Chapter 12 Rhianelle
Tendrils of fear wrap around my throat over the rustling in the distant trees.
I disentangle myself from Svenn’s embrace and rise to my feet.
My pulse pounds an insane beat as the Ashmedai grows closer with each passing second.
I have welcomed death every single night in my nightmares, but it still terrifies me knowing that I might actually meet my end tonight.
There will be no revenge for Aerin, no saving Blaire, no running towards the sunset with Svenn.
Did I want that kind of future with him?
I look at his rough, handsome face. It’s a silly, impossible dream but of course I do.
“You have to hide,” I urge, pushing him to crouch under the stone slab. “Quickly now.”
He doesn’t get it.
Svenn tugs my hand, trying to reel me back into his arms. He is not aware of the imminent danger we’re facing. I envy his ignorance for a moment.
“I wish we had more time.” I plant my forehead against his, memorizing every line of his features, the warmth of his skin.
Confusion colors his face as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.
“Stay here. I promise I’ll come back for you.” I press my lips against his, kissing him long and hard until I run out of breath.
“Please, don’t follow me.” I motion with my hand for him to remain where he is.
I rush down the stairs, sword in hand. The Ashmedai wants my head.
But I refuse to go down without a fight.
I saw it earlier when I touched the demon.
There’s a focal point of weakness in between the scales at the base of its cervical column.
I run the calculation quickly in my head.
With the right momentum, I can bury my weapon straight through its brainstem. This may work in theory…
Only one way to test it.
I pick my stand at the clearing, making sure the wind is blowing in my favor, veiling my scent.
“Rhianelle.”
My heart stalls in my chest over the sound of Svenn’s deep voice drifting from behind me. I whirl around to face him. Our eyes meet as he descends the last few steps of the staircase.
I’m too angry to cry. “Stop!”
Svenn halts over the stony steps. That word seems to be the only thing he understands.
“Go away! Don’t come to me!” I say to him desperately. He sees the anguish in my face and remains in his place.
It’s breaking my heart to say that to him. But the hope of saving him is the only thing keeping me together right now.
I hold my blade with both hands, raising it to eye level. This is the stance of the One Strike Soul Slasher from the temple of Kvatosh. I’ve seen Rainer perform this move dozens of times.
The earth rumbles with the arrival of my opponent. I take a deep steadying breath, counting the demon’s footsteps and speed. I can’t afford to mess this up.
The Ashmedai emerges from the forest with a deafening screech. “Found you, little elven bitch!”
I glimpse the sharp, jagged teeth, promising me a brutal end.
In this fraction of a second that parts me from death, I cast one last look at Svenn. His dark eyes are glimmering with longing and desire. My heart melts with that single gaze.
I can’t fail him.
I hold my ground firmly. Now is not the time for doubt. Not when I have someone relying on me for survival. This technique has to work.
You will be fine, the Un promises.
Time slows down as the demon charges straight towards me.
I can do this. I calm my chaotic pulse to focus on the weak spot on my target.
But the Ashmedai suddenly crashes to the ground in a blur of motion.
What in the—
I cover my face from the flying dirt and grass. My heart lurches as I stare at the pale demon’s convulsing form. Black fluid taints the earth from a gaping neck wound. The headless body thrashes violently before going still.
Svenn is holding the demon’s enormous head by the horn in one hand.
I blink.
Once.
Twice.
I do it again as if it can help me process what had just transpired before me. But the sight won’t seem to register in my head.
“I don’t understand…” My voice drifts into the air.
Svenn moved with a blinding speed and ripped the monster’s head like it was nothing.
That’s not possible.
A demon of the Hollow that defeated my knights, the Grimsbane of Tiamat and even Ragnar now lay dismantled on the ground like a broken toy.
Svenn studies the lifeless demon in his grip with the innocence of a child and tosses it aside almost tediously.
I can feel the blood draining from my face.
There is no way this savage beast is human.
Oh gods…
I feel the terror clenching my bones as Svenn—the creature—saunters towards his next prey.
