Fate has an ironic sense of humor. Just when my wounds finally heal, just when I start to feel whole again with Riven by my side, I wake to the sound of leaves rustling outside our makeshift shelter. My eyes snap open in the darkness, heart already racing before my mind catches up. Something is wrong.
Wait. Why can I hear that?
The answer hits me like cold water. The door is open.
My hand shoots out to Riven's shoulder. "Wake up," I hiss.
His eyes open just as they burst through the entrance.
Four of them. Moonlight catches on raised weapons. I recognize Ashwyn's white fur and Bracken's brown hulking form coming for me. The black-furred twins, Korr and Morne, go straight for Riven.
Time stops for a heartbeat. Then chaos erupts.
Ashwyn swings his knife in a wide arc. I roll off the bed, feeling the blade slice through the space where my head was a second ago. Bracken thrusts his spear forward. I sidestep and grab the shaft, yanking it toward me and using his own momentum to pull him off balance.
"You should have stayed dead," Ashwyn snarls, circling me.
"Funny." I bare my teeth. "I was thinking the same about you."
His next strike comes fast. I'm faster. I twist away, and his blade catches Bracken's forearm instead. His grip on the spear loosens.
Perfect.
I drive my clawed hand into Ashwyn's shoulder, digging deep until I feel muscle tear. He screams and stumbles backward into Bracken, who's still clutching his bleeding arm.
"Pathetic," I spit. "Both of you."
Bracken roars and charges despite his injury. His spear comes at me in wild, furious jabs. I parry each one, redirecting the weapon with precise strikes. He's all muscle, no brain. Exactly what I expect from Varek's followers.
"Is this the best he sent?" I taunt. "I'm almost disappointed."
"Shut up!" Bracken bellows.
I lead him exactly where I want him. When he overextends on his next thrust, I sweep his legs out from under him with a vicious kick. He crashes to the ground hard. His spear flies from his hands and drives straight into Ashwyn's thigh.
Ashwyn's scream pierces the air.
I have maybe three seconds. I glance across the room to check on Riven.
Blood. So much blood coating his skin.
He's fighting both twins at once, and they're overwhelming him. A gash splits his shoulder. Another cut streaks across his ribs. He blocks one knife only to take a hit from the other twin's fist. He goes down on one knee.
"Riven!" I shout.
He looks up. Our eyes meet across the chaos.
No. Not again.
I will not lose him. Not this time.
I turn back to my opponents. Ashwyn is trying to pull the spear from his leg, whimpering like a wounded pup. Bracken is pushing himself up from the floor. Neither sees me coming.
I move like death itself. My clawed hand strikes Ashwyn's throat with every ounce of my strength. His head separates from his body in one clean, brutal motion. It rolls across the wooden floor, eyes still wide with shock.
"Ashwyn!" Bracken roars behind me.
I don't give him time to mourn. I launch myself at the black-furred twins attacking Riven. They're so focused on finishing him, they don't notice me until I crash into Korr, sending him sprawling across the floor.
Morne spins to face me, his knife raised and dripping with Riven's blood.
That blood on his blade makes something snap inside me.
"Your fight is with me now," I growl.
He lunges. I catch his wrist mid-strike and twist hard. Bone cracks. The sound is satisfying. He screams and drops the knife.
Korr is getting up behind me. I hear his footsteps, feel the displacement of air as he swings his weapon. I drop low. His blade whistles over my head. In the same fluid motion, I drive my elbow into his gut with brutal force. He doubles over, gasping.
"Stay down," I snarl.
But they're trained warriors. They don't stay down.
Morne comes at me again despite his broken wrist, his good hand reaching for another blade at his belt. I'm already moving. I grab a fallen knife from the floor and throw it in one smooth movement. It buries itself deep in his chest. He staggers backward, mouth opening and closing like a dying fish, then collapses.
One down. One to go.
Korr charges with a guttural roar. I meet him head-on. We exchange blows, each one faster and more vicious than the last. His fist connects with my jaw. Pain explodes through my skull. I taste blood.
I counter with a strike to his throat that makes him gag and stumble. He swings wildly, desperately. I duck under his arm and drive my claws into his side, dragging them down with savage satisfaction. Flesh tears. Blood pours. He screams and falls to his knees.
I stand over him, breathing hard. Blood drips from my hands onto his face.
"This is for Sorin," I say quietly. "And this is for Riven."
One swift strike ends it. His body crumples to the floor.
The room falls silent except for labored breathing. Mine. Riven's. I turn to find him leaning against the wall, one hand pressed to the wound in his shoulder. Blood seeps between his fingers.
Our eyes lock.
His gaze holds an apology. Regret. Like he blames himself for not being strong enough to fight beside me.
"Don't," I say fiercely as I cross the space between us in three strides. "Don't you dare apologize."
"I couldn't protect you. I should have—"
"You're alive," I interrupt. "That's what matters."
"You saved me."
"Yes." My voice drops to something softer. "And I'll do it again. As many times as it takes."
He stares at me like he's seeing me for the first time.
"I won't lose you," I whisper, pressing my forehead to his. "Do you understand me?"
He nods slowly.
"Good." I pull back slightly. "Because we're not done yet."
Behind us, I hear Bracken groaning as he finally struggles to his feet. He's grabbed his spear again. Blood drips from his wounded arm, but his eyes burn with hatred.
I turn to face him, positioning myself between him and Riven. My muscles coil. Ready.
"Come on then," I say. "Let's finish this."