Page 104 of Of Blood & Stone

Time was running out. Gritting her teeth, she stood up, the earth connected to her not through touch, but through her being.

Blood and blood.

Life.

She opened her hand to the darkened sky, light erupting from both her palms, warm blood pouring down her back.

All three serpentums stopped their attacks, turning to her as if they knew she was about to send them to their graves. In one swift movement, they abandoned the men, jaws unhinged and fangs dripping with black poison as they lunged for her.

“I will never be yours,” she whispered to Distrathrus.

His laughter cackled in her ears, far away, disappearing into the darkness.

The putrid air froze.

A thick glowing root shot up from the ground, piercing a serpentum’s jaw up into its head. Warm, rotten breath brushed her face, the creature’s black poison dripping at her feet, its fangs hovering over her body. Its shriek rang through the air, its body flailing only to fall limp. More glowing roots shot up, the other serpentums’ screams filling her ears as scales gave way to flesh.

Curling her lip, she stared into the yellow clouded eyes of the dying serpentum.

“Praise be toAretta,” she growled.

Distrathrus’ voice was nowhere to be found.

Clenching her jaw, Sylzenya circled the monsters, all three of them staked to the ground.

But then her stomach dropped.

Westley’s feet didn’t touch the forest floor, his body elevated by the thick root speared through his lower back and out of his mouth. Acid rose in Sylzenya’s stomach, her hands shaking as she rushed forward, her legs losing their strength. Grabbing his slick, bloodied hand, she shook her head; she couldn’t have done this. She wasn’t a killer?—

But she was, wasn’t she?

“Westley…” she whispered.

“Sylzenya,” Elnok’s weak voice called

A new wave of panic sliced through her. She left Westley, searching for Elnok, praying to her goddess that she hadn’t speared him too. She circled a serpentum, her heart faltering; Elnok lay on the ground, one leg underneath the massive creature. Strained smile on his face, he waved her over as if it was a casual afternoon.

“Could use some help,” he said, pulling at his leg.

Rushing forward, she stopped, mouth twisting into a horrible grimace.

“You’re a complete and utterfool,” she spat.

“Look, you can berate me all you wantaftermy leg isn’t being crushed.”

“What did you think was going to happen?” she interjected, “that you were going to kill all the Dynameis and serpentums in one go? What, just you and your fancy rope and glowing sword? I hate to break it to you, but if it wasn’t for me?—”

“I would’ve died. Yes, I’m well aware of the situation, Sylzenya.” He grunted as he tried freeing himself. “And I still might if I lose this leg.”

“Perhaps you should lose a leg. Then you might learn a lesson.”

“So you’re volunteering to carry me the rest of the way to Aretta’s Willow, then?”

Tilting her head to the darkened sky, she said, “In your dreams,thief.”

“Well then, we’re a few minutes away from watching my dreams come true.”

Sylzenya gritted her teeth as she gripped the heavy body of the serpentum, using all her strength to lift any weight she could off of him. It was barely enough, but after a few attempts, he slid his leg out, caressing his knee as he let out a relieved breath.

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