Page 55 of The Darkest Knight

The hit didn’t register, he fell forward, his body totally limp. A horse whinnied in the distance; instinctively he knew it was his steed, Valor.

Screams sounded, he wasn’t sure who it was, and then nothing—complete and total darkness.

Finally, he was free.

The wolves had driven them back until they were unable to go far. The thick bark of trees touched their backs.

Both of Padriag’s arms burned from exertion as he continued to jab his sword toward the wolves that seemed to multiply. When one fell, another would materialize and take its place.

Screams sounded, but he couldn’t look. Turning away would give a wolf an opening to attack. Padriag prayed that Niall was continuing to hold his own against Devina. There was little he or Liam could do to help him at the moment.

“Niall, you okay?” Padriag called out. When no answer came, he exchanged looks with Liam, who was bleeding from his right shoulder.

Suddenly, the wolves stopped their attack and backed away. The largest one’s silver eyes locked on Padriag with interest.

The wolf gave a short growl, and all of the wolves turned and trotted into the woods, disappearing into the mist.

“What in the bloody hell?” Liam gave him a questioning look.

As one, both swung around to check on Niall.

He lay in the snow, bleeding profusely from a wound to the neck. His horse nudged at him with its nose, and pawed at the ground, his hoof staining the ground red.

Padriag rushed to Niall. Only then did he notice Devina. Or what was left of her a short distance away.

Shocked, he studied the horse. Both of the animal’s hooves were bloody, his prints led from where Devina lay to where he stood now. The horse had trampled the demon with its huge hooves. Had not just killed her—but had pummeled her to a mound of bloody flesh.

Liam kneeled on the other side of Niall applying pressure to the wound. “Is he even alive?”

Padriag pressed two fingers on the opposite side of Niall’s neck and prayed for a pulse. “He’s on the brink of death. His pulse is faint. Looks like Devina meant to behead him. He’s lucky her aim was bad, either that or Valor got her just as she made contact.”

Neither was sure what to do. Moving Niall could be more detrimental than just covering him and waiting. But it would be almost impossible to survive the Icing.

As if in reply, the wind picked up. The snow laden trees swayed, icicles fell to the ground with heavy thumps.

A sense of foreboding tingled at him and chills traveled over Padriag’s arms. “We need to get out of here. Meliot is going to be seriously pissed at Devina’s death. We have to carry Niall and get the hell out of here.”

“I agree,” Liam replied looking around.

They managed to wrap a thick strap of fabric around Niall’s neck. Thankfully, the bleeding had slowed. Once satisfied that Niall was at least stable, Padriag rounded up the horses and cast a spell of warmth over all of them as Liam picked up Niall.

“We should go to the other realm. They have better healing there,” Padriag stated. The men closed their eyes, both trembling from the cold and exhaustion. Using what was left of their already depleted energy they dematerialized.

They appeared near the stables. Padriag looked around in confusion. Whoa, we brought the horses, he thought. He eyed the animals, who didn’t seem affected in the least. One even lowered its head and sniffed the grass. “Not my first choice,” he said. “I think Niall’s welfare is more important than housing the horses.”

Liam shrugged, “I didn’t do it. Probably your spell.”

Padriag slipped his hands more securely under Niall’s underarms and Liam lifted his feet. Much to their relief, Tristan pulled up in a golf cart, his eyes rounding at seeing them and the horses.

“You brought the horses?” Gavin ran out from the stables. “What happened?”

Both waved off any answers, their concentration on the unconscious Niall.

“A demon named Devina tried to kill Niall,” Padriag informed them. “We need to get him to a doctor.”

The men loaded Niall onto the motorized cart. Tristan pulled out his cell phone and called ahead as they sped to the main house. Padriag didn’t like how pale Niall was becoming. Could it be that, after all this, Niall would not survive?

He leaned over placing his ear to Niall’s chest. His heartbeat was weak but steady which relieved him somewhat.