A Dark and Starless Night

Chapter Forty-Six

Eve shoved at Rik's chest in the opposite direction of that scream, full of pain and fear like she'd never heard before.

"You need to get inside," she said, and although she should have gone with him, she started deeper into the maze.

"What do you think you're doing?" he hissed, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to a stop.

"I have to help," she said, picking up her skirts with her free hand and tearing her other free of his grip. "Perhaps they tripped and hurt themselves."

She didn't believe that, a chill in the air filling her with fear. But she breathed. In through her nose, out through her mouth. She was in control.

"I'm serious," she whispered to him as he followed her through the maze, his hand on his ceremonial sword's hilt. "You should go back."

"Then we'll help them together," she said, taking his hand in hers. She felt a surge of strength from that contact, warmth radiating from where his hand touched hers, and he seemed to walk taller.

They walked through the heavy silence, their steps hesitant, as they lost the direction of the scream. They could hear the sound of guards calling out tentatively, asking if someone needed help. But no one replied.

They came to a halt in what must have been near the heart of the maze. There were no lanterns here, she noticed, her grip on Rik tightening. She kept her breathing steady, focusing on her power, ready to unleash it if she needed to.

When their own breathing steadied, she heard it. Heavy panting. They looked at each other and nodded, moving in the direction of the sound, each trying to ignore the weight of their fear. They rounded the corner and-

Everything stopped as she beheld the scene before her. Even without light she could see the silhouettes, could recognise them. They crouched over a body, a young man maybe, laying spread-eagled on the grass. He was the one panting, the star eaters peering into his face. A knife glinted in one of their hands, and Eve's heart stuttered. She stepped back, her shoe scuffing on the gravel, and all eyes turned to her.

"You," a female voice said, the two star eaters straightening up.

The rattle of metal scraping metal rang in the clearing, and Eve realised with a jolt that Rik had drawn his sword. A sword that was likely for show only. She had forgotten he was there, but as she remembered, as she realised what was happening to the man laying on the ground, something in her swelled.

Light burst from her and a staff formed in her hand. The female star eater – the apprentice – moved, launching herself at Rik. Eve intercepted, knocking her back. Her bones rattled at the force of the connecting strikes. If her skirts hadn't been made of streams of fabric that flowed with her, she would have struggled to move so quickly.

"Stop," Rik barked, and Eve turned in time to see the star eater moving towards the man.

No.

Rik charged for him, knocking into the star eater with all his weight. They went down, struggling on the ground. Eve darted for them, her heart sinking, but the star eater's apprentice grabbed her hair and yanked her back. The pain was searing and the apprentice threw her like a ragdoll. She hit the ground, air shoving out of her. She struggled to get up, but a booted foot slammed against her throat. She couldn't catch her breath, couldn't get up under the weight.

She turned her head, trying to find some relief as her hands tried to push that boot away, only to be forced to watch as Rik fought.

She had seen him fight with a sword, the grace and elegance of him. But this was not the swordplay of gentlemen. This was a man fighting for his life – and the life of a stranger, she realised – with his bare hands. He was raw and feral, and beautiful. His shoulders were broader than the star eaters, and he had more muscle to him. He managed to get on top, punching the star eater in the nose.