For Him

22. For Him

CLANG

Maxi gaped in shock at the shadow that loomed in front of her, sweeping navy cloak behind him as his dark hair shadowed his face.

The assassin gritted his jaw tightly in frustration, keeping pressure with his sword against the massive sword that cut of his fatal strike, a sliver of nerves snaking through him at the sinister onyx eyes that bore down on him.

A ruthless smile followed, the screeching of steel as they tensed against the other, the sparks flying up.

"I haven't had enough of sending those who harm my wife to hell where they belong, so allow me this honour!"

Maxi quickly stumbled back to her feet, backing up as Riftan and the assassin held their swords together, sparks flickering between the two steel weapons as they braced their bodies. Riftan glowered at the man's cold eyes as he sneered back, their arms shaking waiting for a moment in the other to break away and cut through.

Riftan twisted his upper body slightly, twisting their swords slightly, forcing them away from the middle and instead placing his body next to the assassin and having twisted around to move closer, Riftan managed to slam his shoulder from behind, forcing the assassin to lose his balance briefly. Riftan slid his sword down, cutting towards the man with a screech-

Only for him to lunge backwards too effortlessly, flipping backwards as Riftan swiped brutally through the air, just missing by a nail length.

Riftan took his spot between the assassin and Maxi, briefly glancing back at her as she stared at him and his heart tightened at the exhaustion and obvious bruise on her face and the discomfort her body was showing. Swallowing back the fury, he let it steam through him, something to control as he fought for her.

The assassin straightened elegantly, swirling his sword smoothly in hand as he stared at Riftan with a cool even gaze.

Maxi watched nervously as a stand-off began between the two men, her heart thundering in terror as Riftan faced against this man after being poisoned but if she really thought anything...

The assassin had no idea what he was doing going up against Riftan.

"You're quick. I'll admit, I've had the wool pulled over my eyes and outsmarted. I'm almost impressed." The man chuckled darkly, swiping his sword lazily as Riftan kept his eye on him, never looking away for a second. "I truly think that despite being outsmarted, when I cut her apart and leave the pieces to you, I'll have the upperhand again."

Riftan's jaw twitched but a cruel smile cut across his face as he raised his sword before him, his eyes glinting like steel itself.

"No force on this plane nor heaven or hell will you ever be capable of doing such a thing when I stand here. So stop your huffing,"