Page 43 of Feral Guardian
For the demon is Alastair.
Chapter thirteen
Alastair
Lily’s pained shriek is all I hear. Her blood is all I smell.
Eyzanth, let me not be too late.
My claws dig into the beast’s leg, and I heave myself backwards through the bush. The monster slides back with me, flailing and kicking. I bite down on its thigh and rip, tearing away the monster’s fur and flesh. It can heal itself, but I will make the wounds so grievous it cannot.
I rake my claws along its side as I pull harder, dragging it away from Lily. The monster struggles and pushes back against me, using its incredible weight to throw me off. I stumble back into the clearing, and the bear whirls on me with unnatural speed.
Yegress, what is this horrible thing you have made?
My demon reflexes are faster, and I dodge the feral swipe. Yellow magic swirls over the areas of the beast I had raked with my claws, leaving behind fresh, pink scars. With its attention fully on me, I take a step back, luring it away from the briars Lily is trapped inside.
“Princess, do you live?” I ask, my demonic voice a low, otherworldly rumble.
“Yes,” she cries back. “I’m hurt, but alive!”
Hurt.
I snarl at the beast who made her bleed. I know there is no maliciousness in this creature. It’s only doing what nature tells it, acting on its base instincts. Still, I cannot help but want to flay it alive for what it’s done to her.
It charges me, maw open wide to reveal enormous fangs. I jump aside into the boulder on my left, then rebound off it, hammering a double-fisted overhead punch onto the back of the monster’s neck. The beast stumbles from the blow, then slams me against the rock with its hindquarter. My lungs seize and I dig my claws into the creature’s side to push it off me.
Damn you, Yegress, for making such a combat-capable monster.
I give a heavy shove and the bear sidesteps off me but turns just as quickly. I pull out of range just in time as its dagger-like fangs snap in front of my face.
A glint of steel catches my eye and I dive for my axe. I channel my magic into the hilt, activating the runes carved into the head to enlarge the axe fourfold. The sucking feeling of the weapon taking my magic is a dim sensation compared to the bloodlust in my veins.
The beast swipes with a massive paw and I block the blow with the flat head of my axe, then twist it and draw the blade along its paw. The scrape of claws on metal sends sparks and blood flying. The monster yelps and retracts its arm, but not even a second later, the damage is healing.
How much magic does this bastard have?
I swing my axe in a wicked arc, leaving the beast no space to dodge. The blade sinks deep into the bear’s flank, and it retaliates with a savage bite to my arm. Some of its teeth sink between the gaps in my armor made from my transformation, and eviscerating pain lances up my shoulder.
I roar, smashing my head down against the bear’s nose. There’s a solidcrunchunder my forehead, but the monster doesn’t release me, shaking like it might shred my flesh. I move with the thrashing beast, preventing it from shearing my muscle.
The monster realizes this tactic is not working and stills itself. I lift my head for another strike when the beast’s claws rake down the side of my body. My tough demon hide protects me from the worst of it, leaving only a fiery ache and minor cuts in the wake of the attack. I smash my head down on its nose again, then ram my horn into its eye.
The bear bellows in pain, releasing my arm. I yank my axe free, but before I can get another hit in, I’m smashed in the side with a heavy paw. I fall over the cluster of rocks at the center of the clearing and roll away to avoid another pounding paw from the beast.
I try to get my feet under me, but the bear blocks my attempt to stand, snapping at my head again. I swing my axe as I fall to my back, clipping its nose before it can pull away.
The creature is nearly on top of me, its massive paws braced on either side of my hips. I jam my axe up at its face, but this is a poor position to attack from. It bats the weapon away and I take advantage of the moment it’s leg is up, allowing me to roll out from under its caging stance.
Another claw rakes down my spine as I escape, and I cry out from the pain. This one went deeper. This one did real damage.
Fuck.
I can’t win.
“Run, Lily! Take Kor’Tar!”
The sound of creaking wood and ruffling leaves fills the clearing. The monster roars in pain, and there’s a heavythud.
