Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 640(@200wpm)___ 512(@250wpm)___ 427(@300wpm)
His eyes hadn’t changed color but now glowed brightly, hazel-orange.
“How has no one ever questioned your eyes?” I asked, mesmerized for a moment.
“No one quesh-ons great-nesss.”
I gave him a flat stare. “Sure, bub. Whatever you say.”
Magic rocketed from my fingers, a doozy of a spell but one that wouldn’t kill him, even at full power. It would hurt like hell, though.
It smashed into him center mass but then flowed around him as though hitting an oil slick. It was like he repelled the magic, as though he had a natural deflection spell around his body.
No problem. Sebastian usually had magical defenses. It was really just a matter of altering the approach.
A quick tweak to the spell, then I hit him again. This time only part of the spell flowed around him. The rest struck. Hard.
He jolted back, scrabbling for purchase, and then lowered his head as he took it silently.
I upped my power more, and then more, nearly at max now, hammering him. His claws scraped against the roof tiles. He doubled over, taking the onslaught, clearly trying not to utter a sound.
Something about that really annoyed me. It wasn’t logical. I was actually thankful to the guy for saving Nessa and felt he’d endured his punishment admirably. Austin wouldn’t have uttered a sound, either.
It was my gargoyle who wasn’t pleased. She wanted him to submit. She wanted this mammoth of a gargoyle with hidden talents to succumb to her force, and to do it stubbornly, as befitted his kind. Our kind.
Choosing a crushing spell now, one that would force him to kneel before me, I stepped forward and shot it out. Words went into this one. Body movements. It hit him with stinging intensity, nearly full power.
A low growl started within his chest, deep and loud.
“Sabby, apply a soundproof bubble,” Nessa yelled.
She was just in time.
Tristan’s wings snapped out, and their size was staggering. He straightened up slowly, spread out his large arms, and then leaned forward and roared at me so loudly it was nearly deafening.
Challenge accepted.
He stared me down, taking the pain. Taking the power. He stepped forward, his effort plain. Once, and then again, closing the distance.
“You want to play ball, big guy?” I asked, my excitement rising. “I’ll play. Bet your leader never did this.”
Another spell, hard and fast and brutal but short-lived. I wanted to let him build up a little confidence. I wanted him to get in over his head. Magic wasn’t just physical. The best mages added a mental component to help break their target down.
He stepped forward again, and I stared back at him, daring him to rush me. I’d rip up this dress, no problem. I’d scatter these jewels without hesitation. Austin would understand. What was happening here was more important than stupid displays of wealth. More important than looking good or staying clean. More important than those close-minded leaders and their ideas of what their species should be. I felt that truth deep in my gut. I felt it with an assurance that couldn’t be explained.
“Come and get it,” I muttered, and he did charge then. With a roar, he came at me with blinding speed.
Good thing I’d spent my entire magical life training with a stronger, faster alpha.
I dodged and countered with a spell, slicing across his tough hide. A line of red opened up, dripping crimson. Not deep enough, though. His natural magic was playing defense.
He turned, his wings whipping around. Nessa had taught me how to fight dirty, so I grabbed one of the thin bones running through the middle of a wing in two hands and snapped it before yanking, tearing it. A strange liquid dribbled out, like blood but bright orange. I shook my head, wondering if it was a trick of my eyes.
His grunt was pained.
Felt that, did you?
A spell at his feet had him hopping in surprise. Gargoyles never expected you to go low. Then I went for the eyes, making him duck while I hurried to his other wing. I snapped another little bone, ripping for all I was worth.
He swung around and grabbed at me, his claws nicking my shoulder. Good thing he was so big—he was practically tripping over himself in this small space. He was used to the wide-open skies, where even a massive brute like him had plenty of room to maneuver.
Another bone, more of that strange liquid. Did he bleed bright orange out of his wings, or was he something other than a gargoyle? Maybe a hybrid monster posing as a gargoyle?
Feet aching, I quickly slipped around to his back. My small size was an advantage here. Without hesitation, I kicked upward as hard as I could, smashing my foot between his thighs. I’d seen what he was working with. He was as big as Austin. This would hurt like the bejeezus, not enough to bring him crashing down, but plenty to piss him off.