Page 171 of The Mirror of Beasts

“Enough,” Lord Death growled. “You’ve played your last hand.”

“I’ve only just begun,” Madrigal said, taunting. “The choice is yours. Hand me the crown, or lose her again.”

His expression hardened. “I should have known the only way to kill a snake was to cut off its head.”

It happened so quickly, I barely registered the feeling of the wand falling away, or the sudden sour stench that flooded the air. One moment the sorceress was there, just beside the tree, and the next, one of the Children was upon her, its jaw unhinging, closing over her head, ripping her away.

I screwed my eyes shut, twisting my face away as muscle and bone crunched and hot blood sprayed against my skin. She hadn’t even had time to scream.

Revulsion and horror crawled through me, and I heaved, straining against the roots to escape as another one of the Children joined the first in its frenzied feeding. Only Lord Death’s laughter drowned out the wet rending of flesh.

“There now, my love,” Lord Death consoled me. “How sensitive you are—”

My eyes flashed open as the sound of a new cry tore through the night.

A spear flashed in the darkness, splintering into a spray of arrows upon the two feeding Children. They screeched as their flesh ripped, as their limbs were pinned to the trees behind them.

A streak of silver broke through the trees and mist with the speed and focus of an arrow—a long blade flashed as it swung down toward Lord Death’s neck.

He stepped aside with ease, never losing his hold on the stone. A cold smirk spread over his face as his opponent raised her sword again, her feet sliding back into an attack stance.

“I’ve been expecting you,” Lord Death said.

“Ready your blade,” Caitriona ordered, her grip tightening on the hilt of Excalibur. Her short silver hair was painted with moonlight.

“Cait—!” A root squeezed around my neck, cutting my warning short.

A warm hand pressed against my arm, forcing my gaze down to my right. My eyes widened as Olwen’s worried face appeared there in the darkness. Joy cracked open inside me.

“You’re … all right …,” I managed to get out.

Olwen hushed me, studying the roots for a moment before bringing a dagger to them and sawing. They mended themselves almost as quickly as she could hack them away.

Lord Death’s gaze flicked to her, then to Cabell, who circled through the trees, waiting for a command. I didn’t understand the expression of disappointment on Lord Death’s face, or the way Cabell whimpered in response as he bounded back over the boulders and sinewy roots, heading straight for us.

I heard them then—within the depths of the woods, more Children crashed through the trees, hurtling toward us.

“Olwen!” I gasped out. Her jaw set in determination as she rose. “Don’t—”

“I’ll be right back,” she swore, disappearing from my sight.

I craned my head around at the sound of her spell, its song bright and unwavering. Lances of fire and light soared between the trees and tore into the Children as they threw themselves at her.

Lord Death turned his full attention back to Caitriona, to the sword in her hands. His face registered no shock. No fear.

“I know I taught you better than to denigrate such an illustrious weapon with poor footwork,” he said, running a hand over his pendant’s glimmering stone. “Or to face a superior opponent alone. Not even Excalibur is powerful enough to account for your inexperience.”

Caitriona’s face tensed as she bared her teeth. “I’ve plenty of experience slaying monsters.”

“Hmm.” Lord Death lifted his hand from the stone. The cruel pleasure of his expression was suddenly lit by the souls that slipped through the gem’s cold surface. They whorled around him, forming a glowing ring that shifted its position, slanting, straightening, slanting with every heartbeat.

“You do have practice in killing Avalon’s own, I’ll grant you that,” Lord Death said, clearly enjoying the rage that flooded Caitriona’s expression. “But tell me, are you willing to do the same with the souls of your beloved sisters?”

The taunt was like boiling tar poured over my skin. Caitriona’s eyes widened, her face going bloodless with horror. For a moment, the souls shifted from sparks of life to the forms they’d had in their last life. My heart dropped into my stomach at the sight of the priestesses of Avalon.

Caitriona released a bellow of fury and anguish.

“Even if—and here we shall use our great imaginations,” Lord Death continued, “you were to land a blow upon me, you would have to cut through them first. Are you willing to risk Excalibur’s magic destroying them?”

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