Page 72 of Ashes of Betrayal

Cailean snarled a curse and leaped forward. However, the Raven thrust the choking woman at him, and Cailean had to drop his weapon to catch her.

The Shee warrior then pivoted nimbly on his heel and dove for the gap in the tent.

32: SAVE HER

HE NEVER REACHED safety.

Thud. A knife drove between the fleeing warrior’s shoulder blades.

He gave a wheezing cry and staggered, falling against the side of the tent. Deep shudders wracked his body as he twisted and clawed, trying to reach the embedded knife, to pull it free.

Lowering Teva to the ground, Cailean slammed his hand over the queen’s sliced-open throat. However, he couldn’t stem the blood that pulsed between his fingers. Teva’s eyes were wide, terrified, as she flailed under him.

He cut his gaze right then, to where Mirren had risen to her feet. The iron blade she’d just hurled had sunk deep.

His attention didn’t linger on her though, for at that moment, Gavyn hauled Lara through the gap.

Bree dove after him.

Jaw clenched, Cailean let the queen sink back onto the sheepskins. He’d removed his hand from her throat now, and their gazes locked. Teva’s eyes glistened. They both knew there wasn’t anything he could do. His gut twisted in response. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Go,” she mouthed, blood dribbling down her chin. “Save her.”

Mirren moved to the queen’s side then; the lass would stay with Teva while she died—but Cailean couldn’t linger here any longer.

He launched himself to his feet, scooping up his sword as he went. He then drove his broadsword through the chest of the Shee who thrashed on the ground.For Teva, you shitweasel.

Yanking the blade free, he plunged outside.

Smoke and heat slammed into his face as he emerged from the pavilion.

He glanced around him, panic rising. Where was Bree? The attackers had set the camp on fire. Tents blazed around him, while powries streaked past, flaming torches in their clawed hands.

One lunged for him, and he skewered it on his blade. The powrie screeched before disappearing in a flash of light, its torch rolling onto crushed grass.

Moments later, Cailean waded into the battle that raged just yards away. Marav warriors converged on their attackers, driving them back from the royal pavilion. The Ravens and their imps had done a lot of damage, yet the tide was turning against them. And now that they had the princess, the attackers were retreating, heading toward the perimeter.

And in the midst of it all, Bree stalked Gavyn. Her long braid flying as she pivoted, ducked, and slashed, his wife fought her way through the press. Each step brought her closer to her quarry.

Cailean’s heart lurched at the sight of her. She was magnificent. A warrior to the core. But she was also surrounded.

Gavyn was dragging Lara backward, while his warriors closed in, forming a protective ring around him. An elk emerged through the wreathing smoke then, between two crumpled tents. The beast, a leggy male with vast pronged antlers, snorted, pawing the ground, awaiting its master.

Cailean’s heart started to kick violently against his ribs as he began slashing his way through the fray.

No, the whoreson wasn’t going to abduct Lara and carry her back to the Raven Queen. Gods knew what Mor would do to her.

“Give it up, Gavyn!” Bree shouted as she cut down the last Raven who stood between them. “You’ll never get the princess onto that elk’s back. The moment your knife slips. I’ll have you.”

“Fuck off, traitor!” he snarled back. However, Cailean spied desperation in his silvery eyes. He knew Bree was right.

Sensing that the tide was turning, Lara’s tear-stained face twisted. She started to struggle then, heedless of the blade still at her throat. It pierced her skin, blood trickling down her neck, yet she fought on.

Cailean cut his way toward Bree and Lara, scattering powries as they tried to bring him down. Just a few yards separated them now, but it suddenly seemed vast.

The Shee and powries were still withdrawing, but not fast enough.

He was aware then that a handful of Marav warriors had also managed to fight their way in next to him. The High King had left a decent force behind with the baggage train, and although they’d initially been caught off guard, they rallied now, tightening the noose.

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