Page 80 of The Howling
I have literally nothing to defend myself, save for Reavely and a small dagger in my boot. Perhaps I should have thought this through a bit more.
“Stay close, Wynter. I have sent enough of the Reivers to the Reaper, I can easily send some more,” he half snarls.
Given what surrounds us, I admire his confidence and the huge claws he’s unsheathed.
“Get the Barghest. I want the female alive,” Lord Soulis shrieks.
With a roar which shakes the very foundations of this place, Reavely swipes out at them, slicing through their bodies and sending dozens flying, knocking into each other, some rolling, some lying still. But even with multiple swipes, the Reivers keep coming.
I have the dagger in my hand, and I do what I can to stab out at the creatures which are also reaching for me with long, wizened, clawed fingers. They catch at my clothing, attempting to pull me away from Reavely, attempting to get me into their clutches.
I stab. I don’t want to. The feel of the blade slicing into flesh is horrible. It’s only because I am not letting Reavely out of my sight ever again that I continue. These Reivers are not taking me, not today and not tomorrow. I redouble my stabbing attempts as my Barghest continues to snarl and roar, dealing with as many as he can.
But there are many, maybe too many. They keep coming, covering the room, even the walls, like pale lice, wave after wave. Reavely can’t hold them all off forever.
“We have to get out of here,” I bellow over the noise.
“I know,” Reavely rasps back. “Get on my back and we’ll run.”
I don’t need asking twice, leaping for his back, pulling myself onto him as he transforms into the black dog of death, his great paws continuing to bat away the Reivers as he leaps from our position and gallops down the hall. I hold on as tightly as I can in his soft fur, but as we get closer to the door, something pulls on my leg.
I look behind me to see one Reiver hanging off my boot. I kick out at it, but it remains fast before it’s joined by another, also trailing on the back of the first. I kick and kick but they are multiplying, clambering over each other, and their combined weight means I’m losing my grip on Reavely.
I call his name, but as he slows, as his jaws come around, I lose my hold completely and go flying from his back into the mêlée of Reivers who poke and grab at me, pulling me further and further away from my Barghest, back towards Lord Soulis whose cackle raises the roof.
“NO!” I kick and stab, but something gets hold of my wrist and the dagger falls to the floor.
All I have is my momentum and the roar of Reavely behind me. But a glance shows him being overwhelmed by the Reivers, crawling over him as he bucks and writhes.
We could have won this. I know it in my heart.
“About time,” Lord Soulis snaps as I’m offered up like a sacrifice. “Now I need to wed you.” His hand trails down my body, hovering over my stomach. “And your Barghest pups will be mine too.”
I find my voice from the fight.
“Fuck you.” I kick out, slamming my foot into the side of his head and taking advantage of the fact the movement has taken him by surprise to wrench myself free and run.
I want to run to Reavely, but the way is blocked, his snarls and barks getting louder. Instead I run through the one clear area, even as some of the Reivers turn to chase me once again with a loud command from Lord Soulis.
He isn’t going to let either of us go. We have to make our own paths and hope they converge. If Lord Soulis isn’t lying about my possible pregnancy, I won’t let any baby I am carrying become his either.
Reavely is my mate. I will only have him.
A long, low howl sets my hair on end. I briefly glance back at Reavely, but he is disappearing under the weight of the Reivers.
I need help. I need Lilburn. I need…
A burst of flame roasts its way across the hall from the doorway, followed by another and another, sending Reivers scattering, those of which have not been turned into charcoal.
“Wyrm! Wyrm!” The alarm goes up, and like a wave of insects, the Reivers are running, even while Lord Soulis screams orders.
Reavely rises up, shaking them from his fur like fleas. He glances at the doorway briefly before thundering back towards Lord Soulis.
“Female.” The word is rasped in my ear.
I swing around with a fist, ready to clobber the Reiver at my rear, but instead my wrist is caught by Linton, who drops it the instant I stop my movement. His scarlet eyes are almost glowing with rage.
“Go to the Hedley Kow. She will get you out of here,” he says, shoving me behind his wings before he takes to the air, dust falling from him as he throws blades and picks off Reivers who are not being caught by the…dragon flame.
