Page 66 of When Storms Collide

“To the death, then. Kill them all.”

Isaac moved first. He was faster than I had ever seen him before, his blade slicing out and barely missing my throat as I jumped back. I ducked, using the tree behind me to put space between us as I grasped my scabbard from my bedroll. I slid Stormslayer into its sheath at my thigh and grabbed the sword, sliding it free. I held it between us, my grip firm but apprehensive.

We were trying tosaveIsaac and Nikolai… we couldn’t risk accidentally killing them. I moved back further, putting even more distance between us before stepping into the circle of another Nightshade, one I had no problem killing.

I turned towards her, a woman with hair the color of ink. I had never seen her before. A glance over my shoulder confirmed Isaac and Nik were lost in the melee. I needed to dispatch this Nightshade and grab the antidote.

Focus on Nikolai.

I ducked away from the blade that soared towards me, my leg sweeping out to kick the Noctani’s legs out from under her. I needed to be careful not to let them get too close. If they stole my magic, it was all over. I was positive they had no qualms about stealing it now that Nikolai’s protection had expired, orders or not.

The Noctani rushed me, sloppily trying to tackle me. I smashed my knee into her gut, slicing my sword down to cut across her chest. Her tunic opened, leaving a thin slice of blood to drip down her abdomen. She came up with her own sword quickly, parrying. Her blade met mine with a jarring impact, and I clenched my teeth together and groaned against the force.

I was no match for her strength, I needed to use my speed and smaller stature to overtake her. I pushed back hard, freeing my sword. I stabbed forward, but she hit my arm on an upswing, cutting the skin on my forearm. I let out a hiss, fresh blood dripping to the forest floor beneath me. The Noctani’s gaze focused on the droplets of blood, as if she were locked in a trance.

I used her distraction as my opening and I cut forward, the sword in my grip burying itself in her neck. I hadn’t used enough force to cut her head clean off, but her eyes rolled back before closing, her body slumping to her knees.

I used my foot to dislodge her body from my sword, her neck cut in half, her head rolling listlessly on her shoulders before her body crashed to the forest floor and didn’t move again.

I turned quickly, sensing another Noctani at my back. I cursed, the Noctani smiling at me as it stood between me and my pack.

“Diana!” I could hear Zion calling out my name across the clearing, but he was too far away.

The antidote in my pack was the closest option.

I lunged, catching the Noctani off guard, their eyes widening as my sword came down across their shoulder. But they were faster. The Noctani had to be double my size, towering over me. He reached forward and grabbed my throat with his bare hand before I could dodge him, squeezing.

I sputtered—my air cut off. It felt as if he was crushing my windpipe.

I struggled and squirmed midair, trying to get out of his grip as he lifted me off the forest floor, my boots dangling in the air. I tried to swing my body, to gain purchase to kick at him, but to no avail. The sword in my grip was too long to use against him in this close of proximity. I let it drop from my grip, and its clang against the dirt resonated through me as if it were an earthquake. I quickly struggled to release Stormslayer from its sheath at my thigh and relaxed at the immense relief as my fingers closed around the hilt.

I pulled it free, stabbing upward.

Stormslayer pierced the flesh of his forearm straight through, protruding from the top. He released me and I fell to my knees as Stormslayer slid free, still in my grip. I was coughing, fresh blood spattering the ground before me. I couldn’t catch my breath as he descended on me once more.I clawed against the ground, dirt and blood embedding itself beneath my nails as I clawed at my own throat.

Had he seriously crushed my windpipe?

I could feel slow, labored inhales finally dragging into my lungs and relief flooded me once more.

No, he hadn’t.Thank the Mother.

I rolled in the dirt, still out of air but needing to get away from him. He reached out faster than I could get away, grasping the back of my hair and pulling me to my feet as Stormslayer slid from my grip. I cried out as he wrenched my hair backward, exposing my throat to him.

A bloodcurdling scream tore from me as his lips lifted, his fangs only inches from my throat. As he bent his head towards me we both went stumbling to the side, his grip on my hair still tight.

Puck had found us.

The Noctani held me against him on the ground, one arm across my shoulders and the other buried in my hair.

“Another step and I kill her,” he warned.

As his hand moved from my hair to my forehead, bracing. Panic leeched through me. He was going to snap my neck. Dread flooded me and I snapped my own head backwards, crashing into the Noctani with a force that made my vision go black. He let out a cry, releasing me. I rolled away, searching the forest floor for Stormslayer.

A glimmer of silver caught my eye, and I darted for it, grasping Stormslayer in my fist by the blade and cutting my hand open in the process as I turned towards the Nightshade once more. His eyes darted back and forth, unsure of whether tocome after me or Puck. His moment of hesitation cost him, and Puck wasted no time burying his Katana deep in his gut. He pulled it free, and the Noctani fell to the earth.

Dead.

I braced my hand against my chest, my breathing labored.

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