Aden burst through the last line of trees, legs burning, blood still leaking from half a dozen cuts.
Explosions lit up the clearing ahead — bright orange fireballs cracking against the night. Steel clashed. Someone was screaming.
He jumped straight in.
Claire Remes was in the middle of it, robes torn, hair wild, face pale as death. She hurled another fireball with a shaky hand, the flame smaller than the last. Three assassin bodies already lay smoking on the ground around her. But five more were closing in, auras glowing cold blue on their blades.
She was running on fumes. One more big spell and she'd probably collapse.
Aden didn't think. He just moved.
He came up behind the closest assassin and drove his black sword straight through the man's back, twisting hard as he ripped it free.
The body dropped.
The other assassins spun.
"Hey!" one barked. "I thought the 2nd Order took care of this Vasco bastard! What the hell is he doing here?"
"Doesn't matter," the leader snarled, eyes narrowing behind his mask. "Kill both of them. Now."
Aden stepped between Claire and the killers, sword raised, breathing hard.
"Run!" he shouted at her, voice raw. "Get the fuck out of here, Claire! Go!"
Claire froze for a split second, eyes wide with shock. Why the hell was Aden Vasco — the guy who never left his tower, the strongest heir everyone whispered about — standing here bleeding and fighting for her?
She snapped out of it fast, jaw tightening. Her composure slammed back into place like armor.
She turned and bolted deeper into the forest.
One assassin immediately broke off and sprinted after her.
Aden intercepted him with a savage shoulder check, sending the man crashing into a tree.
"You're not going anywhere near her."
The remaining four assassins spread out, blades raised, auras flaring brighter.
Aden gripped his sword tighter, blood dripping from his fingers, leg screaming with every shift of weight.
Another gruesome battle was about to begin.
And this time he wasn't just fighting for himself.