Page 28 of Ashes of Betrayal

A crowd of warriors grew thick around man and beast now, more of them emerging from the trees.

She hesitated then.That’s a lot of iron they’re wielding.

Aye … but you’ve got Sheehallion steel. Move fast enough and the iron won’t bite.

Bree grimaced.

Tiv was right. She’d fought the Marav before. She’d do so again.

Bursting from the trees, she raced across the muddy ground, her strides long and fleet. She gave the warriors no warning, cutting those nearest down from behind, before slashing her way into their midst.

Something stung her right arm as she drove a dagger through a man’s throat and kicked him in the guts, sending him reeling backward. But ignoring the fire that now raced up her bicep, she fought on—until she was at Cailean’s side.

His tattoos lit up the gloaming like silver corpse candles, and he fought viciously, the blade of his broadsword slick with blood. Beside him, Skaal had turned frenzied, her jaws wet with gore as she fastened them around the throat of the man she’d just brought down.

Teeth and claws weren’t a fae hound’s only weapons though. Their blood-curdling howl, when issued three times, could stop a Marav’s heart from terror. Yet, Skaal couldn’t wield it. The fae hound’s howl wouldn’t hurt Bree, but itwouldharm Cailean.

Her husband cut a glance sideways, his eyes widening at the sight of her. His skin was slick with sweat, and his chest was heaving. He was drawing on his reserves now.

Bree flashed him a harsh smile, sheathing one of her knives and drawing her longsword with her right hand. The rasp of razor-sharp Sheehallion steel echoed across the road, and a few of the warriors growled oaths.

“Shee!” Someone shouted. “The Gods help us!”

“Come on then,” Bree shouted back. “Which of you wants to die on my blade first?”

To their credit, they were brave. Many a Marav fighter would have turned and fled at the sight of a heavily armed and enraged Shee slicing through their ranks. But not these warriors.

Desperation turned them savage, even as—one by one—they fell upon Bree and Cailean’s blades, and as Skaal ripped her way through them.

The proximity of iron made her skin buzz and muscles twitch, yet battle lust made it easier to push the discomfort aside.

Finally though, when their numbers dwindled, some of them did run, stumbling into the trees, and leaving a trail of dripping blood behind them.

Trying to ignore the vicious burning that now covered her entire right arm, Bree watched them go. She then glanced over at Cailean. He too stared into the trees, where Skaal bounded after the fleeing warriors, before digging his blade into the ground and leaning upon the hilt. His chest rose and fell sharply now, and his tattoos had faded to their usual dark swirls upon his skin.

A chilling howl split the wet air, and Cailean sagged.

Bree cut a surprised look toward the trees. It appeared Skaal was determined to deal with the stragglers. However, despite that he wasn’t her intended victim, Cailean could still hear the hound.

Another howl followed, slightly fainter yet no less frightening.

Cursing, Cailean fell to his knees in the mud, a shudder going through his big body.

Panic surged up Bree’s throat, protectiveness swiftly following. If he heard another, his heart would stop. Squelching over the churned-up ground, she slapped her hands over his ears and whispered a Shee protection charm—just as a third howl shattered the gloaming.

Another shudder passed through him, yet Bree squeezed her eyes closed, repeating the charm over and over, until Skaal’s final howl faded.

Night had fallen now, and she wagered that none of the warriors who’d tried to retreat were still alive.

13: ALL THIS IS

“CAN YOU HEAR me?”

Blinking the rain out of her eyes, Bree removed her hands from Cailean’s ears and lowered herself to a crouch before him. She then surveyed his face, her belly tight with worry. Sometimes, if the fae hound’s howl didn’t stop a Marav’s heart, it turned them witless with fear. And sometimes, the terror remained.

Her husband stared back at her, his eyes glazed. Mud splattered his face, and the rain plastered his hair to his scalp. His expression had turned slack.

Bree drew back her arm before hesitating. “Forgive me.” She then slapped him hard across the face.

---