10. Vera
10
VERA
B oots thunder down the stone steps as dark elves pour into the dungeon. Their silver armor gleams in the dim light, weapons drawn. My vision swims, pain radiating from the arrow in my side.
"Leave me," I whisper against Aurel's chest, certain he'll abandon me now that I'm a burden. "I'll only slow you down."
His arms tighten around me. "Shut up." His voice rumbles through his chest. "You didn't free me just to die here."
An arrow whistles past us. Aurel's body coils protectively around mine as he moves, faster than I thought possible. The world spins as he navigates the narrow corridors.
"Stop them!" A dark elf commander's voice echoes off the walls. "The naga must not escape!"
My fingers slip on Aurel's skin, slick with my own blood. The pain makes it hard to hold on, but his earlier words echo in my mind: "Don't you dare let go."
"Stay with me," he growls, ducking under a low archway. His serpentine body moves with fluid grace despite carrying me. "Keep those eyes open."
I force myself to focus on his face – the determined set of his jaw, the fierce gleam in his emerald eyes. He could have left me. Should have left me. But he didn't.
"Why?" I manage through gritted teeth.
He glances down at me, something unreadable flickering across his features. "Because you're mine now."
The possessive growl in his voice sends warmth spreading through my chest, stronger than the pain. As consciousness fades in and out, I cling to that warmth, to the solid strength of his arms around me, to the knowledge that he chose to keep me.
My heart swells with something dangerous – hope, perhaps. Or something deeper.
Aurel's massive body curls around me as another volley of arrows rains down. His muscles tense and flex against my skin, shielding me from the assault.
"Stay conscious," he orders, his voice tight with strain. "Focus on my voice."
I try to summon magic, but it slips through my fingers like water. My blood drips steadily onto the stone floor, each drop echoing in my ears. "I can't... the magic won't..."
"Don't waste your strength." He deflects a sword strike with his tail, sending the dark elf flying into the wall.
Three more soldiers rush forward. Aurel's arms tighten around me as he weaves between their attacks, his movements fluid despite carrying my weight. The clash of steel against his scales rings through the corridor.
"Behind you!" I gasp as another soldier appears.
Aurel spins, using his tail like a whip. The soldier crashes into his companions with a sickening crunch.
My magic burns beneath my skin, desperate to help, but my body betrays me. Black spots dance at the edges of my vision. "Please... let me try..."
"Damn it, woman, stay still!" He catches an arrow inches from my face. "You've done enough."
More boots thunder down the stairs. A fresh wave of soldiers appears, their silver armor gleaming.
"There's too many," I whisper, my fingers weakly clutching his arm.
The magic writhes inside me, useless and painful. My ribs feel like they're splitting apart. I try once more to channel it, but only manage a weak spark that fizzles in the air.
"Save your strength," Aurel growls, his chest heaving against my cheek. "I won't let them have you."
Aurel sets me down against the cold stone wall, his muscles coiled with tension. "Stay here." His voice is sharp, commanding.
My fingers clutch at empty air as he pulls away. The arrow in my side throbs with each breath, but the pain dulls compared to the terror of watching him charge into battle.
His massive form fills the corridor as he meets the dark elves head-on. Steel rings against scales. Bodies fly through the air. I've never seen anything like it – he moves like liquid shadow, deadly grace in every strike.
"Traitor!" A dark elf shouts before Aurel's tail sends him crashing into the ceiling.
My vision blurs, but I force myself to stay conscious. A flash of movement catches my eye. A dark elf soldier lies sprawled before me, blood trickling from his mouth. His silver eyes lock onto mine with pure hatred.
"Worthless human," he spits, pushing himself up on trembling arms.
I try to scramble back, but the wall blocks my escape. The arrow shifts in my side, sending waves of agony through my body. A scream tears from my throat as his armored hand closes around my ankle.
"Aurel!" I cry out, but he's engaged with three other soldiers, his massive form blocking the corridor ahead.
