Page 152 of A Dawn of Gods & Fury

Destry is hunting for something within her tunic. “Take the horses and the wagon. Kill the men and keep the women for their enjoyment.”

Annika’s face twists with horror. “I would rather die.”

“But then who would I tease mercilessly?” I squeeze her shoulder as I steal another peek. Seven mortals. I can manage them easily enough. Slipping one of the daggers I confiscated from the guards out of my boot, I place the handle in Annika’s palm and whisper, “Try not to use this one on me, yeah?”

Her blue eyes flash with something I can’t read.

“You have a weapon, Destry?”

She doesn’t answer. Her head is bowed, her fist clasped around a pendant as if in prayer. That will do little, but if that is her only defense …

I leave a second dagger on the crate beside her. Quietly, I slip two swords from their scabbards.

A gruff voice sounds from our right, and I grit my teeth to avoid my curse. I can see what’s in front, but how many surround us? I cannot use my affinity blindly.

A crow caws, followed by another, and several more, until a deafening cacophony of squawks make me wince. Shouts sound. Through the curtain, I watch the large black birds swarm the bandits, pecking at their heads, their necks, their arms.

Annika’s fingertips dig into my calf, pulling my attention back. She nods toward Destry, and I see what has her so rattled. The tiny mortal’s hazel eyes have vanished, replaced by solid whites. In the slivers of skin peeking out between her thick bangs, the script glows.

She must be steering these crows. However she manages, the distraction is welcome. Now is my chance.

I grip my pommels. “Wish me luck.”

“Don’t die,” Annika rushes to say.

When I arch a questioning eyebrow at her, she shrugs. “You are still useful to me.”

“And you are still too stubborn to admit you do not hate me anymore.”

The corner of her mouth quirks in that cute way she has, when she’s trying not to smile.

An overwhelming bout of insanity claims me—that is the only explanation for leaning down and pressing a quick, hard kiss against Annika’s lips. I rush through the curtain before she has a chance to stab me with that dagger.

42

Annika

I stare in shock where he was sitting a moment ago.

Tyree kissed me.

I will have to yell at him later for that indecency, after he has saved us.

I scramble to the crate Tyree abandoned and peer through the curtain to watch him sprint along the wagon tongue, leap over the horses, his swords swinging as he flies through the air.

He cuts down the closest bandit, who’s too focused on the three crows trying to peck his eyes out to notice the lethal warrior coming for him. The second is another easy kill, but by the time he reaches the third, the others have fended off the crows and surrounded him.

I hold my breath as they take turns lunging, weapons aimed.

Ezra shoves the reins into his daughter’s hands, draws a short sword, and with a roar, clambers down, the wagon lifting with the loss of his girth.

All around us, loud, angry clashes of steel ring, one after another, as the men fight and crows attack. Uda grips the reins in one hand and her shield in the other as if it is the only thing that will keep her alive.

“It will be fine. Tyree will protect us. He will kill them all,” I say, though she can’t understand me. Maybe I’m comforting myself with those words.

A wiry mortal clambers up into Ezra’s seat then, his vile stench making me gag. He shouts something and reaches for the reins.

Uda jerks them away, her face defiant even as she trembles.

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