Page 104 of Kiss of Light

Shit. At this speed, getting across was going to cost them precious time.

She heard the sound of hooves behind them a split second before a guttural voice barked a peremptory order.

“Stop!”

Lemar and Tala turned. Dozens of centaurs were standing in the treeline. All wielded weapons, and while Tala knew they were beyond the reach of swords, the same wasn’t true of the bows and spears.

The bestial which had spoken stepped forward. This was the commander, designated by the red ribbon tied around his massive bicep. He stood at least seventeen hands high at his withers. And the man half was no less impressive. Sweat gleamed on his muscular chest. The centaur stared at them from beneath a shelf-like brow. Tala threw him an insolent grin.

“So what’s the plan, straw-breath?” she taunted. “I’m guessing your boss told you to make it look like I killed the Vetali. Can’t do that if we’re both riddled with centaur arrows.”

“It doesn’t have to be both of you,” he said slyly. “Kill the vampire. Join us. Salaq will reward you well.”

“I work for Shadeed,” she said sharply.

“Yet I hear you have no master. A demon who is free to do as she pleases. You should pledge your loyalty to the next emperor of Nush’aldaam.”

“I already have.”

She flung her blade at the centaur. She was a fraction of a second too slow. The bestial jerked his head out of the way and the dagger few past, leaving a thin cut along his cheek.

His face twisted in brutish anger. Suddenly several dozen arrows were pointed at Tala and Lemar.

“Fralling bitch. I’m going to enjoy this.”

“Wait!”

Lemar yanked the second blade from the sheath on her hip and held it to her throat. Tala stared at him, dumbfounded.

“What the f…”

“Shut up,” he hissed. Raising his voice, he addressed the commander. “I surrender. Take us to Salaq, maybe we can work out a deal.”

“A deal?” The centaur smiled slowly. “Yes. Of course. A deal. Very well, we agree to your surrender.”

Tala shook her head urgently.

“Lemar, they’ll kill you as soon as…”

He struck her across the face. Shocked, she tasted blood on her lips. Lemar grabbed her hair and held her steady, knife once again at her throat. The centaurs laughed, ugly braying sounds.

“Good one, Vetali. Come over here and we’ll take care of her for you.”

“No.” Lemar’s tone was implacable. “I know this demon. If she sees any chance for escape, she’ll take it. You need to come get her while I have her.”

Impatiently, the bestial commander motioned to the others. They stepped out of the trees and into no-man’s land.

Tala watched, confused and shaken. She knew she could disarm Lemar but she was frozen by the sudden betrayal. If itwasa betrayal.

She refused to believe it. Yet the cut on her mouth was still bleeding. She forced herself to concentrate on the centaurs. They were nearly upon them.

Lemar pressed his lips to her ear.

“Whatever happens, don’t move,” he breathed.

The first centaur was just yards away when the ground erupted. A pink segmented body hurtled upwards, glistening in loathsome slime. It towered above the ground, featureless, sightless, yet it seemed to focus on the bestial.

The top of its worm-like body flared open like a monstrous flower to reveal concentric circles of tiny razor-sharp teeth.

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