Page 37 of This Vicious Dream

We weren’t just traveling in circles. Madinia had a clear destination in mind. A clear path. She led us to the monster, knowing it would take most of my power for me to kill it. Which is why she brought us into this territory directly after.

If I’d watched her trick anyone else this way, I might have applauded.

My ward falls, and I swing my sword, beheading the first soldier who rushes toward me. But I can’t help but glance at Madinia. She hesitates, as if wondering if I’ll truly survive.

Nice of her to show some concern, however unwarranted.

“You truly risked your life to escape me?”

Her eyes turn to flint. “And I’ll do it over and over again. Here’s a hint. If you want my cooperation, maybe don’t hold me prisoner with Kyldare’s chains.”

“You used those chains on me first.” I glower at her, slamming my fist into another soldier’s face. “Be careful, sweetheart, your hypocrisy is showing.”

Madinia takes a step backward, flames engulfing the first soldier who launches himself at her. I know this woman, and she’s about to flee.

“Don’t you dare,” I snarl, driving my sword into a soldier’s gut and then kicking him off the blade. “If you run, I will find you.”

It’s a dark promise, but the little witchwinksbefore glancing over my shoulder at the soldiers pouring toward us. Her flames shoot high into the air, so hot that no soldiers dare brave the fire. And still I can hear her voice.

“Sounds like a date,” she purrs. “But something tells me you’re going to miss it.”

She disappears into the forest. The soldiers immediately shift their attention from me, most of them sprinting after her.

Cursing, I cut down the soldiers, one after the other. I know I can find Madinia again, but if Kyldare’s men get to her first…

I form smaller wards, then use the wards to punch into them, carving holes in their backs as they turn to chase Madinia. I’m well aware that this isn’t a normal ability, but I’ve never been normal.

I slice out again and again, attempting to burn through the worst of my fury. But I’m mostly enraged at myself.

Unchaining Madinia was the stupidest thing I could do. And yet…she mightnothave survived if I’d left her in those chains, unable to use her power. All it would take is one arrow. One soldier to sneak up and steal her away.

Butshedid this. It’s humiliating—how easily she manipulated me. All it took was the despair in her eyes as they flooded, turning as dark as the depths of the ocean.

Eventually, the soldiers thin, turning to run—and no longer following Madinia. Their general is dead, and can no longer roar at them to stay and fight for Kyldare.

So they don’t.

Fox wanders close, the mare nowhere to be seen. “You lost her horse, too?”

He ducks his head. If I didn’t know better, I’d think he was ashamed.

A flap of wings, and Eamonn lands on a branch above us. He angles his head, and for a moment, there’s something so familiar about him, all I can do is stare.

He makes a show of exploring our surroundings. “Where is she?”

“Gone.”

“I thought you learned this lesson last time.”

I wipe the blade of my sword on one of the dead soldier’s shirts. “Clearly I didn’t. She’s…clever. Wily.”

Eamonn makes a strange choking sound and I turn to face him. “Are you…laughing?”

“You have to admit it’s kind of…” his voice trails off and he adjusts his wings. “Uh, not at all funny. Not even a little bit. I have to go now.”

“Eamonn!”

Too late. He’s arrowing into the sky. And the cry he lets loose sounds a lot like a howl of laughter.

---