Brann was suddenly standing in front of Elder Jacobs, brushing out of Elder Merrick’s hold. His eyes were glowing fiercely, an expression I had never seen on his face before; he was a honed, deadly powerful being staring me straight in the face. He surprised me by tilting his head and growling, “One of those fuckers stole your sword.”
“What?” I shouted, my head swinging down past the air cushion. I saw only one of my swords on the ground. “Goddammit! That was fucking mine!” I rolled, falling from the edge of the air cushion to the floor and grabbing up my only sword. I finished off the fucking Shadow still lying on his back wailing from the hit to his head, black blood splattering, and then I peered around to the rest of the room, trying to find the thieving Shadow. I shouted, “That was mine, you fucking prick.”
Brann cleared his throat. I glanced back at him, furious I had been stolen from. He pointed to the right, the complete opposite direction to where I had been looking. “Over there, Felon.”
Glancing in that direction, I muttered quietly, “Dammit, don’t be so obvious next time when I’m wrong. You’re ruining my cool factor.”
His wolf growled at me. “Just go get your shit back since I know you don’t like to share.”
“Fucking right,” I murmured as I raised my sword and slashed down a Shadow aiming right for Brann, its blood splattering all over the protective wall in front of him. “God, I knew they’d like you, Wolf Man. You’re just as twisted as me. You need to stay behind the barrier.” As he stared at the blood, I raced after my sword. There was a damn Shadow using it to hack at a deer head mounted on the wall. I raised my hand and sent a pulse wave at it. “That is mine, you stupid fucking shit!”
Bone-tired, wavering on my feet and sporting black blood all over my body, I blinked at Mr Damon, both of my swords back in my hands. “I hate this part.”
He flashed white teeth at me through the black blood on his face. “Be happy we survived.”
I muttered under my breath, “Surviving isn’t shit, if you’re insane.”
Mrs Damon pointed one of her glowing daggers at me, not at all the prim woman she normally was, being covered in black blood like us. “Especially you, young lady! You put yourself at risk fighting up in the fucking air with them!” More waving of her dagger. “That kind of reckless behavior is unacceptable!”
“Mrs Damon, with all due respect,” I spat on the ground, some of it black blood, “you can go fuck yourself.” I managed a sweet smile even as I gripped my bruised ribs. My wrist was twisted and smarting something fierce. “Okay?”
She growled, but Mr Damon grabbed her arm, holding her back when she wanted to pounce on me. He waved one of his axes at the back of the room where everyone was standing completely mute, watching us, almost all the none-Royals with wide eyes. “We need to finish this, so they can get out.”
And, speak of the devil, a goddamn fire Elemental in utter stupidity stepped outside the fucking protection right as Mr Damon was speaking…and instantly dropped to his knees, hands going to his head as he started screaming bloody murder. His eyes glowed fiercely, fire beginning to lick along his body as his power went berserk.
I cursed profoundly and raced toward him, dropping my swords to grab his head. Fire skimmed along my fingers, making me shout in pain. I still tilted his head back before he completely lost it, and I pressed my mouth to his, sucking in…pulling on my power, glowing brightly. I swallowed down the black, purified soul consuming him. I shuddered hard at the absolute malevolence, but I sent him back through the protection of the golden wall with a hard shove while I coughed and hacked. I wiped my mouth and gritted my teeth while I picked my swords back up with slightly singed fingers, straightening on wavering feet.
I pointed my swords at the stunned, silent group, someone holding the whimpering idiot behind the protection. “I swear to fucking God, I won’t save the next idiot to step past this protection because,” I spat again, coughing, “that fucking tastes like shit. Understand me, people?” I paused as they nodded, mute. “To make sure you all understand, here it is in simple logic: keep your fucking hands and feet inside the goddamn ride at all times or you can kiss your asses goodbye.”
“Caro…” Unbelievably, there was a bit of a reprimand in my King’s tone.
I stared at him wide-eyed, throwing my swords out wide. “Are you fucking kidding me? I’m worn the hell out from saving your asses, about to do something I truly hate, and that idiot,” I pointed with my sword, “can’t follow rule one!” I jabbed my right sword in the dummy’s direction with each word. “Stay. Behind. The. Damn. Protection.”
King Collins’s eyebrows rose. “Then why don’t you finish up, so you can rest?”
My nostrils flared as I watched him a moment. “You know, I’m going to ignore the fact I think you’re about ready to laugh at me, and do what I need to do.”
With a steady voice, he stated, “That sounds like a reasonable plan.”