The King's Cursed Bride

Protecting Him: Part 1

            

Carissa positioned herself, so her body protected Elon's. Judging from how he stiffened, he didn't approve. No doubt he'd rather it be the other way around.

Zorelle set the blade of one Scythe on the ground and propped her arm against the top of its handle. "You think you're quite clever, don't you?"

Carissa glanced back the way Zorelle had come from—the dungeons. "You were following us?" And Elon hadn't told her?

Zorelle flashed her a smile. "I just wanted to see what you'd do if I let you run loose. But now that we've had our fun, it's time for each of you to return to your respective cages." Zorelle cleared her throat. "Dirth, Itam, come down and join us, won't you?"

Footsteps echoed—coming from up the stairs—and two Reapers stood on the other end of the landing. With the Reaper warriors on her left and Zorelle on her right, they blocked any possible escape.

Carissa fisted the keys in her palm, so each key poked out between her fingers like claws. She was tired of being a prisoner, and unless Elon said otherwise, she was going to fight them with everything she had.

Zorelle snorted. "You're going to fight me with that?"

Carissa slid her foot back into a fighting stance. "I'll do what I must."

Zorelle picked up her Scythes and twirled them, flinging droplets of blood. "You might want to rethink this, Carissa. Your strong, dashing husband is crumpled on the floor, and you're armed with a ring of keys. You can't win this."

Could she win this? Carissa glanced back at Elon, raised her eyebrows.

He nodded, though his mouth was pressed into a grim line. His eyes darted behind her, widening slightly.

Carissa turned just in time to dodge one of the Reaper's Scythes, nearly stumbling into Elon. Zorelle and the second Reaper approached, closing in on her.

She'd been able to kill one Reaper, but could she kill three?

Carissa surged forward, relying on the element of surprise to give her the advantage. Zorelle hesitated only for a moment before swinging her Scythe towards Carissa. Silver flashed in front of Carissa's eyes, and a stinging pain tore across her chest. It chilled her skin, burning like fire and ice.

But Carissa didn't stop until she'd collided with Zorelle, hitting her in the jaw with her fistful of keys. They both toppled to the ground. Zorelle's head thumped against the stone, and she didn't move.

Metal whistled through the air. Carissa picked up one of Zorelle's Scythes just as one of the Reapers swung at her. She block with the shaft of the Scythe, but the force jolted her arms, making her shoulders ache.

The other Reaper approached Elon, and her heart tripped over itself. She rose and began to approach them, but the second Reaper swung at her again. She barely dodged, air whipping past her face. How was she to defend both Elon and herself?

The Reaper attacked her again, and she held up her Scythe, holding it with both hands horizontally to block his strike. The curved edge of his Scythe caught on the handle of hers. Before he could draw it back, she lifted her foot and kicked at the side of his leg, next to his knee. His leg buckled, and he fell in front of her, landing on his hands and knees.

She lifted her Scythe to deliver the final blow, but the Reaper suddenly lashed out with his weapon. She jumped—too late. The blade slashed across her ankle. As she landed, pain clamped onto her leg. It felt like icy claws were burrowing their way into her skin as blood soaked her slipper.