Page 110 of Fae Reckoning

I told them.

the she-dragon said.

To absorb the change in circumstances, I allowed a single moment to meander by before I shot to my feet. With a hiss, I winced at the sharp reminder of my injured leg, and yanked out the shard of glass protruding from my leathers and calf before I could anticipate the pain. My entire calf stinging, I grunted, tossed the glass aside, and shouted.

“Everyone!”

Not even Rush heard me as he ran the length of his sword through a guard I didn’t recognize. He pressed his boot to the male’s stomach, pulled on the grip, and retrieved his sword. The guard clutched his belly and pitched forward onto his knees. A snake instantly slithered around his neck, wrapping it tightly, and began to squeeze.

My mouth dropped open in surprise. So at least this serpent was now fighting alongside us. Or perhaps it was as simple as the snake striking easy prey.

Careful not to turn my back on this eager, possibly opportunistic viper, I tried again. “Attention, everyone!”

Rush heard me. He spun, his eyes darting across my body, slowing along the blood dripping from my leg, how I stood gingerly upon it. He scowled, his moonlit eyes flashing silver, before looking at Talisa—still curled on herself, still shaking violently.

“What is it?” he asked while swiveling his head around, scanning for immediate threats.

“Talisa can be killed now.”

His stare jerked back to mine. “Truly?”

“Truly.” My smile was vicious.

His responding smile was even more so.

“I need everyone’s attention,” I said.

Immediately he called, “Ivar!”

Without looking away from a feethle that was as tall as he was, Ivar snapped, “What?”

“We need you,” Rush said.

“What,now?” He jabbed his sword at the feethle,who only darted its head out of the way before lunging at him.

“I need you to amplify my voice like you did for Talisa in the arena,” I told Ivar loudly enough to be heard over the fighting.

The feethle surged forward from its haunches, snapping its monstrous teeth. Ivar stabbed it in the chest. The blow glanced off.

“A little busy here,” he gritted out.

“It will end the fight and save lives.”

With an animalistic growl, he parried the feethle back, shooting a flash of magic into the changeling. The feethle slid back from the force of the blast, its furry leg snagging on a piece of glass.

Ivar leapt over the snake still strangling the dying guard. His bloody cutlass dangling from one hand, he brought together both palms to cup the air between us even as he slid to his knees. With a glance at Hiroshi jumping in to engage the feethle, he barked at me, “Go!”

“Everyone,” I called out. “Cease your fighting this instant!”

The clanging of metal and the grunting of effort and injury diminished some but ultimately continued.

“Xeno, donotlet Talisa out of your sight.”

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