The dark elf's grip tightens, drawing me closer. His other hand reaches for his dagger. I kick out wildly, but in my weakened state, it's like hitting stone.
"You'll pay for this betrayal," he snarls, blade glinting in the dim light.
The dark elf's fingers dig into my ankle, his sneer twisting his perfect features. "Look at you, pathetic creature. Can't even defend yourself."
My hand trembles against my side, fingers brushing against the small dagger I'd hidden in the folds of my dress. The one I'd stolen weeks ago but never had the courage to use.
"Always needing someone to save you." He drags me closer, silver eyes glinting with malice. "Your naga friend is busy. No one's coming to help you now."
The blade feels cold against my palm as I grip it. My other hand presses against the stone floor, trying to push myself away.
"Even now, you're shaking like a leaf." He laughs, reaching for my throat. "Weak. Useless. Just like always."
Something snaps inside me. Years of abuse, of being called worthless, of being treated like nothing – it all crashes through me like a wave.
I pull the dagger free and drive it into his temple with a scream. His eyes widen in shock. Blood sprays across my face, warm and sticky.
"Not useless," I gasp, yanking the blade out. "Not anymore."
He tries to speak, but I stab again. And again. Each thrust of the blade sends more blood spattering across my skin. My arms ache, but I can't stop. Won't stop.
The warmth trailing down my cheeks feels like freedom. Like power. A laugh bubbles up from my chest, half-hysterical, half-triumphant. For the first time in my life, I'm not helpless.
My hands tremble as I stare at the dead dark elf, his silver blood pooling beneath his head. The dagger slips from my grip, clattering against the stone floor. My chest heaves with each breath, and something burns beneath my skin – not pain, but power.
Magic crackles through my veins, electric and alive. It feels different from before, stronger somehow. The arrow in my side barely registers anymore.
"What... what's happening to me?" I whisper, watching silver sparks dance across my fingertips.
Behind me, Aurel dispatches the last guard with a brutal efficiency. His massive form coils around the corridor as he turns to me, his eyes widening at the sight.
"Your magic," he breathes, moving closer. "It's changing."
I lift my hands, watching the silver light pulse in rhythm with my heartbeat. "I've never felt like this before. This strength..." My voice catches. "Humans can't do this, can they?"
Aurel's expression shifts, something like recognition flickering across his features. "No," he says slowly. "They can't."
The dead elf's blood mingles with my own on the floor, and I notice something strange – where they meet, both shimmer with the same silvery sheen. My stomach lurches.
"What am I?" The words come out barely above a whisper.
Aurel's hand brushes my cheek, turning my face toward him. His eyes search mine intently. "You're something far more interesting than a mere human," he murmurs. "And now I understand why we connected so easily."
The magic surges again, stronger this time, making me gasp. It feels right, natural, like something long dormant finally awakening.
"Enough of this." Aurel's voice cuts through my racing thoughts. His muscled arms slide beneath me, lifting me against his chest. "You did well, little one. Better than I expected."
The praise warms something inside me, despite the pain radiating from my side. The arrow shifts as he adjusts his grip, making me gasp.
"Stay still," he orders, his chest rumbling against my cheek. "And try not to bleed all over me."
I manage a weak laugh. "Sorry to ruin your dramatic escape."
"You've made it far more interesting, I'll give you that." His massive form coils through the corridor, movements fluid despite carrying me. "Now shut up and focus on staying conscious."
My fingers curl against his skin, feeling the steady thrum of his heartbeat. It's strange how safe I feel in his arms, even with dark elf soldiers in pursuit and an arrow in my side. The magic still crackles beneath my skin, but it feels distant now, overshadowed by exhaustion.
"I didn't know I had it in me," I murmur, thinking of the dead elf. "To kill someone."
"You're full of surprises." His grip tightens as he navigates a sharp turn. "We'll discuss your hidden talents later. For now, stay quiet and let me get us out of here."
I press my face against his chest, breathing in his scent of stone and ancient magic. The world spins less when I close my eyes, so I do, trusting him to carry me to safety.