Page 139 of Ares' Shield
“Don’t look, Beth,” Jayden says, tugging me from the dismembered finger.
“It was a finger, wasn’t it?” I ask in horror.
Raven pats my shoulder. “I’m actually surprised there is anything left to find.”
“Not helping, Raven,” Jayden says.
Greyson’s grey wolf stops, growling at the horses clustered in front of him. They are gnawing on something that looks like bones.
“Oh, gods,” I cough. “I think these things may be the worst monsters we’ve faced.”
Fire explodes from the mouth of one and hits another as it gets too close to the bones it’s chewing on.
“They’re fighting over food. Maybe we should start the trench while they’re distracted?” I grip my whip tighter.
“I really hope they don’t smell us and attack.” Raven shifts from foot to foot.
Butterflies flutter in my gut as I turn to Draven. “Do your thing.”
Green magic pools in Draven’s palm. “Cover me.”
He’s about as subtle as Cerberus when he wants to play. As he throws the magic, a deafening boom rocks the ground. I stumble into Jayden.
The mares turn to us with fire in their glowing red eyes. “Fucking demon horses.”
“Ponies aren’t supposed to breathe fire,” Raven hisses.
She drops into a fighting stance. Shadows writhe along my arms, ready for a fight as the mares charge.
I throw out a hand and electricity mixes with the shadows writhing on my arm and hits the nearest creature. The others roar spewing fire at me. Jayden jumps in front of me, pulling me down behind his shield as flames wash over us.
“Fuck, that was close.” I pant.
“What in Hades did you do with your magic?” Jayden asks wide-eyed.
“I don’t know. They just kind of mixed together randomly.” I peek out the side of the shield.
Jayden pulls me back behind the shield as another blast hits right where my head just was.
“Your magic loves doing crazy shit all the time.” Jayden shifts so he’s on the balls of his feet, ready to jump up and fight.
“Beth,” Raven screams.
I spin to find her and Adrian running from two of the horses. Flames lick at their heels. I shoot out a hand, but nothing happens. The lightning doesn’t zap the horses.
Dark clouds blot out the sun in the bright blue sky. What is that? Electricity buzzes beneath my skin as rain falls in heavy sheets.
The mares whinny in fear as the flames go out.
“Did you just do that?” Jayden asks.
He stands, pulling me up with him, the shield still firmly in place between us and the other mares.
“Beth,” Draven whoops. “Do your thing and direct it to the trenches.”
I turn in a circle, noticing he has the trench dug out already. The mares whinny angrily as they get to the holes in the ground, bucking like bulls.
“Cover me,” I say, turning to Jayden.
