Another thundering boom against the door sent a jolt of fear through me. If Kade wasn’t pushing the door shut, it already would have flown off the hinges. There was no way he could hold it shut for much longer, if whoever or whatever kept trying to bash it in. I rushed to his side and threw my weight against the door.
“Do you have your dagger?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said, unsheathing it.
“Whatever happens, fight. You need to stay alive. We are all here to protect you. If you die, then all of this was all for nothing. Do you hear me? It doesn’t matter who is in trouble around you, take care of yourself first,” he said, his eyes were narrowed on me, filled with overwhelming concern.
“I understand.” I twisted myself, moving to the front of him, placing both hands on either side of him, still pushing against the door. I pressed my body tightly against his, and then, I kissed him.
“I love you,” I breathed.
“And I love you,” he whispered. “So much so that it aches. I would willingly give my life for you.”
“I know you would. But I need you. So, you have to stay alive.”
A grin graced his beautiful lips. “I’ll try.”
“You’ll need to do better than that,” I said, and he smiled.
The next blast felt like an explosion, and sent the top hinge of the door flying off.
“Emma, each of us needs to take a side. You go right, so when the door opens you’ll be protected. Once whatever is out there comes through, you stay put and let me deal with it.”
“Okay,” I answered without thought, my heart and pulse racing.
“You should go invisible now.”
“Wait,” I answered. “We can both be invisible. I just need to touch you.”
He pondered the offer, then he grabbed my waist. “Alright, let’s do this. But when I attack, you let go and stay hidden.”
“Alright,” I said, knowing full well if I could help him, I would.
He pivoted with me in his arms, and pushed us to the right side of the door. I called upon my invisibility, and we immediately disappeared.
“Whoa,” he whispered.
“What?”
“This is my first time,” he said, still holding me tight.
“It is?” I questioned. “I thought—” Then I realized it had been Ethon I was with.
“Nope, invisible virgin here.”
“Well, not a virgin anymore,” I noted.
“That’s true,” he said. “Are you ready?”
“Ready,” I answered.
He moved me to the side, and I kept my hands on him, running them up his back and placing them on his shoulders.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said.
The door burst open, flying off the last hinge, tumbling and slamming into the opposite wall. A rumbling growl filled the room, rattling my knees with fear. A huge leg attached to a large torso stomped inside.
My breath seized.
I was expecting one of the Fallen, but this was no Fallen.
It was a Grimlock.
Fear encompassed me, knowing they used their smell as their sight. Being invisible didn’t matter anymore. The Grimlock would be able to pinpoint us no matter where we were.
Kade stayed still, waiting for the creature to enter. I wanted to tell him he shouldn’t wait, but didn’t want to risk making noise.
I wondered if he knew, but I couldn’t take a chance. I had to move before the Grimlock entered the room.
Jumping in front of Kade, I lifted my dagger and thrust it deep into the Grimlock’s chest. The Grimlock roared, and swung its large arm at me, sending me flying backward, crashing against my desk. As soon as I let go of Kade, he became visible.
The blade was still embedded in the creature’s chest, but it wasn’t going down. The Grimlock lifted his huge spiked weapon and swung it directly at Kade.
Kade dove, just under the blade, and used his sword to slash its leg.
“The neck. Aim for its neck!” I yelled.
Kade quickly raised his blade, but before he could complete his swing, the Grimlock raised his leg, kicking him backward. He flew back, crashing and hitting the side of my bed.
“Kade,” I screamed.
“I’m okay,” he assured.
The Grimlock became enraged, and barged in, stomping toward Kade. His lethal weapon swung back and forth heading directly at him. He didn’t have protection, and the bed was keeping him from moving backward.
Without hesitation, I shot up. Using the bed to propel me forward, I timed my move. As soon as the beast was mid-swing, I jumped on the bed and thrust myself forward, feet first, aiming at the dagger. As soon as my feet hit the blade, it pushed it deep into its chest.
It halted, its hand frantically grasped at its chest, but there was nothing for it to hold on to. It crashed down onto its knees, then after a loud gurgling exhale, its eyes rolled back and it dropped forward.