Page 78 of A Fate of Ice and Lies
“You’re not dying today,” I reminded him, gritting my teeth under his weight.
Each breath was rough and gravelly, but he forced his feet forward as Everly and I carried him back to the store with three fae surrounding us with their weapons out.
“Teddy,” he rasped. “Go. I’m okay. Just need. . . to heal myself.”
My knees shook under his weight, but I refused to let them buckle, forcing him to take each step with us instead.
Just as we neared the store, more thunder clapped in the sky. One bird, a beautiful orange and black, hung in front of us, her giant wings flapping hard. She narrowed her eyes, and Elias pushed off us, swaying as he tried and failed to hold his sword up. He blinked his heavy eyes at me, and with a quick wave of his hand, he conjured a shield. He pushed Everly and me to the ground and placed his shield in front of us as the other fae did the same.
He grunted out in pain, and when I felt the heat of the bird’s fire stop, I jumped to my feet and took out my gun from the waist of my pants. I aimed for one of its eyes and shot.
It screeched, and I shot again, this time at its other eye. Itflapped its wings violently, sending snow everywhere. I sent my third shot between its eyes.
With a pitiful whimper, it spiraled downward, landing hard a few feet from where I stood. I didn’t waste time as I pointed my gun at the next bird. This one died with a single shot between the eyes.
As two people spilled out of the store with their guns out, I tucked my gun away and helped Elias back to his feet. He kept one hand around his stomach and the other around my shoulders. He seemed stronger, though. Whether it was adrenaline or his super-fae healing, I didn’t care.
He was okay. He was going to be okay. He had to be.
Another snow monster edged toward us, a thick, white finger extending to us. It clicked its teeth at us, and I could’ve sworn it smiled.
“My mistress will be happy to hear about this. . . new development.” The monster’s voice came out like slithering poison.
Deep inside me, I knew he meant Leanora. I knew it and rejected it. Because she wasn’t real but a figment of my imagination. She couldn’t be real. But what else could that monster have meant?
Brenton gripped the thing with a small thread of gray smoke while Nalari breathed her fire on it. It melted into nothing in an instant.
After a glance around, I found Everly fighting alongside George. She swung his sword like some mythical goddess of death, and while I wasn’t sure how she’d learn to fight like that, I was grateful.
Our downtown may not survive this, but we would.
Elias stumbled, letting out a guttural grunt. Putting a hand beside his chest, right next to the hole that puncturedhis shirt and did little to cover his burnt skin, I helped him back to the store. One painful shuffle after another.
“You’re not allowed to die today,” I reminded him. “Got it?”
His chuckle was wet and shallow. “Got it,” he breathed out.
As soon as we made it to the store, an older woman held the door open for us while a younger woman patted a chair for Elias to sit on. I helped him drop onto it carefully, and Victoria rushed toward us with a glass of water she held out to Elias.
With shaky hands, he took it, but rather than drink, he leaned against my stomach and rested his head there. That same strange noise rumbled from his chest when I ran my fingers through his hair.
“Do you need anything?” I asked.
His hand found mine. “You.” He took a deep breath. “Just you.”
Chapter
Thirteen
ELIAS
Guardians,this female was a force beyond nature.
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to throttle her for going out to get me.
Or kiss her endlessly for being such a fearless warrior.
The way she commanded me not to die was breathtaking. The way she held her own and killed two thunderbirds with such a tiny weapon was inspiring. The way she ran her fingers through my hair was everything.
