Broken Prince (The Broken Ones) (23 page)

Chapter 29:

Fighting for
Family

When it finally broke through the trees, quite
literally, she could only stare for a long moment. She hadn’t thought it would
be so huge.

The large Vor looked so strange she didn’t even know
what to make of it. Shades of dark grey and black, it towered above her. The
head sat on a long thin neck, large dark eyes filled much of the face, the nose
being mere slits. Of course, it had a massive jaw and mouth full of teeth. The
barrel chest continued to a short body. Wide back haunches led to thick legs
and long tail. The front legs however, were thinner and longer with three claws
on each finger, two short and a longer middle claw.

Her eyes flicked over the beast, picking out the
dangers immediately. The middle claw and the tail. She’d have to watch the
reach of the neck. The mouth she definitely wanted to avoid.

Her own mouth became dry. She clenched her daggers
tightly, trying to control her suddenly shaking hands.

"We need to retreat," Prince said. She
looked over at him, her eyes wide. "We cannot fight that."

Kei and I will try to lure it away. Go,
Garen said.

Her eyes moved to Bo. He trembled, not from fear she
thought, but exhaustion and pain. Likely blood loss, too.

A new fear tightened her chest as she turned back to
the creature.

Catching sight of them, it paused, tilting its head to
regard them with frightening shrewdness. Shifting its weight, it turned, its
back end crashing and knocking down another tree. Lurching back and forth, more
trees came down.

Her heart sped up in her chest. It was making room to
fight. "Wither me."

A gasp slipped from her lips as it drew ever closer.
The beast had numerous wounds; the end of its tale even appeared to be missing.
Had the other Fey been fighting it? Or the Were? A lump formed in her stomach,
wondering what had happened to them.

"Aro, we need to go. Now!"

Not paying attention to the boys, she nodded, eyes
still locked on the monster towering in front of them. "Go."

Her fingers relaxed on her weapons. Raising her chin, she
pushed away the fear. Fear could kill you. She might die, but she would do so
protecting her family.

This time she wouldn’t be afraid. This time, she’d
save them.

"Take care of Bo."

The boys’ startled curses faded behind her as she ran
to face the beast.

It saw her coming, but she knew it would. She hoped
her size and speed would work in her favor. Her charge wasn’t reckless. Each
speeding step she planned. As the beast turned she adjusted her course.

Kei appeared suddenly at her side. Her eyes flicked to
him only long enough to see the fury on his face. He didn’t say anything, not
even with his mind voice. A quick glance to her other side showed Garen had
also joined her. He didn’t remain silent.

Reckless! We will talk later of this, but now, now we
are with you.

She didn’t reply. Not only because it would distract
her, and she didn’t know what to say, but the beast now loomed above her. Aro
dove under the swinging head and passed a reaching claw, ducking under the arm
to slice at the soft spot there before continuing on. Her blades moved quickly
as she ran, drawing blood where she could. Most of the outer hide proved tough
and her small daggers did little damage. She switched tactics, spinning to ram
a dagger into the flesh up to the hilt, pulling out and turning to strike with
the other.

Now and then, she caught sight of Garen and Kei. Like
her they ran in to attack and out again. The beast did not slow. Thick dark
green blood oozed from a multitude of wounds, but it wasn’t enough.

Her heart beat a quick steady rhythm in her chest.
Frustration replaced her fear. Would the rotting thing never fall? Watching its
movements, she ran in again, hoping to cause more damage to soft spots on its
underside. She avoided teeth and claw and thrust both daggers in low on its
chest. Instead of pulling out, she threw herself to the side, trying to tear
wider wounds.

Her balance gave as one of the daggers popped free and
she scrambled to keep her feet. A jerk freed the other blade and then she
dropped and rolled as teeth snapped where her head had just been. Claws swiped
for her next and she rolled again, only to scramble backward further as the
other set of claws tried for her as well.

The beast raised its head and flung itself to the left.
Finding her feet once more, she saw Prince stabbing into the beast’s side.

Her breath left her lungs in a loud whoosh. Turning in
a panic, she found Bo near the safer rear of the beast, cutting into his flank.

"Stupid, stupid boys." Her words had little
anger in them. After all, she did understand. She wouldn’t have left them either.

Taking a deep breath she ignored her tiring limbs and
sprung back into battle. Eventually the beast would die. She hoped.

Arowyn, how goes the battle?

Rhee-En’s voice made her curse out loud. She swung at
an arm as it passed over her head before answering.
Little things are dealt
with.

Impressive. All are well?

Still alive. Fighting the big one now.
She struck the beast again and grunted when it
suddenly moved, its side striking her and almost knocking her to her knees.

The… which is it?

Finding her balance, she ran along its side, looking
for another weak spot.
I don’t know! It’s rotting huge and won’t die.

Can you–

She’d forgotten about the tail. Closer to the beast’s
rear she flung herself to the ground as it whipped toward her.
Not a good time,
Rhee-En.

Springing to her feet once more, she caught sight of
Bo, still standing and fighting away. She put her worry of him from her mind
and backed away, wanting to get out of the reach of its tail.

We will be there shortly.

Garen darted past her and flung himself onto the
beast’s side, teeth and claws sinking in.

Her eyes caught a delicate looking spot and she dashed
toward the front again. The creature spun, moving faster than she thought
possible.

Its head whipped around and she realized it wasn’t
her, but Garen it had concentrated on. At least originally. It immediately
caught sight of her and its head snapped forward, huge mouth open wide and
snapping teeth. Dodging away from the body the teeth barely missed her.

