The nightwraith screamed in pain and rage. Kendrick quickly zoomed upward as shards came at him again. More cut through his wings, leaving behind sizzles of pain. He finally halted and hovered far above the animal. Kendrick looked down to find the nightwraith trying desperately to jump as if it could reach him.
Kendrick readied for his next attack when he saw Esha and Dain coming at the nightwraith from different directions. Everything Dain had said about the beast rushed through Kendrick’s head, and all he could think about was Esha being killed.
Nay!
No one heard his bellow. Kendrick tucked his wings and dove again. This time, he was sure the creature smiled. Kendrick didn’t care as long as its attention was on him and not his friends. The nightwraith lowered itself as if it were about to spring. It had learned from Kendrick’s previous attack. The animal was smart and clever, a deadly combination for sure. No wonder Dain was terrified of it.
That didn’t stop the Dark Elf from attacking, though.
Right as Kendrick flew over the nightwraith, Dain appeared behind it and plunged his sword into the animal’s back. It screamed and turned to strike Dain. Esha ran toward the nightwraith, her sword glowing gold. She jumped and sliced the beast’s neck and then rolled away right as Kendrick raked his claws over the beast again.
He sighed when Dain used the shadows to get both him and Esha clear. Then Kendrick circled back around for another strike.
Chapter Twenty
Esha couldn’t believe the nightwraith was still alive. But Dain had warned them that it was hard to kill. She just hadn’t expected it to be this hard.
The animal was bloodied, and she imagined it had broken bones, but it didn’t seem to notice. It’d set its single-minded focus on Kendrick. Which made her wonder if he was the target. If it had been her, the nightwraith would’ve noticed her by now. Instead, it seemed locked on Kendrick.
Shadows appeared on the opposite side of the clearing, and Esha watched as Dain stepped out of them. He grinned at her before his attention swung to the battle. Dain would make an excellent Ranger. When this was over, she’d talk to him about joining. He probably wouldn’t, but there was always a need for those with his skills.
Esha locked on to Kendrick. He was magnificent. The way he moved with such ease was something to behold. Then there was how he used his wings, tail, and talons to attack. She wondered why he hadn’t breathed fire, but maybe that was because she and Dain were so close.
She glanced at the nightwraith, who watched Kendrick and hunched down as he neared. Kendrick dove toward the beast. Halfway down, Kendrick suddenly disappeared. Esha glanced at Dain, who shared a shocked look with her. Even the nightwraith seemed confused as it searched for Kendrick.
Esha stilled as the animal locked on her. It growled angrily and began stalking toward her. She swung her sword around her, calling to the sun to enhance her weapon again. It looked like the beast was after her.
“Run!” Dain shouted.
But that wouldn’t do any good. The nightwraith had its sights set on her, and it wasn’t going to alter its course. Esha didn’t look away from it as she wondered where Kendrick had gone. It never even entered her mind that he had left them. He wouldn’t do that. She lifted her sword and felt the magic sizzling from the sun’s warmth, the power moving down the blade to the hilt and through her hand. She prepared to engage the beast when a gust of wind ruffled her hair, sending it into her eyes.
A heartbeat later, the nightwraith let out a bellow. Esha saw long grooves open on the beast’s back as blood gushed. She spotted Kendrick’s sienna scales as he flew away. The beast chased after Kendrick, who coasted low to the ground.
Esha started to follow, but Dain grabbed her arm. “What are you doing?” she demanded.
“He’s leading it away.”
She jerked her head back to Kendrick. He swung around in a tight circle and moved his wings in front of him for a heartbeat. He hovered in place as the nightwraith raced toward him. Kendrick didn’t move as the creature jumped into the air, shards raining from its arms and fangs extended.
Esha saw Kendrick’s chest expand as he drew in a deep breath. There was a pause before he opened his mouth, and a torrent of fire shot out. It consumed the nightwraith instantly. It shrieked as it fell to the ground, flopping as it tried to get away. But it fell silent within seconds.
“Fuck me,” Dain murmured.
Esha swallowed, nodding numbly. She knew that dragons were powerful, but this was so much more than she expected.
Kendrick didn’t stay there. He flew so high that she lost track of him. Even when she shielded her eyes from the sun, she couldn’t find him. The fire devoured the beast, bones and all, faster than she had ever seen a blaze burn. Then again, it was a Dragon King’s fire.
She had even more questions for Kendrick now that she had seen him fight. She couldn’t wait until he returned. Her stomach clenched. Would he return? She looked up at the sky again, but there was still no sign of him.
“He’ll be back,” Dain said matter-of-factly.
She glanced at the Dark. “You can’t know that.”
“You can’t be so blind that you don’t see the way he looks at you.”
Esha lowered her gaze to the ground. She couldn’t hear this. It would make things more difficult. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Ah. The Ranger code.”
She heard the scorn in his words. Esha faced him. “Do you have a problem with our way of life?”
“You’re telling me that you don’t care for Kendrick?”
“I asked you a question.”
“And I asked you one in return,” he retorted, the look in his yellow eyes hard.
Esha drew in a deep breath. “I gave a vow.”
“Which means you won’t see if anything could come of you two.”
“It’s what I have to do.”
Dain snorted in derision. “That’s shite.”
“We have our reasons.”
“Right,” he said sarcastically. “You need to be focused.”
She held his gaze and lifted her chin.
“Do you think your Rangers are the only group of warriors? The Dark have something similar, and we don’t keep those who have skills from having loved ones or a family. And you know what, Ranger? We do just as well as you.”
“It’s our way. I made my decision when I took that vow.”
Dain shook his head dismissively. “I suppose that means you and Kendrick will just be friends. I’m sure, after all of this, he’ll continue to come to Shecrish. I’ve no doubt the Dark council will want to meet with him. I’m sure others will, as well. It might take some time before things can become truly friendly, but in the meantime, he’ll be here. Meeting other elves. Most likely, the most beautiful will be paraded in front of him.”
She knew Dain was trying to anger her. Unfortunately, it was working. The thought of Kendrick spending time with other women brought a storm of jealousy that threatened to choke her. But what could she do? She had no future with Kendrick. She had been over this with herself already. The only partner she would ever have was the Rangers. Not an individual—the group.
“That prospect doesn’t appeal, I see,” Dain said. He eyed her and briefly lifted his brows. “You can change that.”