Page 48 of Wicked Enemy

“Yes.”

I stabbed a hand towards the three mages who had now bled out on the stones around me. “You said I had until tomorrow before you came back and killed more. Not a man of your word, huh?”

“No, I said that I would kill three a day.” He cocked his head and flashed me another vicious smile. “Oh, did I forget to mention that the eight I killed last night were dead before midnight? Which means that they were yesterday’s kill.” He nodded towards my dead fighters. “These are today’s.”

“I will kill you, you lying piece of shit.”

“No, you won’t. Because—”

I slammed my hands together and yanked at the metal in the wall next to him. A spike shot towards his body with lethal speed.

But before it could impale him, he was already gone again.

“Fuck,” I swore under my breath.

“Sneaky,” White called from farther up the street. “But not sneaky enough.”

Then he disappeared again.

My heart leaped into my throat as he reappeared right behind Shinji and pressed a blade across his throat. My fire mage stiffened, panic flashing in his eyes.

“Give me what I want, Arden.” He pushed the blade harder against Shinji’s throat, making a thin line of red appear. While keeping the knife there, he raised his other arm and pointed towards my Court. “Or I will worldwalk right into your home tomorrow and kill everyone I can find. Understood?”

Before I could move a single muscle, he yanked the blade away from Shinji’s throat and then disappeared.

Shinji sucked in a deep breath. Around us, my two other surviving mages dropped to their knees next to their dead comrades. Sobs ripped from their throats.

I wanted to scream.

I wanted to just scream my fucking lungs out in exhaustion and rage and frustration. How was I supposed to keep my people alive against someone like this? While also battling the other dark mage Houses and trying to keep the fucking white boots at bay and while also trying to free my battle mages from prison?

Fury and hatred and desperation and guilt tore through my soul, and I could feel myself slipping again. Could feel that cold and smooth insanity rise towards the surface to shield my mind from all of it.

This time, I fought desperately against it. I couldn’t let it consume me right now. I needed a plan. I needed—

“Incoming!” Shinji snapped.

Dark orange flames sprung to life in his hands as he whirled to face the top of the street. I did the same.

A mass of people was rounding the corner, heading straight towards us.

And for one absolutely insane moment, I considered just giving up. I couldn’t win another dark mage battle right now. I was beyond exhausted. It was a miracle that I was even still standing.

But I didn’t give up. Icouldn’tgive up. I had spent my life fighting for this. For power. Security. Authority. And I was going to die before I ever gave any of it up willingly. So I brushed my palms together and summoned my magic yet again.

But the people up ahead were behaving strangely. They weren’t attacking. They weren’t even forming up for some kind of sneak hit or defensive position. They just kept walking.

Then, the man at the front of the group came close enough for me to see his face properly.

My eyes widened.

“Stand down,” I said to Shinji and the other two.

At first, Shinji frowned at me in confusion. But then he must have realized who these people were because he let his flames die out.

I just stood there on the street, watching the group close the final distance, while confusion whirled inside my skull. Why were they here? Didn’t they know that I was in the middle of a gang war? And under attack from a worldwalker too? Why would they risk coming here?

“Mr. Arden,” the man at the front said as they all came to a halt a few steps away.