“Someone’s coming,” Keita said.

“From the east.” Brannie motioned to Uther and Caswyn. “Get Keita out of here.”

Aidan pulled the females’ hands away from his face. “What about you?”

“They know we’re here.” Her head tilted to the side a bit. “They’ve sent riders ahead. I’ll deal with them.”

“Bran—”

“It’s all right. Just go.”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“Your orders are to protect Keita. Do it.”

Reluctant, but unable to argue—his orders from the queen had been very clear—Aidan pulled his horse back and rode off to the trees. Keita right behind him, with Uther and Caswyn protecting her flank.

* * *

Brannie dismounted her horse and pulled out her sword. Not knowing the horse as well as she’d known her brave old steed—gods, how she missed him—she didn’t want to risk fighting on his back. So she slapped his ass and sent him to the side of the road.

She stood her ground and waited . . . but after a few minutes she saw nothing. No one coming her way. All sound of advancement had stopped. Some would feel relief, but she didn’t. Instead, she was only more concerned. Because that could mean—

Something small, human, and powerful landed on her back, arms around her neck.

Choking, Brannie grabbed the arm, and yanked. She flung the body away from her but another small and powerful body hit her from the right, pinning her sword arm to her side.

Standing her ground, not allowing herself to be dragged to the ground, Brannie used her free hand to grab hold of a good amount of hair and pull.

There was a screech and she sent the body flying. But before she could raise her arm, yet another body attacked her. Hands over Brannie’s face, legs around her waist.

Fed up, Brannie reached back and grabbed an arm. She lifted the body up and over her head, slamming it to the ground. She used her foot to pin it in place and raised her sword. That’s when she realized that the weak blade had broken in the middle.

“I knew this thing was a piece of—”

A strong, sturdy blade slid under her chin. “Such shitty weaponry, Cadwaladr. You should be ashamed. For that affront alone, you should die. . . .”

* * *

Aidan heard screams. He would have ignored them, but one of those screams was definitely Branwen’s.

Still, his orders from the queen—

“What are you waiting for?” Keita practically bellowed at him. “Go to my cousin. Now!”

Aidan immediately turned his horse around and rode back.

As he cleared the trees, he dismounted his horse in mid-gallop and pulled his weapon.

Three vicious she-demons had wrapped themselves around Branwen, pummeling her with fists and assaulting her with their screams. Aidan stormed up to them, grabbing the first one by the neck and yanking her off. He threw her to her back and was about to impale her with his blade when his hand was caught and held.