Page 74 of The Dark Fae Princess
“You don’t fucking say?” I shriek at him. “What the fuck?”
“It’s reality, Princess,” he says, but I’m ignoring him in favor of glaring at the other three men, who at least have the grace to look sheepish at flattening me.
Rook wordlessly hands me my sword back.
I snatch it from him.
I’ll show them!
I’ll show all of them!
“Again,” I growl and plant my feet, gripping the sword in front of me with both hands this time. I’m agile enough to keep on my feet without the use of my other arm to balance me. No, I need both arms to wield this damn thing.
“How about we try this a little differently,” Jerrick suggests carefully. “We will come for you, but take it a bit easier this time?”
“Whatever,” I snarl, “bring it.”
My humiliation is firing on all cylinders and my pride will not allow me to fail again.
Jerrick nods and raises his sword. He lunges at me, but this time I’m ready. I advance before I deflect, smacking his sword with my own with a clang that is quite satisfying. It jars my arms, but I ignore it and fade, leaping back to give myself room and then I pivot, sword swinging out to clash against Trey’s who was coming up behind me.
With grim determination, I manage to keep all four of them at bay for several minutes before I loosen my hold on the sword. Okay, I know they aren’t coming at me full tilt, and have probably silently agreed to let me have this, but it’s working. My confidence is sky high right now, as I swish the blade to block an attack from Rook and then another from Theo behind me. In fact, I’m getting so used to the weight, I take my right hand off the hilt and proceed as they are, one-handed.
Unfortunately, I let that confidence make me arrogant and Jerrick has me on my backside in the next move, tip at my throat.
“Better,” he says, dropping the tip to the ground and helping me up. “Again.”
I nod and take my stance again. “This time give me another sword,” I state.
He frowns at me and runs his hand through his short black hair. “Uhm…”
“Give. Me. Another. Sword,” I grit out, holding my hand out.
“I don’t think…”
“If I’m supposed todefend myselfagainst a swarm of Light Fae, I need another sword.”
He gives me a puzzled look at my derisive tone, but then he shrugs and throws me his. I catch it and twirl them both around, enjoying the sudden feeling of power that races through me. These blades can cleave a man’s head from his shoulders with a single swipe. Designed by the man in front of me, crafted by our best silversmith and enchanted with Dark Fae magick all adds up to a deadly combination for the Light Fae. Even a nick of this blade will severely wound. It makes me wonder if Jerrick bothered to mention this to Trey, but on closer inspection, he is, along with the other two, wieldingLight Faeswords. Deadly to the Dark Fae in much the same way.
A panic starts to grow in me. What if I hurt one of them, or they hurt themselves? The only one who will come out of a confrontation with the pointy end of either of these swords is Theo.
Jerrick must see my hesitation and he shakes his head. “Don’t think about any of that,” he says briskly. “Concentrate on you.”
I lick my lips but give him a nod and take my stance.
He picks up another sword and attacks.
I fall into it. Swinging both swords like a wild woman, forgetting about hurting my men, and concentrating wholly on the task at hand: To keep them at swords distance until someone else can swoop in to save me.
UGH!
I really hate that thought all of a sudden.
Before, I was quite happy to stave off the enemy and be rescued, but now…now that I’m going to be Queen, aren’t I supposed to lead from the front? Iwantto lead from the front. You don’t see Gramps sitting on his throne while his men go off to battle. No, he leads them there as bloodthirsty as the rest.
This thought makes me lose my concentration and I drop one of the swords just low enough for Trey’s to slice through the air and into my arm.
“FUCK!” he roars. “Savannah!” He drops his sword and rushes towards me as my arm drops limp to my side and the sword falls from my hand to hit the floor with a loud thump.
