid the blade that was coming down on him.Hiissssss.

The shock passed instantly and was replaced by a rage I’d never felt before.Fang, get Viper. Tell him to bring the medic.

Fang held his ground.After I swallow her body whole.

Go now. She’s mine.

After a moment of restraint, Fang fled.

Ellasara turned her gaze on me, her hair blowing in the slight breeze, her armor dented in various places. Her arm bled—and I hoped Larisa was the one who had caused the wound. She gave me that smug smile that only made me want to kill her more. “I’m sorry about your pet, Kingsnake. No hard feelings.”

My sword was out of my scabbard and in my hand. I moved toward her, ready to end this fight as quickly as possible.

She spun her sword around her wrist as she took a few steps back. “I thought you preferred blondes—”

As if I hadn’t been fighting since morning, as if my body was in the best shape it’d ever been, I hit her with a flurry of blows so quick they were a blur. Steel on steel clashed as she met my blows, but I pushed her with the momentum of a mountain, forcing her back as she tried to keep her footing. That arrogant smirk was replaced by perspiration and terror. A woman that I’d loved with my whole heart had become my greatest enemy, and I showed her no mercy or kindness.

When we reached the edge of the platform and there was nowhere to go except the stairs, I smacked her sword out of her hand then sliced my blade clean through her neck. Her body and head joined her sword on the ground, and I had turned away so fast that I didn’t witness them fall.

As I rushed back to Larisa, Viper arrived with our medic.