Me.
The world stands in silence, the horrifying kind right before death comes knocking on one’s door. He moves slowly with the lethal grace of a panther.
Every instinct is telling me to get away, but my trembling legs will not budge. I have never felt anything like this all my life.
This is true fear. Pure and unadulterated.
It shackles me to the forest floor.
The ground shudders beneath my feet. Something massive and fast is heading straight for us.
Ragnar.
But I’m not the only one who sees the three-headed bear coming. Svenn is half a second ahead of me as he evades the demon’s deadly paw.
None of the berserker’s wild punches manage to hit him. He raises his brow, almost amused at the Bodvar Bjadki’s attempts.
His return blow hits the demon’s throat with such a lightning speed, I barely see him move.
There is no hesitation in his attack. A thunderous boom echoes as his fist lands on the bear’s head once again.
Just like that, the right and left head are down.
Ragnar sways on his feet just as Svenn’s knee connects to his gut.
He follows the assault with a series of successive strikes, pummeling the demon to death. I clasp my hand to my mouth at the savagery. Ragnar’s eyes fall on me the moment I try to move towards them.
Run.
He’s telling me to escape while I still have a chance.
I shake my head. “I can’t—”
My heart is heavy to leave him fighting this monster that I’ve unlocked. The creature is trying to tear Ragnar’s jaw apart with brute strength. Legend has it if all three heads of the Bodvar Bjarki are knocked out, the berserker will die.
I won’t let that happen.
“Let go of him!” I scream.
I throw my sword straight towards the monster. The blade hits him directly on the wrist.
Svenn releases his grip on the thrashing bear, turning his sharp, piercing eyes to me.
My breathing escalates from the horror of that simple gaze.
He pulls the rapier buried in his wrist easily.
I watch as the bleeding wound heals faster than any creature I’ve ever seen. He studies my blade momentarily.
I swear he almost waves to me in gratitude before he slams my weapon into the bear’s snout.
“No!”
Oh Gods. He killed Ragnar with my sword…
Ragnar who had spared Aelfric from a cruel fate, who enjoys literature and history, who I never learned the real name of…
I stare in horror as the demon’s body slumps on the ground, unmoving.
This can’t be happening…
The labyrinth is a tomb or some sort of prison designed to keep this unearthly creature. I feel the power rippling in his body, dark and mighty.
The ruthless killer stretches his neck, preparing for his hunt.
He makes a slow gaze of me from head to toe.
A grin slowly spreads across his face, and I finally glimpse the fangs in his mouth.
His beautiful smile is now the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
It’ll probably be the last thing I ever see too.
I take a stumbling step backwards.
The air sizzles with the power emanating from him. This charged energy has always been there since the moment I saw him in the dungeon. I was too enthralled that I mistook it for our chemistry together.
I am a damn fool.
A silly, silly girl.
He prowls to me slowly, deliberately. His lips twitch into an almost smile, daring me to run.
That does it. My survival instincts finally kick in. I sprint towards the forest like a hunted deer.
I don’t want to die.
I glance over my shoulder to see that I’ve left him far behind me. The rush of adrenaline pushes me forward like a shooting arrow.
My heart is beating so fast that it’s starting to hurt. I hear a low snarl and pick up my pace despite the burning below my ribcage.
A shadow moves in my peripheral vision.
The monster snatches me around the waist easily, slamming me to one of the thick yews. I gasp in a breath before all the air is knocked out of my lungs.
“Don’t touch me!” I struggle against him. But he’s like an unstoppable force. I’m no match for his strength.
A sense of powerlessness overwhelms me as he backs me up against the tree.
“Please don’t hurt me.” I tremble, my knees threatening to crumble.
I wonder if I’m going to suffer and die like Ragnar. Maybe it will be a quick death like the dismembered Ashmedai. That’s not so bad.
He dives straight for my throat. So, this is how it ends. I wait for death to finally claim me.
Seconds pass, and I am still in the land of the living.
