He looked up. “Watch out!”

Selene swung around, bringing her branches with her, and caught the incoming sword on her right stick, directing the sword’s trajectory away from her body. Her stick cracked under the blow, sending a fissure up the wood. Not good.

“Damien! Toss me your sword!” Selene yelled, glancing back as she threw down the broken stick.

He didn’t even hesitate. He pitched the sword to her, blade up. She caught it by the hilt with her right hand just as the man’s blade came down on her other stick.

Crack.

Without missing a beat, Selene threw the other stick aside and brought both hands along the hilt of Damien’s sword. She had very little experience with a single sword. That was Amara’s area of expertise. But she would do whatever she could to keep herself and Damien alive.

She readjusted her grip on the unfamiliar—and heavier—weapon. Sweat soaked into her hair and stung her eyes. Her arms shook slightly. Her vision narrowed until all she could see was the man in front of her and the burning need to stay on her feet long enough to defeat this opponent.

The bandit laughed as he swung at her again.

Selene brought the sword up and caught his blade with her own. Each time he tried to find an opening, she blocked him. But that was all she could do. She breathed hard, her face hot, her arms shaking.

Another hit sent her stepping back.

I can’t do this much longer, a part of her mind screamed.

She gritted her teeth. I have no choice. I won’t die today. And I won’t let Damien die either.

She barely had time to block his next swing.

“Your companions should have given us what we wanted,” the man said, panting. At least he was tiring as well.

Yes, he definitely had an accent. She could hear it now that the cloth was away from his face. “I don’t think . . . you know who . . . we are,” Selene replied, breathless.

“Argh!” The man went for another swing—

And Taegis intercepted it. Within two blows, the man was on the ground with a deep cut along his arm.

“Tie him up with the others,” Taegis barked. Karl was already moving forward with a long piece of rope.

Selene stumbled back, the tip of the sword down on the ground. The forest spun around her.

“Selene!” She heard Damien call out. “Quick! Someone help her!”

She collapsed on her side, and the sword slipped from her fingers.

Cold water touched her lips as someone held her head up. Selene took a sip and slowly blinked her eyes. Her body shivered as a cool wind blew across her sweat-soaked body.

“Are you all right?” Cohen asked, hovering over her.

“Yes.” She sat up and rubbed her face. “I just overexerted myself.”

“I had no idea a lady like you could fight.”

Selene didn’t answer. She did what she had to do. But the others had seen what she was capable of. Would they still trust her?