Page 73 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

“I’ll find you when this is over,” I urge, softer this time. “Just please, go.”

Finally, with tears in her eyes, she nods. “Don’t you dare die on me,” she whispers.

Then she turns and runs, dragging Lily with her as their footsteps fade into the darkness.

The Tussoll warriors surge forward, and Zahrik reaches me first.

I brace myself, ready to meet his attack head-on, but at the last moment, he pivots, spinning with deadly grace, and cuts down the warrior behind him with one slash of his sword.

I stare in shock as my mind struggles to process what just happened.What is he doing?Zahrik’s expression is as hard as stone as he steps to my side, his blade slick with blood. He’s turned on his own tribe.Why?

There’s no time to ask before a warrior lunges at me, his blade aimed for my chest. I sidestep it neatly, letting his momentum carry him forward before I counter with a slash to his neck that sends him crumpling to the ground in a pool of blood.

Zahrik and I move in sync, fighting back to back, our blades flashing in a deadly rhythm. More bodies fall around us as the rest of the warriors surge forward, surrounding us. Their bright eyes gleam with bloodlust.

“Hold your ground,” he calls out. His voice is calm and steady despite the chaos around us. “They fight with rage. Let them.”

I’ve fought beside others before, but never beside an enemy. Never beside the male who once stood at Haavor’s side, just as ruthless and cold as the Tussoll chief. I don’t trust him, but in this moment, I don’t have to. I just need to survive long enough to protect Emily.

Two more warriors rush me, their eyes wild and their fangs bared. I parry the first blow easily. My attacker is young and not as battle-hardened as I am, and it’s obvious. His movements aresloppy and desperate. It only takes one swipe of my blade before he collapses into a heap.

The second attacker is on me before I can catch my breath, and his blade slices into my shoulder. The pain flares hot and sharp, but I grit my fangs against it. He grins, thinking he’s bested me as he lunges forward.

He’s wrong.

I twist out of his way at the last moment and slam the hilt of my sword into his face. Bone crunches and blood sprays from his shattered nose as he stumbles back, dazed. I don’t hesitate as I plunge my blade deep into his chest. His body spasms, then falls to the ground.

Another warrior charges me, but Zahrik’s blade finds him first, striking him down with one clean blow. The male drops without a sound. Zahrik’s gaze meets mine. There’s no mercy in his eyes. Only the will to live.

Our attackers continue to come in waves, and we cut them down one after another, our swords singing through the air.

Then, I catch a glimpse of movement at the edge of the clearing, and my heart sinks into the pits of my gut.

Emily stands there, frozen. She must have doubled back, thinking to help me.

Stubborn, foolish, brave human. I should have known she’d never leave me behind.

A warrior spots her. His lips twist into a cruel grin. He moves fast, too fast for me to reach him, and his body crashes into her. Emily cries out, twisting and kicking. She reaches for the knife at her waist, but he’s stronger and his arms lock around her, pinning her tight.

“You’ll make a fine prize,” he snarls before yanking her closer and burying his face in her hair as he inhales her scent.

Emily jerks her head to the side and bites down hard on his arm. He roars, but he doesn’t let go of her.

Something inside me snaps. White-hot fury explodes inside me, searing through my veins. My vision blurs, turning red, and a roar rips from my throat. “Release her, or you die!”

I don’t wait for an answer.

I charge forward, cutting down anyone who dares to stand in my way. My blade slices through flesh and bone, my fury giving me the strength of two Laediriians. The warrior’s head snaps up, his eyes wide with fear as I close in. He shoves Emily aside and scrambles to raise his blade, but it’s too late.

My sword crashes into his shoulder, slicing through muscle and lodging deep within the bone. He screams as I tear the blade free and drive it into his heart. Blood sprays across my chest in a crimson wave as he collapses.

I stand over his body, my chest heaving and my heart pounding so loud it drowns out everything. Emily stumbles back, her eyes wide with shock.

Before I can move to her, another Tussoll warrior lunges from the side. His sword swings through the air toward my neck. I duck just in time and the strike misses me by a breath. My muscles burn, but I don’t stop.

I counter with a savage blow, and my sword cuts through his midsection. He gasps and falls to the ground at my feet, his blood soaking the ground.

One by one, the rest of the Tussoll fall. Bodies hit the dirt with dull, final thuds. Blood soaks the ground, and the metallic stench of it clings to my skin. My chest heaves. Each breath is a ragged burn as the adrenaline begins to drain away, leaving fatigue in its wake.

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