Moon-Kissed (Within the Darkness #1) - Amelia Hutchins Page 0,4

down from my horse while the others silently followed my lead. “Chivalry, stay out of the way,” I ordered, barely above a whispered breath.

Nervousness filled the group at the sound of us drawing our weapons. The tension mounted with the gentle clang of metal filling the darkness while we pulled down our facemask and prepared to fight.

Apprehension took hold, sending a shiver of restlessness rushing down my spine. I nodded toward a large home, noting the door was still open and no lights burned from inside. The door shifted, and I paused, nodding twice before jerking my chin to the right. It was the signal that we would move toward it as one unit and clear the home out together.

The others followed my lead, creating an arch that spread out like wings behind me. My silver cloak ruffled in the breeze, sending an icy wave of wind up my back. The short blades I held ignited with blue moon scripture, pulsing with magic. It was the only indication of who we were until the moon raised high in its precipice. Considering it was a new moon, it wouldn’t offer us much light to ward against the darkness, nor would it provide us any power.

At the door, we all paused, then I rushed in first. Barely avoiding the red rune-covered sword that swung at me, I lifted my blades, scissoring them toward the warrior. If he were untrained, it would have easily unhanded him of his weapon. Unfortunately, it hadn’t. I spun as my team slipped behind me into the house. They took defensive positions at my back, guarding it as more hooded figures engaged against us.

I watched the sparks my blades created while trying to hold the sword between them, failing. A foot lifted, and I jumped back, moving outside, barely avoiding the boot from hitting my stomach and knocking me down. Dancing around and onto the porch, I ducked as the sword sang past me, slamming into the wood baluster.

I lifted my foot, slamming it into the very male appendage that was every man’s weakness. The grunt that expelled from his lungs was satisfactory, but it hadn’t slowed the warrior down. I shot backward again as he swung angrily. Lowering my body, I sprang into the air, flipping over the steps when the sword swerved toward me again. It sang through the air, driven by the anger of the male wielding it.

The man leaped from the porch, following me with his swords cutting through the air as the loud sounds of metal clashing continued inside the house. The combatant slammed his sword into my blade, causing my hand to burn with the pain from the hard blow driven by formidable strength. I swung my second one, narrowly missing cutting through the man’s middle, but he bent his body back at the last moment, and my blade caught air instead of flesh. His foot slammed into my stomach, and I gasped, moving deftly with agility learned from training.

His sword sailed toward me, crashing loudly against one of my blades, sending the weapon flying out of my grip. I lifted the second blade in time to deflect his return swing, falling backward as his leg swept against mine, unseating my feet.

I rolled the moment I reached the ground, dodging the sword he sent toward me. I growled as my cloak stuck on something, tearing at it until I freed it. Jumping to my feet, I barely deflected more powerful blows until I went on the offense, parrying his firm, punishing strikes until I spun, swinging up to dislodge his blade.

The moment I’d disarmed him, he rushed forward without warning, taking us both to the ground. The crash onto the hard surface made my teeth chatter as pain rocked through my spine, and my weapon went sailing across the cobblestone. With his heavy weight holding me down, I thrust my hips up, trying to unseat him. Grabbing my arms, he held them above my head while I continued to buck wildly.

I couldn’t see into the darkness of the cloak he wore. I couldn’t make out his features or judge his species. Growling in rage, I intensified the bucking of my body against him until my knee slipped between his thighs, ousting him from my waist, rolling us into the opposite position.

I slipped my hand to my boot, intending to draw the blade within, until the moon shone down, forcing us to pause as it appeared with a shot of power its light