Page 158 of Soul Forge

“I am, but Cynthia and Abraxos are here together. Look.” He nodded towards the approaching bird and sure enough, a second winged beast was close behind. “He lost it just now, El. He knows that as much as I do. Right now, having him free is dangerous for him.”

“So how will you fight?”

“He’s agreed to work with me. If I truly can’t beat them without giving up control, then I’ll have to let him back out. If that happens, keep your eyes on me. I’ll be dangerous again.”Sypher sighed and placed a kiss on the top of her head. “Be careful, maite. Don’t forget to watch your back.”

Elda’s heart leapt into her throat at the thought of facing the Corrupted in an all-out fight with so little experience, but she drew her bow. She and Lillian moved to position themselves on either side of Sypher. He rose into the air, hovering a few feet above them.

“Can you even take them without your fanged friend?” Lillian asked him warily.

“You try doing half the shit I just did without help,” he snapped. “If I need him, then I need him. It’s that, or you die.”

Lillian pressed her lips together and scowled.

“Interrupting a lover’s tiff, are we?” Cynthia drawled, her voice carrying on the wind when the wraiths drew closer. Sypher growled under his breath, his teeth already beginning to sharpen as he fought to hold back Vel’s rage.

Be calm, Vel. Don’t force your way out. Save your strength in case we need you.Elda sent the thought down their bond, hoping it reached the demon.

“Where’s Arden?” the Soul Forge demanded. Despite his anger, he spoke clearly. Elda watched him school his expression into the practiced mask of a soldier, the fire flickering a little brighter in his eyes when he regained some control.

Cynthia smiled a slow, wicked smile, then pursed her red lips, studying the Soul Forge like he was an interesting piece of art. Behind her, Abraxos and his own wraith hovered in brooding silence. Elda saw the mace swinging from his left hand.

“Hi, Sypher,” the witch purred. “Have you missed me?”

“About as much as I miss being stabbed in the eyeballs.”

“Oh, I remember that! That was a fun day.” Elda and Lillian recoiled at the conversational way she discussed torturing him. Cynthia cocked her head at Sypher’s glare. “What? They grew back, didn’t they?”

“Give me Arden, or I’ll tear out your throat, witch,” he threatened.

“Hmm.” Cynthia tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Nope,” she decided, popping the ‘p’. “He’s all ours. I didn’t think you’d come all this way just to see me. I’m touched.”

“I came all this way tobeheadyou.”

“Oh, don’t tease me,” Cynthia beamed coyly. Her eyes flickered to Elda, and her smile became a bored sigh. “And you brought your pampered little wielder princess,” she mused. “The Spirits must be losing their minds.”

“Better to be a princess than a bitch.” Elda shrugged, unable to help herself. Vel was rubbing off on her. Sypher grinned, showing off his elongated incisors.

Cynthia scowled and launched herself from the back of her wraith, the shadowy black creature rising towards the sky when she tried to impale Sypher. He moved to the side at the last second, his hand snaking out lightning fast to grab Cynthia’s collar. Elda’s eyebrows raised when he hurled her right back at Abraxos, the two colliding with a satisfyingsmack. Their bodies tumbled to the ground, landing in a tangled heap in the sand. The wraiths remained airborne, hovering in place until their masters were composed enough to give them a new command.

When Sypher landed beside Lillian, he was still smiling. “I’ve wanted to do that to them forcenturies,” he chuckled.

“Nice throw,” Elda commented, grinning when he winked at her.

Cynthia snarled and kicked Abraxos’ legs away from her, scrambling to her feet and spitting out the grit coating her tongue. Elda, Sypher and Lillian moved in unison, sprinting towards the Corrupted with their weapons raised. Elda’s boots slipped in the sand, but she kept pace with her companions, adrenaline zinging through her veins.

Abraxos stood, swinging his mace with such venom that lightning began to arc from the dangerous spikes, streaking towards Lillian and blackening the ground at their feet. She skipped to the side and Sypher’s hand raised, fingers flicking towards the mace. A gloopy blanket of darkness dampened the sparks, coating the weapon and rendering its magic useless.

“Let’s see how you fare without your Spirit’s tricks,” Sypher challenged, watching Abraxos try and fail to flick the mess from his vestige. He lunged at Sypher, using his weapon as a club instead. Sypher caught the shaft of the mace in his hand and jabbed a fist at Abraxos’ throat, forcing him backwards with a startled cough.

Cynthia was slashing her dagger wildly, almost catching Lillian with a blaze of poisonous fire that forced her backwards. The fae rolled and opened a split in the atmosphere, the pressure shifting when the portal appeared and let her in.

Elda saw the wraiths move overhead and raised her bow at a sand dune directly below them, her arrow bursting against the sand with a blast that flung a wave of dust into the sky. Sypher sent the dust cloud careening towards the birds, the air rippling under his command. They cawed and turned away, leaving their riders on the ground. Grit stuck in the Corrupted’s eyes and mouths, guided by Sypher’s hand, forcing them to cover up and back away.

The Soul Forge set his sights on Abraxos and swung his sword with purpose. His aim would have taken off Abraxos’ head, but Cynthia swiped at her eyes and sliced her dagger across his forearm, deflecting his strike before he could kill her companion. Elda’s heart lurched when Sypher grunted in pain and moved backwards, wings beating to carry him out of Cynthia’s reach.

Lillian jumped into another portal and appeared behind Abraxos, intending to cleave him in half with her katana. He turned and kicked her legs out from under her, raising the black-coated mace to intercept her swing. When her back hit the sand, the sullied weapon lifted to cave in her skull. Elda fired an arrow that burst against his back and threw him off his feet, and Lillian scrambled up to rush after him.

Cynthia jumped away from Sypher’s wicked blade, her wraith swooping down to catch her in its talons and carry her upwards. He gave chase immediately, wings spreading wide. He left the sand with a pulse of energy, his elemental magic lending him speed. Abraxos’ mount tried to intercept him, opening its beak wide and screaming. Sypher’s sword split the roof of its mouth, driving straight through to burst from the top of its head. The bird fell, and the Soul Forge beat his wings to chase Cynthia.

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