The Spymaster's Assassin (An ACoTaR Fanfic)

Chapter 25

All of a sudden, I was surrounded by enemies.

I clenched my jaw and drew my other sword. The human dress I wore I had manufactured so if I ripped off the skirt, I would be able to fight easier, as I had my fighting leathers on underneath.

I lifted the blades and glared at the beasts, two snarling giants that bared their teeth at me. There were two Fae as well- Hybern soldiers.

"Take her- alive- and meet me at the rendezvous." Ravenna- my mother- hissed, then disappeared, winnowing away before I could stop her.

The first monster charged with a savage roar and I leapt into the air, slashing my blade through the monster's throat and it fell to the ground in a heap, choking on its blood as it died.

A soldier lifted a crossbow and fired a bolt at me and I dodged it, only coming face to face with the second monster. It roared in anger, a piercing screech that made me flinch as it lunged at me, mouth of fangs open and claw stretched out.

A sudden pain burst through my right wing as a crossbow bolt went through the membrane.

I cried out and managed to duck away from the monster and it landed hard on its face.

I swung my sword arm and launched the weapon through the soldier's chest.

I then spun and caught the blade of the second soldier with my second one.

He grit his teeth and pushed me back, sending his foot into my jaw and sending my head whipping to the side. I stumbled back, dizzy, and managed to lift my sword to block his attack, but failed to catch the monster.

It lunged and I braced myself, but wasn't prepared for the pain as the beast's jaws locked onto my shoulder.

I screamed, fumbling with my sword and managed to get my hands on the beast's sides and set the creature on fire with a glow of my Syphons.

It released me and fell back with pained screaming as it burned.

The soldier turned to me, and I slowly got to my feet, my left arm hanging limply at my side.

Tears raced down my cheeks and the man didn't charge, but lifted the crossbow. And fired.

The bolt stuck into my right thigh and I stumbled back and fell to one knee as he charged for me.

I glared and raised my hand, and tendrils of pure black shadow shot up out of nowhere and impaled him and the body of one of the other monsters.

A strangled cry left his lips and the shadows vanished and he fell on his face, dead.

I collapsed, then, my wing sagging, my nose bleeding and face throbbing. My shoulder hurt like hell, but I could move my hand, at least. The bolt was sticking from my thigh.

I fell back against a tree, tears racing down my cheeks in pain, fear, anger, and betrayal.

I didn't know what to believe.

Suddenly, a familiar tightness on my ankles made me open my eyes in relief. Tendrils of shadow curled around my ankles and a voice came down the bond, with feelings of overwhelming fear.

Adrianna! Adrianna where are you?!

I clenched my jaw and just thought hard about the location I was in.

I was losing too much blood. My eyelids were getting heavy.

I barely registered Azriel and Rhys in front of me as Azriel picked me up.

The last thing I remembered was Rhys' mortified expression as he looked at the carnage before everything went black.

******