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)
A spell buzzed right past me, a narrow miss. Tristan turned and grabbed me, firing up into the sky so fast that I might’ve peed myself a little. He held me as we did a circle, weaving in between the magical attacks and dipping so I could get spells fired off or shields hastily erected at the last moment.
Gargoyles attacked, but not as a cohesive unit. They didn’t have a clear idea of what to do. They weren’t as fast or agile as Tristan or my crew gargoyles. They didn’t know how to engage.
I worked at those connections again, trying to energize. Trying to bring them back together. I panted in fatigue but didn’t give up.
Thankfully, my crew was well versed in all of this. They were the saving grace. Ulric took a hit, though, losing his grip on Sebastian. His roar sent a message to our team. Help!
Someone needed to grab Sebastian. He could catch himself in a magical net, but then he’d be a sitting duck for the enemy mages.
I flared my hands, frustrated when Tristan didn’t recognize the signal I’d established with Nathanial. This time I added a little electricity in the movement and a wiggle, flaring my hands again.
Sebastian fell, utterly composed, trusting that one of us would grab him. He kept firing at the mages, and his spells were starting to get through whatever potion or deterrent they’d taken.
Tristan loosened his grip and then caught on; a shock of alarm coursed through him as he noticed Sebastian falling. Letting go of me, he sliced through the air, dodging enemy spells and snatching Sebastian up before Jasper or Mr. Tom were able to get there.
A lead enforcer led a group of gargoyles down through the spells with zero fear or hesitation. I flapped my wings as hard as I could, trying to get closer so my defending spells would be more focused. Gargoyle arms closed around me, and I recognized the coloring of one of the cairn enforcers. He picked up speed rapidly, and downward we shot.
My spell covered the others right in time, blocking blasts from three mages, but I didn’t have enough juice to reflect the power back at them.
In a moment, it didn’t matter.
That little defense was all the gargoyles needed. They closed the distance in record time and dug their claws into the mages. Their wings flapped as they pulled the mages into the sky, making short work of frail bodies. When they were done, they threw the bodies down at the others.
Five mages to go.
One saw the carnage, turned, and ran back toward a street where a line of black cars was parked.
He shouldn’t have turned his back on a swarm of gargoyles.
The gargoyle holding me let go and went after him immediately, easily dodging the spells tossed over the mage’s shoulder. The other mages ran in different directions, not used to the aerial onslaught.
Shifters roared behind me as I hammered down spells, taking advantage of the mages’ fear and confusion.
Shadows materialized behind one of the mages who had just fired into the sky. Edgar zoomed in behind him with a cheerful “Hi!” He dug his fangs into the startled mage’s neck and stayed there as Nessa appeared behind another and peppered his body with her knife blades.
“Jessie, look out!”
I turned in time to see a blast of light coming right for me. My hands were slow in rising, or maybe time had just slowed down. I didn’t have the opportunity to say the words to protect myself, or even duck out of the way. Only one thought formed in my brain: This is gonna hurt.
I prepared to heal myself as a big body slammed into mine. Tristan. The shot hit him in the side, tearing through his wing and making him grunt in pain. We careened, spiraling quickly—Tristan only had one wing now.
Struggling free, I switched our positioning, holding him as best I could and making a pathetic attempt to fly with him. He was much too heavy for my meager wings. Choosing a plan B, I began healing him in earnest as I lowered us, made it down, and then helped him get to cover. In a moment, I was rising again. Only two mages were left, and Sebastian hovered over them, held by Jasper, keeping them busy.
I headed that way, once again grabbed by a random gargoyle, and helped Sebastian rain down magic. Our spells were faster and harder than theirs. The mages quailed, sinking down, and then screamed when five gargoyles swooped down to finish them.
Breathing hard, I looked back toward the mercenaries. Then realized there were no more mercenaries. Not any who were left standing.
Ulric’s was the first roar of victory. His flying was a little wonky, but he was still in the air. Jasper joined, and then all the gargoyles were roaring, joined in a chorus by shifters and basajaunak.