The vessel lunged.
Nathan moved first.
He shoved me behind him and took the full hit to the chest. The impact slammed him into the stone wall hard enough that dust rained down around us. The vessel followed with a strike so fast I barely saw it. Nathan blocked it with his forearm, teeth gritted, breath rough.
“Nathan?” I cried.
“I am fine,” he growled, even though he was clearly not.
The vessel’s eyes flicked toward me.
Nathan threw himself in front of that gaze again, taking another blow meant for me. His body jerked back. He staggered, but stayed up, stayed between me and danger like he would rather break his own bones than let anything come close.
Felix darted around us, grabbing a fallen stone shard with a shaking hand. He swung it like a blade, forcing the vessel to step back.
