Page 209 of The Lands Defying
Wrapping my power around the beast to immobilize it for a moment, I lunge, blade in hand and aiming for its temple. The iron sinks in, the snarling beast’s struggling movements halting before he drops to the floor.
I growl, snarling down at it before looking over at Drax and Runa. They are tearing apart a rogure, arguing over who’s kill it is, trying to force each other out the way. I whistle to get Draxton’s attention.
“Let her have it, you have had more than your fair share of them over the years.” And he has. When others weren’t looking, when it was only my closest near, I let Drax out when needed.
He’s ferocious, and when his black flames catch on his prey, they consume them until there is nothing left.
Nothing can put them out.
But they don’t harm me, or any other who Drax deems worthy.
Drax growls around the rotting flesh at my command, then he huffs and lets go. Runa latches straight on it, dragging it away from Drax. But when he makes a low sound, Runa pauses for a moment, rag-dolling it, but not moving any further away.
Drax must have still wanted her near.
I know the feeling.
I look to Rhea where she lays, a hand on the lilk trees. She wanted to make sure the barrier is at full strength to protect Eridian while we took care of the enemy.
Her eyes are closed, her lips slightly parted and I can’t help but look at my men, glaring to let them know not to look at her.
She looks serene, peaceful, and only I can see that.
As if she can sense my gaze on her, she peels her eyes open and they instantly connect with mine. I feel that pull again, that need to be near, to sink inside of her, to feel her soul.
But I hold off.
There are still some beasts to kill and some rogures to eradicate.
Her cheeks heat when I don’t break my stare, a shy smile forming on her lips and I want to bite them, lick them and claim them.
Fuck.
I pull my eyes away, watching as Jerrod brings his axe down, cleaving a rogure in two.
Maybe we don’t have many left to kill after all.
Leo and Damian took down the last beast while Drax and Runa go for more rogures. When I hear a noise behind me, I turn to see a rogure tearing into one of my already dead men, fury fills me.
I growl, my magic coating my skin and I go for the rogure.
Sensing the predator behind it, it spins, jaws ready but it’s not ready for me.
I punch the side of its face, sending it crashing to the ground and then I’m stabbing it.
It’s only when Drax comes over with Runa, who nudges me that I realize the rogure is dead, that I was still stabbing it.
Breathing heavily through my anger, I look to the dead.
We lost seven, maybe more.
Seven males who had families.
Seven letters I need to send out to let them know they are dead.
I hang my head.
With these dead and the ones at the keep…I’m still not enough to protect them.
