GAISCE (At Our Best, Book 3, Part 2 in Baile Series)

Chapter 10 Isla's Future Self

April

My knuckles healed as fast as they were broken as I continued to punch a tree for two straight hours.

"Fuck off." I grunted with effort as I punched even harder, throwing in a kick while I sensed a presence behind me.

"There's rice for dinner." Alick had the audacity to speak in a happy tone at me.

When I didn't reply Alick crept even closer toward me.

"What part of fuck off don't you understand?" I halted in my punching to face him, suddenly aware of the setting sun in the distance.

Alick smiled. "I'm not afraid of you and I know you don't want to be alone."

"I'm not going to deny you know me Alick Watson." I rubbed my sore hands. "But that doesn't mean I want to be around anyone right now." I moved to walk away.

"Two of our best friends have been possessed by a Demon, we have to stick together. Especially now that I have no idea where Devon is." He followed me.

"Devon's missing?" I hadn't even noticed.

"Yes."

"What a shame." Good riddance.

"I think we should give him more credit."

My eyebrows rose to my hairline. "Why on earth would we do that?"

"Because he's helped Isla so many times, he also left behind the Faerie Realms to come help us. He didn't have to do anything, but he did."

"Careful Alick, one might think you're a little too fond of Devon." I made my way inside the temple.

"Not that you're right or anything, but what would be wrong with that?" He moved up so we walked side by side. "This is the twenty first century baby."

"Don't call me baby." I spoke quickly.

"Baby." He bumped me with his shoulder.

I whirled on him, pinning him to the wall by pressing my arm against his throat.

Alick cracked a smile and I internally kicked myself for almost joining him.

A creaking sound caused both of us to look down the end of the hallway, senses on high alert. We waited for a minute, no more sounds but our own breathing to be heard.

"Baby." At the sound of Alick's idiotic voice the ceiling caved in above us.

A blunt object collided with my head and I fell to the floor. I looked up to find one of Gwyn's knights had found us, his boot pressing hard on my windpipe.

Alick was quick to act, punching the knight in the face. The knight retaliated by swinging his mace at Alick's face, Alick ducked and I managed to roll out from under the knight's foot. I kicked the knight in the knee, jumping out of the way of his mace.

Alick shifted his hands into claws so he could block the knight's swift and calculated movements. I went to attack the knight from behind when the sound of hooves hitting wood distracted me. I turned around to see a white stallion with stars in its mane and eyes powering straight toward me.

I leapt high, throwing my arms and legs out to hold myself against the ceiling by pushing my hands and feet simultaneously. The Faerie horse ran straight under me and directly into Alick, sending him flying down the hallway.

"Lift your game!" I shouted his way before dropping down onto the floor.

The knight turned on me and I blocked and attacked hard and fast, deliberately stepping backward towards a katana hanging on the wall.