Page 12 of Forged By Heart and Claws
Thalen’s head snapped up as the light flared. “Yes! Keep doing that!” Darkness re-engulfed us. More sparks flared into the air.
“Myantha, don’t move,” Thalen commanded and squeezed Myantha’s hands before releasing her and leaping. His wings caught the air and propelled him upward until he seized the chandelier over the nearest doorway. Darkness crashed back in around us, then more sparks flared. Thalen kept working at the fixtures by touch, lips curled in a focused snarl.
Heart pounding, I ran to the wall and grabbed one of the lamps. The oil sloshed within as the curved glass cooled my hands. If we weren’t afraid of being spotted anymore, light would help us fight.
Glass and metal clanked and rattled above, and the scent of lamp oil intensified. Vad flew to the next chandelier over the northern entrance. “Someone keep watch by the stairs. Shout when you see them.”
“Watching,” Rhielle called back. She shoved one of the small decorative tables into the pile.
Veralt finished stamping the rug into the stairwell and ran back up to the storeroom. “They’re almost here!” He ducked inside and began grabbing items without care.
“Is the bleeding getting worse?” Thalira’s voice shook.
Vyraetos shook his head, the lines in his face deepening. “The wounds aren’t clotting.”
“You’re going to have to tourniquet them.” I grabbed more lamps from the wall beyond the doorway and brought them back. “Those wounds won’t stop bleeding for anything. It’s something in the venom. Whatever you do, don’t get cut on anything else.”
“I’m so cold,” Yuki whispered, sagging back against the wall. Blood had soaked her arm and into the green of her dress, making a red river down the bodice and skirt. It dripped to the floor in a puddle. Thalira’s hemorrhage was slower, not yet dripping through the cloth wrapped around her hand, but already the fabric was darkening.
“I’ll get a fire going. You’re gonna be warm, I promise.” Quen’s voice was tight, and her hands shook as she struck the flint and steel. “You can’t die on us, all right? Neither of you. I’m not giving anyone permission to die.”
Velessa stroked the hair back from Yuki’s face. “It’s all right. We’re going to get you safe. You’ll get back to your sisters.” She swallowed hard, her throat bobbing and her features pale as if she didn’t believe the words she’d spoken.
My heart clenched, and my blood chilled even more. Fate help us. How much time did we really have? Yuki might have an hour or so if we kept her still. Thalira would have longer, as long as the bleeding didn’t worsen. Neither could be injured again.
I had to focus on the fight at hand. Saving them would be impossible if we all died out here, but we had to move fast, or their time would run out.
Quen struck the flint again and again.Tchk-tchk-tchk!More sparks flared. Each one flashed into existence with enough light to burn in that moment. They fell onto the small tinder pile, pale smoke curling upward.
Veralt shoved more tinder in her direction, smashed his boot through two paintings, and then thrust those at her too. “Here, fire girl.”
Grunting in acknowledgment, Quen scooped up the tinder and rearranged it on the painting before resuming her strikes with the flint and steel.Tchk! Tchk!
My wolf growled, her hackles lifting. Something was coming, and she inched forward in preparation.
She wanted to shift.
My skin tingled, and fur sprouted on my body as I linked to Vad,I’m shifting.Then my bones broke, and I found myself on all fours. My eyes widened as my heart thrummed steadily and blood flowed faster through my veins. Whatever had kept me from shifting in the Ceremonial Hall was gone here.
A strange shivering sensation trembled down my spine, and my breath caught. There was no ripped fabric around me. How was that possible? Instead of standing in the remnants of my gown and kicking off the sneakers withShadow Queenwritten in sequins on the bottom, I had taken on my full wolf form and left behind no evidence of the outfit I’d been wearing.
That’s better. They won’t be able to spot you as easily,Vad replied as he continued working.Watch out too. Crossbowmen and scouts generally wear leather armor, spearmen vary, and swordsmen typically wear metal plate armor.
Boots pounded closer, and metal plate armor rattled, not just from the stairwell below but from the south hall and then—I twisted my head in time to see movement in the eastern hall. A thin, dark-clad male shape crept closer, gaze fixed on Vad as the chandelier groaned and clanked on the opposite side of the room. He lifted a crossbow from his side.
Vad, southern hall!I lunged past the others, my claws clattering on the stone.
The man froze mid-step less than twenty feet away. His lips tightened, and he whipped his crossbow down to point at me, aiming for my throat.
Too slow.
I jumped and slammed into the scout’s chest hard enough to send him crashing into the wall. The impact vibrated up my jaw and stung my forelegs.
Briar?Vad linked to my mind, fear in his voice.
I’ve got this. They’re coming through the southern hall too.
The man gasped, eyes wide, and brought the crossbow up again, the bolt aimed point-first at my muzzle. I bit down on his hands, and his bones made a sickening crunching noise.
