Page 37 of A Touch of Iron
“Wow, it’s really lonely in this pocket of town,” I murmured as I looked around.
“Yeah, unfortunately—”
Before Alec could finish, the ground beneath us started to tremble, the concrete cracking into splinters. We lost our balance and stumbled before righting ourselves.
“Vi!” Alec shouted. He grabbed my arm to steady me and we spun around to see what had happened. With a start, we realized we were no longer alone. “Who are you?” he demanded, positioning himself slightly in front of me.
Five Unseelie stood on the sidewalk, cracking their knuckles like they were gearing up for a fight. Their faces were covered with brightly colored festival masks that stood out in stark contrast to their solid black clothing. It wasn’t the tactical gear of the Unseelie Court, but more like what a robber or someone with nefarious intent would wear.
“Give us the girl!” one of them yelled. “You can just walk away.”
“Do you really think I’ll just hand her over?” Alec threw his head back and laughed before his hands ignited. Flames flickered in his eyes when he fixed the group with a steely eyed stare. “Try and take her. See what happens.”
“Your funeral,” the guy said. He snapped his fingers and the group descended upon us.
Without conscious thought, I kindled fire into my hands and defiantly stood beside Alec. I sailed a fireball at the one who rushed toward me, soon realizing he was a fire elemental when the flames sizzled along his skin before extinguishing with a puff of smoke. I quickly switched tactics and pummeled him with a gust of air, feeling righteous satisfaction when he fell on his ass. Clenching my hand into a fist, I sucked the oxygen out of him.
Alec was dealing with an earth elemental, evidenced by the concrete splitting rumbles I heard. Three more Unseelie were waiting in the wings, ready to take a crack at us. I watched with wide eyes as water from yesterday’s rain bubbled up and formed into two daggers that slowly rotated in the air until they were pointed at my throat. When the water elemental flung them at me I managed to dodge one, but the other one clipped my arm. The sharp hiss of pain shattered my focus and I released the fire elemental I’d pinned down.
“Vi!”
Seeing the blood trickling down my arm, Alec jumped in front of me and hurled the largest burst of fire I’d ever seen toward our assailants, damaging the water and air elementals. Their screams were loud, but not loud enough to catch the attention of the audience who raptly watched the street performers.
While they were distracted, Alec whirled around and gently held my arm. “Are you okay? You’re bleeding.”
I covered the wound with my hand and brushed away his concern. “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”
Alec’s glower turned sinister as he turned his gaze back to our attackers. The earth elemental was already back on his feet and in the middle of forming a massive boulder comprised of the gravel and small rocks that littered the ground. “Run!” he yelled.
We hauled ass and angled our escape away from the crowd that clogged the center streets of the village. “Turn left down that alley!” Alec instructed. “It leads to a back way to the castle!” We darted into the alley and cursed when we saw it was a dead end. “Damn it! They closed it off.”
We turned around toward the mouth of the alley and stopped when the goons stepped into the opening.
I refused to cower. “Who sent you?”
“Who do you think?” the earth elemental snapped. He appeared to be the group’s ringleader. “You’ve accumulated quite a few enemies here in the Unseelie Court, but I’m sure one or two probably stand out.”
I gulped and whispered to Alec, “It’s either the King or Creed.”
He nodded. “It’s most likely the King,” he admitted. “He’s probably pissed about the duel and trying to eliminate you once and for all.”
Combining our powers of fire and air, we fought together in perfect harmony, as if we’d been fighting alongside each other for years. He danced around me with seamless maneuvers, anticipating my next moves while I did the same.
The three fire elementals growled in frustration when my air kept guttering their flames. Rendered ineffectual, they darted out of the alley way, probably to bring reinforcements. Alec and I were left with the water and earth elemental.
The brick walls that lined the alley started caving in on us. Buying time, we crept toward the back of the alley where it was walled off. I was focused so intently on escaping the falling bricks that I didn’t notice the two water daggers aimed at my chest until it was too late. Standing water climbed up my feet and ankles, freezing me in place as their tips barreled toward my torso.
“No!” Alec darted in front of me and shielded me with his body, taking the daggers in his back. I screamed as he collapsed against me and I struggled to hold him upright.
“Shit!” the earth elemental growled. Grabbing the water elemental’s arm, they barreled out of the alleyway without looking back.
The instant the water elemental left, the ice that rooted me in place melted and I was able to move once again. We dropped to the ground and I held him tightly. “Alec,” I cried, “you’re so stupid! Why didn’t you just let it hit me?”
He gave an agonized groan. “I could never. Just pull them out. I’ll heal. You, on the other hand, wouldn’t have.”
With his chin resting on my shoulder, I reached behind him and pulled out the first icicle dagger. He hissed in pain, and I decided to dislodge the second one just as quickly. I dropped them and watched in fascinated horror as they melted to their natural watery state the moment they touched the ground.
He tried to move but fell against me with a grimace. “Help me up.”
