Page 163 of The Last Valkyrie

I croaked, loosening my hold on the frail body wrapped tightly in my arms. A body that was beginning to squirm.

She’s . . . she’s alive.

It was all that mattered.

I knew I was fucked as Korvan slowly began his descent toward the ground. Unstoppable, triumphant, smiling.

Through the dizziness in my head, I glanced over and saw my mates rush toward me from all angles.

Korvan swept his arms out and tossed them aside with a massive gust of wind. When they stood, pushed back twenty feet,the automatons were on them and they were forced to fight for their lives again.

“V-Vini?” my mother mewled in my ear. Her soft hand caressed my cheek. “Oh gods, daughter. What has that bastard done to you?”

No, Mother. What has he done toyou?

I coughed, tasting the warm trickle of blood on my tongue. I was likely bleeding inside, as would happen whenanyonedropped from over sixty feet high. I was just thankful my wings had been out, even though they now felt broken.

Slowly, with Ma’s help, I sat up when Korvan landed lightly on the ground.

He advanced amidst the angry growls of my mates—the roaring of Grim’s berserk rage, helpless to do anything as Korvan kept a barrier of green energy around the three of us.

“Impressive, daughter,” Korvan said. “You’ve learned to utilize your wings rather quickly, I must say.”

I couldn’t speak, so I just stared. Seated on my ass, wobbling where I sat.

Korvan crouched five feet away so we were at eye-level. He drew his wicked blade, tsking. “Let’s finish this, shall we? You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.”

I struggled to get to my feet, swayed, and landed back on my ass.

Korvan laughed. “Careful, lass.”

“F-Fuck you.” Blood spilled down my chin. Each blink took effort, and there were three Korvans when I opened my eyes, then two, and finally the dual vision coalesced into one.

He flared his nostrils. “I think the wings might be a nuisance. Perhaps I kill your doddering old Ma and keep you from being so pesky with those things fluttering about?”

He drew his sword back.

Ma managed to get to her feet, hands balled into fists, and stood in front of me like a sentinel. “Get away, Korvan.”

Her tone was tired but firm. The voice of a woman, a mother, who would not allow anything bad to befall her child. A protective bear shielding her cub.

You . . . can’t fight my battles for me, Ma.

I shook my head, trying to use more words but finding my brain must have scrambled in the fall and I was unable to grasp anything useful. So I landed on, “Fuck you” again, aiming it past Lindi to the dragonkin monster.

Korvan sighed, the sound weary and bored. “So protective, aren’t you, Lindi? I suppose it can’t be helped. She isourdaughter after all. I really hate to forsake a daughter her mother. But, like I said, it can’t be helped.”

I curled my sweaty hands into fists, my fingernails biting crescents into my palms. Trying to find the energy—anyenergy—to do something about what I knew was coming. The connection of my power, the source inside me, seemed shriveled up and unreachable. I felt so damnedhelpless.

Korvan’s hand lurched back, ready to plunge the black blade into her.

My world stood still.

The sword thrust forward.

My broken left wing launched out reflexively, dragging a bellow of agony from my throat—

Shielding my mother.

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