Why am I still breathing?
A soft kiss lands on my cheek. Then another on my shoulder.
“Nel.” I feel his hot breath coasting the sensitive skin over my neck. I open my eyes to find the stranger nuzzling my jaw. He pushes a strand of hair out of my face, his fingers brushing over my cheek in a lover’s caress.
It doesn’t make sense. I force myself to meet his gaze and my heart nearly stops beating. He is staring down at me, his eyes are blazing like burnt metal, full of hunger. Not for blood or my death but for something else. It finally dawns on me.
Heavens save me.
This monster is expecting us to continue where we left off at the altar—as if I didn’t just witness him behead the Ashmedai with a single kick, as if he hadn’t pried open Ragnar’s jaw.
There’s no mistaking the heat, passion, and desire in his taut features. He wants me…
My breath hitches the moment his gaze falls to my mouth. Oh, gods… I was preparing to die. I am not ready for this…
He leans down to my face, pausing momentarily. There’s a silent question in his eyes. Something in my brain clicks. I finally see this for what it is.
This is my chance at survival.
I twine my hands around his neck and claim his lips. His returning kiss starts gentle, languid, and passionate. It’s almost like he’s savoring me. I slide my tongue between his parted lips, deepening the kiss. A groan of pleasure escapes his throat.
“Rhianelle,” he rasps against my mouth.
His hand travels the length of my back, ravenous as if he cannot get enough of me.
Waves of heat unfurl within me, sending shivers to every inch of my body.
I should not be feeling anything other than dread at this moment.
This dangerous beast can kill me at any time and yet all I want to do is to feel his hard body against mine, feel him in between my legs.
I realize it’s no longer my life on the line right now. It’s my sanity.
Before I can dive further into the depths of madness, I ram a blade straight into his heart.
Only a low grunt leaves him. It sounds more like irritation than hurt. His tongue continues to move against mine in lazy, deft strokes.
He is so enraptured with our kiss he doesn’t realize there’s a dagger jutting from his chest. I quickly draw the weapon for another go.
This time, deeper into the breastbone. He breaks the kiss, pulling back to look at me. A playful, infuriating smirk tugs the corner of his lips. That is all I get for my effort of digging the cold dagger into his heart?
I begin to shake. “How can this be?” I mutter, my voice cracking.
I plunge the blade into his chest repeatedly for the third, the fourth…
I give everything I have for one final thrust. A strained breath leaves him the moment I twist the dagger. He hunches down from the pain or what little damage I may have caused him.
His hands gently ease their grip on my thighs.
I watch in absolute horror as the wound on his chest heals around the dagger. He plucks the weapon like it’s a mere splinter at his side.
“It’s no use.” I almost laugh and sob to myself. The beast is utterly unaffected. And he knows I want to hurt him now.
Shit. I am so dead.
The sharp line of his jaw tenses as he studies me beneath those eyes. He goes entirely still. Fear seizes me once again, paralyzing me from head to toe. I am so afraid to move, to do anything.
Oh, gods. Oh, gods. Oh, gods.
I raise my hands up, as if they would protect me from whatever horror that may ensue. He is going to tear me to pieces.
“Rhianelle?”
I gather my nerve to lift my head. To my surprise, the monster is offering me my knife back. A crease appears between his dark brows.
Is this some sort of sick game for him? I am too petrified to move.
But I want to live. I need that weapon to fight back. Even if it’s just a twisted taunt from him. Tears burn behind my eyes as I try to take the blade. It falls uselessly from my trembling hand.
“Damn it.” I let out a shaky breath.
“Nel…” I hear him say. I blink as I look at the monster. He has a shattered look on his face. His gaze turns heavy and haunted. It’s almost as if I’ve finally done some damage to him.
This man—creature—doesn’t seem to understand my sudden change of mood, why I no longer want him.
What’s wrong? His eyes seem to ask me.
Thankfully, I won’t have to answer him because in that moment, I glimpse the flap of bat-like wings.