Page 31 of Bound By Blood
The door slammed open, cracking against the wall and shaking the building. Traelan sprang inside, brandishing a silver sword. "Surrender now, answer my questions, and maybe I let you live."
Ryul shoved her behind him. Massive but nearly transparent wings erupted from his back, filling the cottage with the strong scent of smoke, iron, and cedar. They struck her in the face and knocked her back as he lunged between her and Traelan. One wing swept a shelf completely off the wall. The little jars shattered on the floor. They pulsed with startling power.
Polph. She cringed as the wings knocked her back a second time.
His trying to save her was almost more damaging than if Traelan had attacked her. She caught herself against the wall and pushed back up as Buttons cowered behind her.
"Who in the void are you?" Ryul snarled, glaring at Traelan. He'd spread his arms and broadened his stance, making himself seem larger, his fingers curled like claws. And fangs. He actually had fangs.
"Well." Traelan's brow tweaked as he lowered his sword. "You're clearly not the one I'm looking for. Who are your parents, boy?"
"Who are you?" Ryul demanded. His fangs glistened especially bright at the tips, iridescent liquid gathering at the tips. Venom?
"Traelan, what are you doing here? You are not welcome here!" She tried to duck under Ryul's wing, but it pulsed and knocked her back again, muscles rippling along his back and spine. For looking like they weren't all there, they were startlingly strong.
Traelan did not take his gaze from Ryul's face. "I am looking for a particular blood fae. Wrongs must be righted, child. Who are your parents?"
"Are you a servant of Volsrei?" Ryul glared at him.
Traelan spat on the floor. "Death would be better."
"Hey!" She shoved Ryul's wing aside and stepped between him and Traelan. She snapped her fingers at Traelan. "Do not spit in my house. I don't care if you do have a sword. Also, there will be no fighting."
Ryul kept his gaze fixed on Traelan. "My parents were consumed in the fight against Volsrei."
"Who is your family?"
"The Blood Spear and the Red Thorn. My parents were Corvus and Elara. They were not the only ones claimed in the battle."
Traelan sheathed his sword. His manner softened. "Your family is an unusual one. I was sorry to hear of your loss. Is the rest of your family here?"
Ryul's face lined, a muscle in his jaw jumping. "No. I am alone."
Traelan set his arms akimbo, his brow furrowing. He looked Ryul up and down, his gaze falling on his wings. "You're awfully young to be out of the family home, aren't you?"
"I'm two hundred seventy-eight," he said sourly, "and what I do is none of your concern. You're the one who broke in here."
"Only two hundred seventy-eight?" Traelan's dark eyebrows lifted. "That's very unusual."
What made that unusual? She scowled.
Ryul nodded, his focus still on Traelan. "I don't see how it is any of your concern."
"What happened to the rest of your family? If they are dedicated to the elimination of Volsrei, then—"
"Volsrei was defeated," Ryul said sharply.
"Truly?" Traelan frowned.
"I saw it with my own eyes. He was shattered across the realms."
"Is there a place where I might verify the truth of this matter?"
"Past boundary marker for the Barrens Wild and beyond the Raven Crag to the Eternal Pool. There are fragments scattered along with bits of his vessel. If you know what you're looking for, you're certain to find it."
Traelan looked him up and down as if contemplating something. "If that is so, then my family and my kind thanks yours."
"What family and what kind might that be?" Ryul demanded.
