Page 111 of Reaper's Ruin
“I’m not going to stand here helpless while you fight,” she insisted. “Give me something!”
There was no time to argue. I handed her the dagger, keeping the sword for myself. She gripped it with surprising confidence, dropping into a defensive stance.
As we prepared for battle, my wings unfurled again, stretching wide and blocking the light behind me. The faces of the opposing guard twisted with confusion as I stood in that hall, consuming the space with my fury. The living didn’t know Reapers existed. Maybe in lore, but not the cold reality now standing before them. The only time a Reaper was seen was just before a soul was extinguished. Now I was legend made real promising death with nothing but a stare.
“What the fuck is that?” one shouted.
They pressed tighter together, eyes darting back and forth as they tried to make the choice between life and death. Run or fight.
“Kill him!” one brave, or perhaps just stupid, guard shouted, charging toward me with his sword raised.
After a moment, the other guards roared forward behind him, and we met them head-on. My wings sliced through the first wave. I fought with sword and shadow, cleaving a path forward. To my surprise, Soraya held her own, moving with unexpected grace as she fought off a soldier that had slipped by.
Rage at seeing her attacked roiled inside my chest, and my wings carried me to her in a breath, ripping through the armor and flesh of the man who’d dared tothreaten her.
He fell into a bloody heap at my feet.
“Where did you learn to fight?” I asked as we pressed forward.
“Three years of self-defense classes after a stalker incident in college,” she replied, her eyes wide and lit up like, dare I say, she enjoyed this. “Plus, I think some of it’s instinct. Storm Court heritage, maybe?”
Whatever the source, her ability was impressive. But these were trained warriors, and I didn’t want to press our luck, so I surged forward and cleared a path with a sweep of my wings, leaving the two remaining guards blocking our escape dead at our feet.
The corridor opened into a grand staircase. We descended quickly, cutting down any who stood in our way. My wings responded to my needs as easily as breathing, spreading out behind me when danger was greatest, then receding to a soft shadow at my back when the threat subsided. They responded instinctively to my need to protect Soraya.
We reached the lower levels, the smell of horses and hay indicating we were near the stables. Freedom was close.
But so were our pursuers.
A bolt of lightning streaked past my head, so close I felt my hair stand on end. I turned to see a Storm Warrior at the top of the stairs, hands raised for another attack. This one was aimed directly at Soraya.
I lunged toward her, but the bolt of lightning was faster. It struck, illuminating her silhouette in a blinding flash of blue and white.
My breath hitched, agony tearing through my heart as I waited for her to fall. A direct hit would be fatal to most, and debilitating even if she survived it.
But she stood there, unharmed.
The Storm Warrior’s attack had washed over her like water, leaving her untouched. She stared down at her unharmed form stillsparking with residual energy, then her eyes met mine, wide with surprise that quickly gave way to understanding.
Storm Court blood. All Storm fae were immune to electrical hits. She truly was her father’s daughter.
There was no time to process this revelation as more guards poured in. I grabbed her hand, and we ran for the stables, cutting down the few guards who tried to stop us.
The stalls were filled with magnificent horses, no doubt fast and brave, but I rushed past them to the barn with the Stormsteeds. We burst through the door, and they jumped, heads snapping up at the commotion. Their feathered bodies shifted nervously as we hurried down the aisle until I found the one I’d ridden before.
“Remember me, Moonshadow?” I said, reaching out to calm the skittish stallion.
He softened at my touch.
I opened the stall door, slipping his halter on and tossing the lead rope around his neck like makeshift reins.
Careful not to spook him with my quick movements, but moving fast enough to keep us in front of the guards charging our way, I led him out of the stall. I grabbed Soraya by the waist, lifting her up onto his back, then I swung up behind her. Moonshadow danced beneath me, but I reached forward and stroked his neck.
“Easy, boy. I need you to get us the hell out of here. Once we’re safe, you can come back and be with your friends.”
He seemed to settle, so I wrapped one arm around Soraya’s waist, securing her against me as I took the reins with my other hand. The Stormsteed needed little guidance—a touch of my heels and he burst forward, powerful legs carrying us down the aisle then through the stable doors and into the storm-swept night.
Behind us, shouts and curses erupted as our pursuers realized we were escaping. Lightning split the sky, illuminating the courtyard as we galloped toward the main gates.
