Page 47 of Fae Reckoning

Einar added a bit enigmatically.

I had no desire to beneutralwhen it came to the cruel bitch. I had to watch her violate my mate! She’d ruined so many lives, so many families.

Einar added.

I didn’t bother to disguise my sarcasm.

I’d already turned away and was eyeing the unisus. Backed up to one of the cabin’s intact walls, alongside the clearing, as far from the massive dragon as he couldget, Azariah huddled beside Bertram. The ranucu appeared generally good-natured; he smiled a serene froggy smile as Azariah peered out at me from around his back.

“Hey, Azariah,” I called ahead in soothing tones meant not to spook him. He’d already been jumpy. Now he all but vibrated with a tension evident from the other side of the clearing as I crossed toward them.

“Greetings, Elowyn,” he called in a reaching whisper before whipping his head to hide behind Bertram. While the ranucu was indisputably large, he wasn’t exactly unisus shaped, and much of Azariah’s horse-like body stood out from behind him.

I slowed my pace to give the unisus more time to pull himself together. When I finally reached him, Azariah was shaking like a leaf that a big, brutish dragon had just knocked off its branch.

Einar interjected.

I barely managed to restrain a groan.

was all that traveled down our connection. This time it felt distinctly like a harrumph. I was fast learning the sound was multi-purposed when it came to the dragon.

“Hello, Bertram,” I said around a smile.

“Waaaawaaaaaa.”

“Thanks for helping Azariah.”

“Waaawaaa.”

“You seem like a really good friend to him.”

“Waaaaaawa.”

His side of the conversation could mean almost anything. I smiled some more and rounded him to stand beside Azariah. The hindquarters of the unisus—podrala, whichever—faced me. His tail was no longer limp and sagging. It now swished back and forth continuously as if a horde of insects swarmed him.

“Azariah,” I said, even more gently this time.

He craned his neck in my direction, snorted, whimpered, next crouched into his shoulders and tucked his face into Bertram’s side, careful to point his lethal, twisted-ivory horn away from the ranucu’s flesh.

“Waawaaaaa.”

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