Page 310 of Halfblood Deceived

“Isaiah,” she whispered in disbelief.

CHAPTER 60

“Isaiah,” Aella said again. “You’re alive.”

He looked the same as always when shifted into his stone form—seven feet tall plus horns, dressed in leather pants. His bestial features were dear to Aella instead of unnerving. He kept his massive wings tucked near his body and had a sword in each hand. The only novelty was the scar on his stomach where he’d been stabbed that horrible night.

“I am.” He examined her face. “And you are… beautiful.”

He strangely seemed to mean it, even though Aella was sure she looked like a mess. And that no one else seemed to think so.

She smiled at him anyway. “I’m glad to see you again.”

“And I’m glad to see you, Aella,” Isaiah said.

“Traitor!” Micah screamed, shifting into his bestial form. “Kill the traitor. But the halfbreed whore is mine!”

The gargoyles readied their weapons, but hesitated. Apparently, they found 15-to-2 fights a wee bit scary. How shocking, Aella thought acidly. What a bunch of cowards.

Automatically, she and Isaiah stood back to back.

Aella summoned her blades back to her hands and tsked at Micah. “So you still haven’t found your courage, eh? Chickenshit.” She made clucking noises at him.

Micah huffed like a bull.

“You realize we are going to die, right?” Isaiah asked, confused.

“Yep,” Aella admitted. “But I’m trying out a friend’s theory. You can play along.”

Isaiah hummed thoughtfully. “Are you going to stand there all day?” he boomed at the gargoyles. “I’m growing bored.”

A hysterical giggle escaped Aella.

“Like that?” Isaiah asked in a low tone.

“Like that,” Aella confirmed.

The gargoyles let out a battle cry and launched themselves at both.

Aella was sore, weak, and drained, but she didn’t let that stop her.

She went back to her dodge-parry-slice routine. Her power was depleted, so she had to settle for using her blades and try not to lose a limb.

Isaiah was wickedly fast for someone so big. He used his swords, his power, and even his wings to protect himself and Aella. Hells, he used one gargoyle to smash another.

But they were severely outnumbered.

And Aella was weakening a bit more with every heartbeat.

It was only a matter of time.

And the time came sooner than she thought.

Aella received a blast on her side that put her in the way of a gargoyle who kicked her middle. She flew off her feet and into the fountain, sliding across the water until her back hit the stone edge.

Coughing, ears ringing, and ribs aching, she stood, only to find an arm wrapped around her neck.

“Let’s see how long your bravado lasts now, whore,” Micah said in her ear as he dragged her out of the fountain.

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