These Twisted Bonds (These Hollow Vows, #2)(104)

A third charges for me, and I hesitate with my hand on the hilt of my dagger, waiting until he’s within reach before I pull my blade from its sheath beneath my cloak and plunge it into his chest. He collapses, and I look up in time to see another arrow take out the male behind him.

Bodies are scattered on either side of the stream, and the wolves prowl over and around them, teeth bared as they scan the perimeter for more threats.

A crack echoes from the trees, and there’s another flash of black. Finn is in front of me, breathing hard as he looks me over. “Are you okay?”

I nod then grimace. “They injected me.”

His eyes flash and his nostrils flare as he scans the half dozen dead bodies around us. “Arya.”

“No doubt,” I whisper. “They said she wants me alive.”

He’s half feral, as twitchy and agitated as his wolves. “I’ll kill her myself.”

“Are Tynan and Kane okay?”

He nods. “They were ambushed, but they managed to get the upper hand.”

I count three of my assailants with arrows through their heads.

“I heard you fighting her. Did you even try to use your magic before they could inject you?”

I swallow and drop my gaze to the ground. He already knows the answer to that question.

“Princess,” he growls. “Please tell me you didn’t choose a physical assault over a magical one because you were worried about me. ”

“Of course I was worried about you,” I snap. “Why should I risk your life just to save my own?”

“I would’ve been fine. And anyway, they got me too. Tynan and Kane as well, if I had to guess.

This group wouldn’t have stood a chance against your power.”

Shit, shit, shit. He’s right.

“I’m stronger than you think, Abriella, and the more you practice using your power with precision, the less you have to worry about pulling from me at all, let alone pulling too much.”

Swallowing, I nod. “I know.”

“Do you?” His eyes narrow as he studies me. “Promise me you won’t hesitate next time. If your life is danger—if a single hair on your pretty little head is in danger—you use your power and pull whatever you need from me. Got it?”

I stare at him, at those fierce silver eyes. “It’s not that easy.”

He arches a brow. “Do you want my pity, Princess?”

“Don’t be an ass.” I scowl, and Finn smirks.

He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. “Gods, you scared me.”

I melt into him and start shaking. “I shouldn’t have come out here alone. I’m sorry.”

He kisses the top of my head. “I’ve got you.” He strokes my back before pulling away. He’s as shaken by this as I am, but he holds out a hand, palm up, and I take it. We walk hand in hand back to the campsite, where we’re greeted by a handful of dead black-clad males, guts spilled, necks sliced open. The carnage would horrify me if the alternative weren’t so unthinkable. I don’t want to imagine what the queen would do if she successfully captured me, but worse is the idea that these bodies could’ve just as easily belonged to our friends.

The only survivors in the camp are a pissed-off Kane and a quietly brooding Tynan.

“I’m sorry,” Finn says. “I stepped away for a minute because Dara was acting funny. They must’ve lured her away from the camp to distract me.”

“I don’t understand where they came from,” Kane says. “No sound of their approach, no sign of horses.”

“Goblins?” I ask.

He shakes his head. “No goblin is willing to transport anyone to these parts. And it would’ve taken several goblins to get them all here at once.”

“They were likely masked by the queen,” Finn says. “She’s too powerful now—and that’s not even accounting for the fire gems she’s mined from beneath these mountains.”

Kane turns to Finn. “They were prepared to kill us all.”

Everyone but me, I think, but I don’t say it aloud. It feels shameful—a reminder that my life continues to be a liability for my friends.

“Good thing we’re better than they are,” Finn says.

Tynan meets Finn’s gaze, clenching his fists. “I think we need to reconsider our plans for the day.”

I follow his gaze and realize that Kane’s clutching his side. Blood seeps between his fingers.

I rush toward him, and he glares at Tynan. “I’m fine.”

Finn frowns. “Why aren’t you healing?”

“Because they shot us up with that shit,” Tynan says.

“We need to get you home,” Finn says. “We can’t heal you, and the injection is keeping you from healing yourself. It’s not safe for you out here.”

“You saw the Crimson Fog yesterday,” Kane says. “Time is of the essence. I am not so special that I can’t be sacrificed for our court.”

Finn closes his eyes and draws in a deep breath.

“You’re right,” I say. “And I agree—with the part about time. But I’m rather fond of your grumpy ass and would prefer to avoid an unnecessary sacrifice.”

The corner of Kane’s mouth hitches into a lopsided smile. “I’m not so easy to kill.”