And in a fight like this, that was enough.
One of the undead lunged.
She turned to block, but another came from her blind side.
"Lira—!" Kellan shouted.
Too late.
A blade cut across her side.
"—!"
She gasped, her body jerking as blood spilled, her footing breaking for just a second.
That second was all it took.
Another undead grabbed at her arm, pulling her off balance.
"Get off!" she snapped, trying to shake it, but it didn't let go.
Rhett's eyes sharpened instantly.
He moved.
Fast.
Faster than before.
In a blur, he closed the distance and slammed his weapon into the undead gripping her, crushing it aside with brute force.
"Back!" he barked.
Lira staggered, clutching her side, her breath uneven.
"…I'm fine," she said through gritted teeth.
"You're not," Rhett replied sharply, positioning himself in front of her.
Another wave of undead closed in.
Rhett blocked, countered, and forced them back, but even he could feel it now.
The pressure.
The constant drain.
