Page 110 of Forged By Heart and Claws
Across the Ceremonial Hall, Colm’s attention snapped to us, and his face drained of color as his sneer vanished.
“Isn’t this poetic,Douchewaffle?” I growled and thenslashed.
The dagger tore across her throat. Her scream died in a wet gurgle as warm blood sprayed across my face.
Colm’s roar shattered the air with primal fury. His face contorted with rage as he abandoned his fight with Vad and shot toward me like a missile, too rageful for words.
Vad's voice slammed into my mind.Move right!
I launched sideways, and Colm crashed into the altar behind me. Stone shattered beneath the impact, shards flying like shrapnel. I tumbled across the dais with my wings flaring to slow my momentum.
Colm had barely risen before Vad slammed into him. Shadows coiled around Colm like chains as Vad drove him back into the altar with bone-cracking force. The stone groaned and splintered again. Smoke blades lashed out, one slicing Vad’s shoulder, another cutting a red line across his shoulder and cheek.
My wolf surged inside me. She did not ask, shedemanded.The shift yanked at me with feral urgency, but instead of bone-snapping pain, the transformation poured through me like a flood. In a heartbeat, I was on four paws.
I shook out my fur, blinking in surprise. It shimmered silver in the firelight, my paws and tail edged in the same deep crimson as my wings.
Around me, every shadow wolf froze. One by one, they turned and locked their crimson eyes on me. Something inside meclickedlike a door thrown open, and hundreds of new bonds flared to life.
The largest wolf, scarred and hulking, stepped forward and lowered its head in reverence.What would you have us do, High Queen?
High Queen? The title startled me, and I ignored it. There were too many other important things to be handled right now. I looked toward Vad, who was still locked in combat with Colm.Shadows and smoke continued to billow around them as they grappled on the altar.
Veralt and Rhielle were surrounded by a tighter circle of guards now, and Veralt’s arm bled from a large gash. One of Rhielle’s shadows pressed deep into the wound to serve as a working bandage and to keep him from bleeding as badly as she slashed and battled the guards coming after them. Several cuts on her arms and torso were bleeding, her gown shredded.
Thalen and Myantha were cornered under an overhang on the bride-side door, with Thalen sending wind blades and parrying with all his strength while Myantha levitated rocks and struck their attackers. But there were still too many of Colm’s people.
Focus on Vad and my friends, and take down Colm’s followers.
The shadow wolves howled and surged forward at my command, their crimson eyes blazing as they leapt into battle. They tore through Colm's guards, attacking the ones harming my friends and cornering the ones who dropped their weapons. The massive pack leader launched itself at three guards that were attacking Rhielle with spears, its jaws closing around one soldier's arm and dragging him backward.
A painful spasm shot through the mate bond. I spun back to Vad and Colm. Vad bled from the chest, blood arcing in a spray from Colm’s smoke blades. Vad snarled in response, straining to reach the merlinite orb as Colm tried to press it against his forehead.
I shot forward, claws clicking across the marble. This asshole would learn the consequences of harming my mate!I’m coming. Just get his hand over the edge of the altar.
Vad twisted, his shadows boiling and dropping. Something in Colm’s magic was draining or suppressing his power, but he gritted his teeth. One of his shadows hooked around Colm’shand as two other tendrils fought off the gray smoke blades and another nicked Colm on the cheek.
I leaped the last few feet as Vad shoved Colm’s hand out. My jaws parted, and I lunged for Colm’s outstretched fingers. My jaws clamped on the merlinite orb, and my teeth pierced his hand, tearing through flesh and bone. The sickening crunch was followed by a warm flood of blood that filled my mouth with its metallic tang. Three of his fingers came away in my jaws.
Colm's agonized scream pierced the Ceremonial Hall. The sound was almost inhuman, echoing off the marble walls as he clutched his mangled hand to his chest.
Vad didn't wait a heartbeat. With Colm distracted by pain, Vad surged forward, his shadows coiling around him like living weapons. He slammed Colm down on the altar, deepening the crack in the fractured stone.
I spat out the orb and fingers by the throne and spun around to see how else I could protect my mate.
Vad pressed his forearm against Colm's throat. If I could be human right now… Something exploded through me, and before I even realized it, I was back in human form. I looked down and gasped.
Instead of my bloodstained gray tunic and trousers, I wore an iridescent purple gown that shimmered with each movement, the fabric flowing around me like liquid starlight. My hands were clean of blood despite what I'd just done.
Bond-curdling hatred seared through me as Vad wrapped his shadows around Colm’s throat. “You killed my father and my mother, and you would have killed my mate.”
“Do you think I will beg for mercy? I will not,” Colm growled, his face twisted in anger.
The dagger!
I searched for it and saw it glistening on the dais floor only a few feet away.I’ve got the perfect end for him.
Vad tensed, his gaze cutting to me.What?
