Page 65 of Kings and Monsters

"You are blaming the wrong Wylt!" he said defensively. "Rosa is responsible for that."

"Fucking Wylts." Nimue shook her head, and Arthur laughed in agreement.

Merlin kicked open the door to the main court. Inside was a group of armed Seelie courtiers, and Nimue drew her blades. She knew every single sneering face.

"Give up now, and the queen will show you mercy," one said, his bow pointed at them.

"There's a human saying I recently learned that I believe is the only suitable response to your request," Nimue replied, readying her fighting stance. "'Go and eat a bag of dicks.'"

The confused Seelies had no time to process the insult as she rushed at them, one of her blades flying through the air and thudding into the archer's eye.

She could feel Merlin fighting beside her, knowing he was protecting her back. She fought her way through the people who had tormented her for centuries. Her hands were bloody as her magic unfurled like golden whips from them. Imbued with her hot rage, they sliced through her attackers, cleaving limbs from bodies until there was none left alive.

"That's my girl," Merlin said once it was done. He was giving her a look as if he wanted to make love to her on the spot, and she gave him a sly wink.

"I'm starting to see why you two are so well matched," Arthur replied, flicking the blood from his blade. "Now, where is this arena?"

"This way," a grim-faced Fintan said. Nimue didn't have any qualms about killing her own kind, but she could see that Fintan struggled with it.

"If you don't have the stomach for this, get out of the Courts," Nimue hissed at him.

"We haven't been killing anyone who has been willing to surrender," Fintan said coldly. "If they try to stop us, they can die."

They heard the roaring sounds of a beast before they reached the curtained doorways to the arena. Merlin took her hand again, holding it tight. The area was deserted as they hurried down the aisles. There was another crash and roar against the doors of the cage.

"Stay with Arthur." Merlin let her go and jumped down into the bloodstained sand.

"What has that fucking bitch done to you?" he said to the beast that was Balthasar.

"Be careful, Merlin," Nimue warned as he approached the cage doors. Merlin ignored her, never taking his eyes off the creature within.

"Easy, Balthasar. Do you know who I am?" he said gently. The beast in the cage paused, watching Merlin, his eyes following every movement. Suddenly, it barged the gate so hard, it shattered its lock.

"Get out of there, Merlin, you daft prick!" Arthur shouted.

Merlin waved at him to shut up as the beast stepped into the arena. It was cut and bleeding in multiple places since the last time Nimue had seen him. Her heart was in her throat, torn between concern for Merlin and the pain that Balthasar must be in.

"I see the queen has been feeling inventive," Merlin said, stepping gently backward. "It's going to be okay, Bal. I'll get you back to your old self again. You have to let me know you are in there because if you don't, there is no way in hell I'm going to let you near Rosa."

The beast's red eyes changed for a second to brown as it made a keening sound, boring its antlered head in his paws and scratching at it. When it raised it, its eyes were red again.

"Damn it, man! I don't want to have to hurt you," Merlin cursed. The beast roared angrily, but as it pounced, there was a surge of the queen's magic, and it vanished into thin air.

"Where did it go?" Daesyn demanded.

"To the queen." Merlin held up a hand to Arthur. "Get me out of here. We need to get to Rosa."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Rosa had conflicting feelings about the black plate armor she had been presented with. It looked like a metal jigsaw puzzle until Eirianwen had arrived to show her how to slide and strap each piece on.

"I expected it to be heavier," Rosa said, swinging her arms to check that she still had a good range of movement.

"Bleddyn made it for you. He knows what you need," Eirianwen said, readjusting a final strap. "He wanted to make sure you are protected for what happens next."

"Are you nervous about fighting the queen?"

"I have fought many battles. This is but another," Eirianwen said. "I'm hoping it's for the last time."

---