Its swiping, clawed hand caught her by surprise. The
air exploded from her lungs as it hit her side and sent her off her feet and
flying. She struck the ground hard and rolled before her body stopped against a
tree.

Pain lanced through her body and her foggy mind tried
to decide which had hurt more, the blow from the creature or hitting the
ground.

Gritting her teeth, she took a long deep breath
through her nose and blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog away. She’d ended
up on her stomach, one arm awkwardly pinned beneath her chest.

Cautiously, she lifted her head, hoping she’d been
thrown far enough away the beast couldn’t reach her in her current vulnerable
position. Relief washed through her to see she wasn’t anywhere near the fight.
With a muttered curse she pulled her pinned arm free. Her free hand still held
a dagger, but the other she’d dropped at some point.

"Rot." Her brothers would have given her so
much trouble for having lost a weapon.

Pain throbbed throughout her body. Shifting up onto
her forearms, a sharp breath hissed through her lips as fire lanced around her
left side. Bowing her head, her arms trembled as she tried to force the pain
down and not fall flat on her face. Her fingers curled around her remaining
weapon tightly, it’s presence a comfort, and a reminder she needed to get up.

Aro!

Her head jerked up at Kei’s voice
. I’m fine. Just
need to catch my breath.

He didn’t reply, but she could see him attacking the
beast with renewed fury.

His worry prompted her to get moving. She didn’t want
to distract the boys. Clenching her jaw tightly, she pushed up to her knees and
then lurched to her feet. Her vision swam and she swayed, stumbling back a step
before finding her footing again. Pain spiked through her legs and tore through
the side of her stomach. Heat flushed her face, sweat beading on her forehead.
Forcing her eyes open, she blinked rapidly, trying to focus. Clenching her
dagger tightly, she took a step forward, her other hand going to her side where
she must have pulled something. Maybe she’d landed on a rock.

She stopped. The weapon fell to the forest floor.

Staring straight ahead, for a moment she refused to
look down. Yet she could feel the warm blood flowing,
flowing
, over her
hand. Through the tear in her shirt she hadn’t known she’d gotten, she could
feel her skin. Not her skin, something smooth and silky and as warm as her blood.
She pressed her hand harder, feeling the silky parts move inward.

She didn’t want to look, but she couldn’t help
herself. Her head tilted down and her eyes locked on the blood covering her
shirt from the front around to her left side. A rip as long as her forearm
started at her belly, the fabric hanging loose. Her hand now shaking, she slowly
tipped it away from her body.

Blood pooled against her fingers as she stared at the
wound. It cut just to the left of her belly button and slashed across to her
side where it then curved upward to end at her ribs. The gash was deep and
open, giving her a clear view of what she’d never wanted to see, her insides.

Pressing her lips tightly together did little to
muffle her whimper of panic. With both hands she pushed, trying to slow the
bleeding. Her legs trembled as her vision blurred and she stumbled backward and
to the side, weaving like a drunk as she fought to stay upright.

"Kei," she gasped out, the word barely a
whisper.

Her legs finally gave out and she dropped to her
knees. The forest spun around her as she gasped in panicked breaths. One moment
she sat upright, the next she stared at the continuing fight with her cheek
pressed against dirt and leaves. She blinked rapidly, seeing double, then
realized the Were had arrived, and it wasn’t multiples of Garen she watched
attack the beast. Certainly it would fall now.

Everything began to dim and she let darkness pull her
away.

Her boys would be safe now.

* * *

The quiet darkness surrounding her shattered. Pain returned
with a vengeance, burning and pulsing and slicing deep within.

With a strangled scream her eyes shot open and she
flung herself upright. Or tried to. Strong hands held her down, pushing her
flat onto her back again.

"Stay still, pup."

She blinked up at Bo. His face faded in and out of
view. It took her a moment to realize her head rested on his lap. The pressure
on her shoulders came from his large hands holding her in place.

Tears slid from the corners of her eyes as she fought
to stay still. It was impossible. Her body squirmed, trying to evade the
constant pain.

A roar startled her and she gasped. Blinking her eyes
clear, she turned her head and saw the Were and Kei still fought the giant Vor.
No, not Kei…the other Fey. Her lips trembled as emotion crashed through her.
They’d come back.

A burst of pain and discomfort in her stomach made her
back arch. A snarl of half scream, half curses erupted from her dry mouth.

"Hush! Calm down, child!"

With a last curse she tried. Her breath came in quick
irregular gasps. Her heart thudded wildly in her ears. Lifting her head
slightly, she saw Prince kneeling beside her. Blood covered his arms up to his
elbows. His fingers disappeared into her wound.

With a gag she struggled again. "What…"

"He’s trying to see if you’re cut inside. Stay
still."

"I’m going to be sick," she whispered.

One of Bo’s hands left her shoulder to gently stroke
her forehead. "Slow, even breaths."

In. Out. In. Her entire body trembled with her effort.
"I can’t." Her voice squeaked and cracked. She squeezed her eyes
closed as tightly as she could. "Wither me, make it stop."

She couldn’t keep her mind from dwelling on the
knowledge the pressure in her stomach was Prince. Inside of her. It was just
so… wrong. A shudder wracked her from head to toe.

Pain spiked again and her back arched. Hands on her
hips pushed her down. Her breathing quickened even further as fear and panic
overwhelmed her.

"Kei!" Her scream echoed through the trees.

The hands on her hips moved. "I’m here. I’m here."

Prince muttered under his breath and new pain brought
tears to her eyes.

"I hate you, I hate you," she gasped out.