Page 59 of Bound By Blood
"Just give the woman more time," Traelan snapped. "You say you have shown me the proper respect, but you aren't willing to grant a full night and day to see if something can be done to permanently—" He shouted with pain as Alrik cut his arms and palms. Black blood flowed out of the wounds.
Thurra unsheathed her carved short sword. "Don't make this harder than it has to be," she said grimly. "None of us like this."
"Then don't do it." Erryn crouched down, her hand near the cast iron skillet. "I'd rather not hurt you, but I will."
"You? Hurt me? What? Are you gonna try to fry me?" She strode around the fire.
Erryn sprang up and struck Thurra in the shoulder with the cast iron skillet, spilling hot grease on her arm and knocking her off the staircase. The woman fell into the leaves below with a shriek of pain and surprise.
Something hissed and sparked at the edge of the platform. The rocks extended outward. A glowing red-purple lined portal appeared, shimmering and glowing in the darkness. It hummed louder and sharper, like a whole hive of bees. If she moved back even a half step, she'd risk falling through.
Footsteps pounded toward her. She spun back around.
Nendri charged up the stairs, short sword ready, eyes blazing.
Erryn lifted the skillet like it was a club. "You want some of the same?" she shouted at him.
A sharp little bark rang out into the night. Not from the ground, but up in the trees. In the air!
The fir branches snapped out of the way as Buttons flew out, barking and growling. Her mouth fell open as she gasped in delight. He was flying! The little pup had his paws splayed out like he wasn't even sure how he was doing this, and his little tail lashed back like a whip, but he was flying.
Nendri gaped at him, eyes bugging. "What in the—"
Buttons slammed into his face, snarling and biting.
Nendri screeched and fell back. His foot tipped over the edge of the staircase, and he crashed backward. Buttons pulled up just in time to break free and flew toward Erryn, barking and wagging his tail as if to ask if he had done well.
"Oh, sweet baby!" She swept Buttons up in one arm and kissed him between the eyes. "You tracked me down, and you found me. And you flew!"
Buttons barked. His stubby tail struck her arm.
"This means you're just as good as a garm, doesn't it? Better even!"
"Erryn!" Traelan shouted.
She froze as she glimpsed movement below. Ilvan had a crossbow pointed at her. She tightened her grip on the frying pan. Guess she'd find out if she could use it as a shield.
"Walk through the portal now," he growled. "And you can take your little dog if you like."
A purple shadow shot down and struck the ground next to the firepit. The earth cracked under his feet. Sparks rose from the fire.
Ryul?
He stood, his stance broad as his wings flared and his arms spread, making himself look even larger than he had in the cottage. His eyes glowed with red-purple fury as he bared his fangs.
"Which of you stole my woman?" he snarled.
Well, that made her feel a way. Polph, ordinarily she didn't like being called “woman,” but putting “my” in front of it and having him be the one to say it, and she was ready to jump him from here.
Ilvan swung around to face Ryul, his finger starting to tighten on the trigger. Ryul glared at him and curled two fingers in. Ilvan's eyes bulged as he started to lift up into the air.
Alrik crouched down, his gaze fixed on Ryul, blade at the ready. He started forward. Ryul curled two more fingers, and Alrik lurched up into the air, gagging.
"Do none of you understand what you are dealing with? Have none of you battled a blood fae before? I could rip the blood out of your veins and turn it into ropes to bind you before any of you could reach me."
Disa darted toward him, a dagger flashing in her hand.
Ryul barely glanced in her direction as he curled another two fingers in. She skidded backward and rose into the air. "A half-skilled blood fae could make all of you dance like marionettes."
