Page 123 (1/2)
"Shut up," Loris said He backed up a couple more steps
Valek scanned the cave Ari and Janco waited nearby He lifted his eyebrows just a fraction Then he returned his attention to Loris
Tapping a finger on the hilt of the sword, Valek gauged the distance to the ," Janco shouted
Loris glanced at Janco In that split second, Valek flipped his knife over and threw it at Loris The tip of the blade pierced the man’s left eye He screamed and flailed Valek shuffled close and disar Yelena
But before he could finish the round and yelled, "Drink it"
As Valek struggled to push Loris off, Janco cried out Yelena tipped the glass vial filled with amethyst to her lips
"Don’t!" Desperate, Valek finally broke away, lunged and knocked the bottle from her hands, but purple stained her lips He’d been too slow His world shattered
Yelena’s face creased in disgust "Yuck"
How could she be so--
"I never liked grape jam" She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand
Valek als we need to discuss?"
"Yes"
Loris moaned Valek found his knife and slashed thehis ability to bark orders and his life Then he pulled Yelena to hi to breathe in her scent and just take a moment before he released her
Valek scanned the cave, assessing dae Everyone appeared to be okay, despite their collection of cuts, bruises and bloodstains
"Pack up," he said "We need to move to another location This one’s been compromised"
A shout from outside the cave drew his attention More enemy soldiers already?
He, Ari and Janco raced to the entrance with their weapons in hand, preparing for a fight The bright sunshine seeroup of people huddled over a prone figure And then Valek remembered
Leif
His brother-in-law had been shot with a crossbow bolt The wooden shaft jutted from Leif’s chest an inch from center Blood pooled underneath hi for a pulse Weak He sank back on his heels Ah, hell
Yelena’s and Mara’s cries of alarm roused Leif His eyes fluttered open, focused on Mara She crouched next to hirabbed his hand in both of hers Tears streaasped "sorry"