Jumping to my feet, I’m forced to stand still while I get my bearings, but using the thing’s distraction, I run and launch myself onto its back.
One of the fae below lets out a bone-chilling scream. I raise my blade and drive it down into the beast’s skull. It rears backward, wings flapping. Using all of my body weight, I pin the blade in place even when it flings itself backward in an attempt to dislodge me.
“Let go!” someone yells.
But I can’t. Because it’s not dead yet, and I’m getting really fucking tired of failing. I pull it out slightly then drive it farther into the beast’s skull. Blood splatters me, and the thing collapses onto its back.
Heavy weight crushes down on top of me, nearly suffocating. Until the thing disappears from atop me and one of my soldiers reaches down to yank me to my feet.
“You all right?” he questions.
My ears ring, making it sound as though he’s speaking underwater, but I nod anyway. A fae materializes at my side.
“I left the beast near the Cursed woods,” he explains.
“We need to get Rafferty back to camp,” another man—Tommie—announces as he wraps an arm around my waist.
“I’m fin—” But even as I try to speak the words, my vision wavers.
“You’re bleeding out, mate,” he tells me. “Not fine at all.”