the last of the rocks fell away with a heavy thud, dust curling into the damp marsh air. the knights stepped back, coughing, blinking through the sudden haze.
mira didn't wait for orders. the second the gap was big enough, she slipped through-quick and silent like water over stone, twin blades at her back.
"mira-" kael's voice was sharp behind her, but she was already gone, swallowed by the dark.
she landed light on her feet, eyes adjusting quickly. the inside of the cave was colder, the air tighter. dripping water echoed in the distance, rhythmic and slow like a heartbeat.
she moved fast, every step confident. she knew how to read caves, how to sense weight shifts, hear breathing in walls. she was trained, dangerous, and right now-pissed off.
"evie," she muttered under her breath. "if you're dead, i'm gonna kill you."
kael followed moments later, his sword drawn, boots heavy but precise. the knights behind him filtered in with more caution, forming a tight perimeter.
"stay alert," kael ordered without looking back. "the emperor and miss eldore are still inside."
mira crouched near the edge of a jagged wall. "tracks," she said, pointing. "barefoot. bruised heel. evie. and another... bigger. claude."
kael nodded once. "they went deeper."
"how romantic," she muttered, pushing forward.
then the sound shifted.
a low growl. followed by a sharp click of claws on stone.
kael's sword was up instantly. "flank positions!"
the knights scrambled, forming a defensive circle-but it was already too late.
from the shadows, eyes blinked open. too many to count.
cave beasts. their hulking forms emerged slowly from the gloom, backs hunched, fangs glinting. they were bigger than expected, and more numerous-drawn to the commotion, the scent of blood, or the residual magic clinging faintly to the place.
mira swore under her breath. "well. this is gonna suck."
kael stepped forward, calm as ever, blade steady. "we hold them here."
"or die very stupidly," mira added, already drawing her blades. "but hey, could be worse. i could be stuck outside flirting with boring nobles."
a beast lunged.
mira spun low, slicing its belly open with a flash of steel, blood spraying the cavern floor. behind her, kael moved like a machine, every strike precise, brutal.
the knights joined in moments later, forming a wall of shields and steel. the clash echoed through the cave-grunts, roars, metal on bone.
mira ducked under another swipe and kicked a beast in the snout. "you owe me pie and a drink if we survive this!"
kael didn't answer. but his sword moved faster.
mira moved like she'd done this a hundred times-and she had.
her knives sang through the air, curving silver arcs that sank cleanly into soft flesh and hard joints. the cave beasts shrieked, lunged, and died before they even landed a blow. her steps were light, deliberate, a dance carved from instinct and practiced fury.
kael caught it out of the corner of his eye-her foot twisting just barely to pivot around a beast's swipe, her elbow jerking back to jab a dagger into its throat without even turning her head.
YOU ARE READING
accidentally yours | claude de alger obelia
Fantasyone, she fell from the sky and into his arms-bloodied, burning, and already halfway gone. he's been chasing the smoke ever since. two, a monster hunter with too much magic. an emperor with too much power. they were never supposed to find each other...
