Page 65 of An Honored Vow

I lifted three more, and thewaateyshirdodged again as the towers curved overhead, trapping it from flying higher.

Smaller pillars shot from the ground and Syrra’s dance began. She moved through the air with fluid grace, feet barely touching each landing point as she floated to the next.

The beast shot black flame from between the pillars. Syrra dodged but the flames were long enough to reach Elaran. Gerarda leaped over the fire, pushing her lover safely to the ground.

Damien smirked as he realized there was no one left to pursue him. He grabbed the Dagger’s body and slung it over the bare back of the Arrow’s horse. Then he jumped on and rode toward the hill. Two pendants were encrusted in Arsenal leathers, and one was hanging from his fist.

I clamped my jaw as the beast snapped at Syrra’s feet. Its talons scraped at the earth as it started to walk backward out of the snare of pillars.

I raised my hands to close the cage, but Syrra held up a fist. She darted across the long-arched pillar, readying her trap.

I held my breath as thewaateyshirfreed itself and opened its wings. It let out a screech of victory and stretched its long body toward the sky.

That was what Syrra had been waiting for. She leaped from the stone with her golden blade high above her head.

Her blade struck true.

The beast let out a horrible wail as Syrra’s blade tore through its chest. Tendrils of shadows leaked from the wound until nothing of the beast remained except for the scorched circle of earth where it fell.

I transformed in a flash of light. I beat my wings as hard as I could to get as high as possible before the Arrow crested over the hillside. The glowing pendants were easy to spot with my eagle vision. I tucked in my wings and dove.

Damien cursed as I scratched the Arrow’s face with my talons. His horse reared, and his soldier had no saddle to steady him.

The pendant dangled from my talons. I did not tempt fate by trying for another with moreshirakon the way. I dropped it over Fyrel’s head. She caught it in her hand as I transformed back to my Fae form.

I grabbed for a dagger, but I was not wearing any weapons.

Flames covered my hands, ready to fire, but Gwyn snatched the pendant first and placed herself between the Blade and Fyrel.

Kairn’s amber eye pulsed. He feigned a reach for Gwyn but dropped and swiped her legs instead. Kairn smirked as he picked Gwyn up by her curls and pressed a thin blade to her throat.

“Let her go!” I shouted as I made three quick signs with my hand at my hip.

Damien’s magic eye didn’t notice the movement but Gwyn did.

Kairn’s lip curled. “She’s not an Elf but she will do.” His blade pressed against Gwyn’s throat as she thrusted both her elbows back with all the force she had.

The air in Kairn’s lungs released in a cough. Gwyn rolled out of his grasp and stood.

The pendant swung from Kairn’s fist, but Damien didn’t make his soldier flee. Gwyn stooped for a rock, but Damien made Kairn dodge the blow. The Blade’s jaw hung slack, the amber pupil flared as he saw Gwyn’s face.

Her glamoured necklace lay on the ground, discarded, along with Kairn’s small blade.

Gwyn lifted her chin; fully lit from the moon, she didn’t balk. Damien had already seen the truth.

Her amber eyes.

Damien’s host snarled. Pale light glowed from the pendant as he called another beast forward. Gerarda shot an arrow through hisshoulder but the damage was already done. In the distance, a shrieking call beckoned.

Kairn yanked the arrow from his flesh and stabbed the sharp end through the glowing pendant. The light flickered, like a candle at the end of its wick.

Gwyn stepped toward Damien, a small sword in her hand. “I can still gut you,” Damien snapped as he made Kairn reach for the blade on the ground.

Her face was emotionless as she pierced her blade through the mountainous man’s heart. The amber pupil pulsed once and then went dark.

Gwyn turned, leaving her blade in Kairn’s chest. “Let’s get to the portal before theshirakarrive.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

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