Page 26 of Witch Queen

The other giants turned their attention to her and Vlad while their companion unleashed Vedran’s corrupt magic uponContain.

Power hummed around Mae. “Here they come!”

Brimstone’s quivering tails sent debris flying around the lab as he snatched the first creature’s weapon out of his grasp with his jaws and lobbed it across the room. The fox carved deep grooves in the giant’s face with his claws, taking out his left eye.

Tarang jumped on the monster’s leg and took a chunk out of his thigh before he could land a blow on Brimstone with his fist.

Mae shot out of the way of the second giant’s club, missed his knuckles by a hairbreadth as he spun and swung for her face, and concentrated her magic into her hands and feet. Crimson, black, and white merged until they covered her flesh in layers of pure magic.

She somersaulted into the air, landed on the creature’s arm as it straightened, and ran straight up toward its head, her movements lightning fast. A shadow swallowed her, the monster’s hand closing in to swat her away, his speed just as blistering.

Mae’s stomach dropped.Shit!

The beast grunted and sagged a second before it could strike her. She glanced down.

Vlad had carved through the creature’s left Achilles tendon with his blades.

It was all the time she needed.

Mae leapt off the giant’s shoulder, twisted her body as she arced above his head, and brought her fists up when gravity took over. Scarlet lightning wreathed with black and ivory currents crackled around her fingers.

A roar left her throat. She struck the beast in the temple with a double hammer punch before spinning in midair and delivering a roundhouse kick to the same spot. Bone shattered under the storm of indomitable power she wielded.

The monster’s pupils crossed. He staggered sideways and fell, eyes rolling back in his head. Glass exploded and metal crumpled as he crashed into a row of cabinets. He sagged, his body limp in death.

A heavy thud sounded behind Mae. She landed lightly on the ground and looked over her shoulder, her heart slamming against her ribs.

Vlad had slashed through the other giant’s heel tendons and brought the monster to his knees. Brimstone and Tarang pounced and finished him off before he could defend himself, their fangs glinting with redness while they tore his jugular open.

Vlad joined her. “Did you really just knock out a giant with your bare fists?”

He eyed the translucent power wrapped around her hands warily.

“Let’s just say I found a new way to use my magic,” Mae said darkly.

CHAPTERNINE

They regroupedwith Brimstone and Tarang and turned to the last giant. The monster seemed oblivious to their presence, his attention focused on destroyingContainwith Vedran’s magic. Mae narrowed her eyes.

The spell was starting to wear thin.

Looks like it has a five-minute limit in the face of that bastard’s magic.

It will be stronger with the power of three,Na Ri reassured her.

Her first incarnation made a suggestion that made Mae blink.

“We should try and keep that one alive.”

Vlad lowered his brows. “Why?”

“Because Na Ri thinks he might prove to be our ticket to Vedran’s location.” The savage aura around Mae thickened. “Can you guys distract him for a couple of minutes?”

Vlad nodded.

“Of course, my witch,” Brimstone snarled.

Tarang bared his teeth on a threatening growl.

---