The Battle I Won’t Lose

Kain Rivel stood behind a barricade, the dual axes gripped tight despite his trembling arms. Leon Valtor's knights slammed into Rivermist's defenses, steel clashing, arrows whistling overhead. Dust and blood thickened the air, and Kain's coughs mingled with the chaos. Mya Seraphine fought beside him, her silver hair a blur as she deflected a spear aimed at his chest. Her kiss—quick, fierce on his jaw—still burned, her words "OURS" ringing in his ears. He wasn't hers to command, but damn if he'd let Leon win.

"Keep swinging!" he growled, hacking at a knight's shield. The axe bounced off, jarring his wrists, but he shoved forward, coughing. "I'm not dying here!"

Mya parried a blade, her smile wild. "You won't!" she shouted, slashing the knight down. Her eyes flicked to him—love, pride, obsession—and Kain glared back, defiance flaring.

"Then stay out of my way!" he rasped, swinging the second axe. It clipped a knight's helm, sending the man reeling, and Kain stumbled, barely catching himself. The bandits roared, spears thrusting, while villagers hurled rocks.

Leon's voice cut through—"Rivel!"—and Kain spun. The golden hero vaulted a barricade, sword gleaming, blue eyes locked on him. "Your rabble's finished!"

"Not yet!" Kain barked, charging. His axes swung—clumsy, fierce—clashing with Leon's blade. Sparks flew, the jolt rattling his bones, but he held, coughing through gritted teeth. "I'm not your punching bag!"

Leon shoved back, sneering. "You're nothing! A fraud!" His sword arced, fast and lethal. Kain ducked—barely—swinging an axe up. It grazed Leon's gauntlet, and he tripped, the second axe flying free, thunking into a cart.

"Fraud?" Kain wheezed, scrambling up. "Try me!" He lunged with the remaining axe, aiming for Leon's chest. Leon parried, the force knocking Kain back, but he dug in, glaring.

Mya darted in, her sword blocking Leon's next strike. "He's mine!" she hissed, shoving Leon off. Her hand grabbed Kain's arm, steadying him, her touch warm—too warm.

"Mine?" Kain snapped, yanking free. "I fight for me!" But her grip lingered, and he didn't shove her off—not fully.

Leon laughed, cold. "Yours? He's a leech! You're delusional!" He lunged at Mya, blade flashing. She met it, steel screaming, driving him back with a ferocity that made Kain's skin prickle.

"Delusional?" she countered, her voice sharp. "He's more than you'll ever be!" She glanced at Kain, a fierce grin. "Show him!"

Kain coughed, hefting the axe. "I'll show him!" He charged—reckless, maybe—swinging at Leon's side. The blade hit armor, glancing off, but Leon staggered, surprised. Kain pressed, hacking again, coughing through the strain. "Back off!"

Leon roared, slashing. Kain blocked—metal screeched—and the axe held, his arms shaking but firm. "Not weak!" he rasped, shoving with all he had. Leon slid back, boots skidding, and Kain grinned, wild and ragged.

The bandits surged, spears pinning knights. A villager's rock cracked an archer's helm. Leon's line faltered, and Mya laughed—bright, triumphant. "See?" she called, her sword a blur as she felled another knight. "He leads!"

"Leads?" Kain wheezed, turning to her. "I'm surviving!" But her faith—twisted, fierce—lit something in him. He swung the axe at a charging knight, missing but sending the man diving. "Keep coming!"

Leon regained footing, glaring. "You're a pest!" He thrust, aiming for Kain's chest. Mya deflected it, but Kain shoved her aside—hard.

"My fight!" he barked, swinging the axe. It clipped Leon's sword, the impact jarring, and he coughed, nearly dropping it. "I end this!"

Mya stepped back, her smile softening. "End it," she said, her voice low—love, not command.

Leon's eyes blazed. "You? End me?" He charged, sword high. Kain ducked, rolling—a miracle with his cough—and swung the axe up. It caught Leon's leg, denting the greave. Leon stumbled, cursing, and Kain rose, panting.

"Enough!" Kain roared, heaving the axe overhead. It wobbled, but he brought it down—Leon blocked, but the force drove him to a knee. "I'm not your shadow!"

Leon shoved up, slashing. Kain dodged—barely—the blade nicking his arm. Blood trickled, but he grinned, coughing. "That all?"

Mya leapt in, her sword pinning Leon's to the dirt. "Finish it," she urged, her eyes on Kain—wild, adoring.

"No killing!" Kain snapped, grabbing her arm. "He leaves!" He turned to Leon, axe raised. "Go! Or I'll fight 'til I drop!"

Leon glared, chest heaving. His knights retreated, overwhelmed by bandits and rocks. "This isn't over," he snarled, wrenching his sword free. He backed off, mounting his horse. "I'll bury you, Rivel!"

"Try it!" Kain shouted, coughing as Leon rode off, dust swirling. The crowd erupted—villagers cheering, bandits banging spears.

Kain sank to his knees, the axe thudding beside him. "Alive," he rasped, blood dripping. "Take that, golden boy."

Mya knelt, her hands framing his face—gentle, fierce. "You won," she said, her voice trembling with pride. She kissed him—hard, deep—and Kain stiffened, then grabbed her shoulders, kissing back before shoving her off.

"Won?" he growled, wiping his mouth. "I survived! And don't—" He coughed, glaring, but his hands lingered on her. "Warn me next time!"

She laughed, bright and warm. "Next time," she promised, her eyes burning. "You're mine, Kain. And I'm yours."

"Mine?" he rasped, standing. "We'll see." He hefted the axe, coughing but steady. "I call the shots now."

Her smile widened—love, not chains. "Call them," she said, rising beside him. "I'll follow."

The crowd chanted his name, the axes glinting. Leon's threat loomed, but Kain stood tall—bloody, defiant, and tangled with her, whether he admitted it or not.