Page 1060 of One More Kiss

I slashed out with my sword as I leapt to the side and rolled, coming up to a crouch. There was green blood on my sword. I’d connected.

The rat’s momentum carried it past me and it skidded to a stop. It turned, eyes glowing red, and charged again. I repeated my slash, dive, roll move. More green goo on my sword.

My shoulder hurt from where I’d slammed into the ground and I’d barely missed the rats sharp claws. I glanced over to see how Fin was doing. I’d expected him to have dispatched his rat already, and to be coming to help me. Not that I needed help. But I wouldn’t have said no.

Fin was facing off against three of the giant monsters. I’m not sure where the others had come from.

This was bad. “We’re outnumbered,” I panted.

Fin speared me with a ‘no shit, Sherlock’ look before spinning back to his opponents.

I checked the position of my rat. It was still down. Maybe I’d done some damage? It lifted its head and glared. Was I imagining it or were its eyes glowing a little less than before? It wasn’t running at me again.

I had hurt it, yet my sword had barely scratched it.

There was something about my sword that it reacted badly to. I stood up straight and swallowed hard. I really hoped I hadn’t killed it. Despite the fact that it had been trying to kill me moments before, I was the intruder here.

Fins back brushed mine. I turned to stand beside him, facing down the three remaining monsters together.

“Let’s back away.” I grabbed his tunic and pulled him with me. Maybe if the rats he was facing could see what had happened to their friend they’d leave us alone.

The rats stalked us. Fin had damaged them, there was goo on his sword too. They were keeping their distance, but I sensed they were preparing to attack again.

The lead rat launched itself, followed by the other two.

I leapt in one direction and Fin went in the other, towards the rat I’d injured earlier. The lead rat and one other followed him but I had my hands full with the one that had singled me out. Clearly they thought Fin was the bigger threat. They were right. He’d already taken out two of their number, which I’d only now noticed.

I slashed out as the rats claws swiped at my face. My sword connected, deflecting its blow. More goop.

It reared on its hind legs and attacked again and I dove forward, straight towards its unprotected belly. I aimed for its heart, or where its heart would be if it was an earth rat. It dodged, and my blade sliced its side. The rat rolled one way and I rolled the other.

The rat landed heavily and didn’t move again.

I clambered to my feet and looked for Fin.

He’d killed one of his three was holding his own against the other two, but I could tell he was flagging. His movements weren’t as fluid as before. Instead of liquid water, he was more of a custard.

“Liandra!” Fin’s voice cut through my remorse at killing the animal. “Run!”

No way was I running. I thought I’d made that clear.

I launched myself high into the air and somersaulted as I landed on the back of one of the remaining rats. It reacted too slowly. I sank my blade deep into its back, withdrawing the metal and leaping to the ground. I landed beside Fin, who dealt a death blow to the last remaining rat. We were both out of breath.

Fin wiped a hand across his brow. “Your sword. What is it made of?”

“It’s an alloy. A combination of silver and steel.”

“May I?” He held out his hand.

I offered my sword to him hilt first. He took it and hissed in pain. Steam rose from his hand where he gripped it and he let go, dropping it instantly. I snatched it out of the air before it could hit the ground. My reflexes, still in battle mode, where lightning fast.

Fin flexed his hand, watching as it slowly healed. The burn had been third degree. He was lucky he had Fae healing abilities.

“That explains why you were able to take down three of the rats.” He didn’t mention that he’d killed four. I’d thought he’d gloat about beating me, but he surprised me, again. “The steel is poisonous to Fae, and all creatures from our Realm. Yet it doesn’t damage you?”

I shook my head. “Neither does iron. Must be my human side showing.”

The rest of what he said hit me. “I killed three?” My dismay must have shown on my face.

---