Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
"Drive through them." Dax orders Malachi.
"I can't. There's another bridge ahead."
"Faen!"
"They're surrounding the truck."
"Then we stand and fight," Dax says, murderous fury in his voice. Even then, his hands are gentle as he lifts me off him. "As soon as we're out of the truck, climb into the front with Malachi, lyseste ljós. I want you glued to his side until I'm back in this truck. Understood?"
"Dax," I whisper, tears welling in my eyes. "Please."
"Understood, Rissa?" he says, shaking me gently.
"Y-yes."
He presses his lips to my forehead. "Hundre riker ville være for få til å inneholde min kjærlighet til deg."
Before I can ask what he said, he pulls free of my arms and flings himself out of the truck, his lyststål blazing to life in his hands. Reaper is a step behind him. I clamber over the console, dropping into the seat beside Malachi, trying desperately to keep my gaze on Dax.
I don't see the varulv at first. All I see are Dax and Reaper standing back to back, their lyststål at the ready. And then a thick shadow moves just beyond them. I rear back in shock, crying out.
The varulv are massive black wolves, standing taller than any wolf I've ever seen. Foam flecks their muzzles, their teeth razor-sharp and dripping their poison. Their breath steams before them as they pace closer to Dax and Reaper, staying just out of reach of their lyststål.
"Come, varulv," Reaper growls. "If you want her so badly, come and get her, you mangy mutts."
"Come taste the wrath of the Fae again," Dax taunts. "Just like you did in Valhalla when destroyed your kin."
The varulv closest to him darts forward, snapping those razor-sharp teeth. Dax spins to the right, his lyststål spinning in his hands like a baton. He barely misses the demon wolf. The wolf races out of reach just as the other darts forward, trying to get his teeth around Dax's leg.
Reaper brings his lyststål down.
I cry out, startled as the demon's head separates from his body, rolling into the dark.
The other varulv howl in fury for their fallen mate. One leaps against the truck, trying to break the glass. I cover my head, certain he's going to smash through the window into the vehicle with us.
Malachi curses up a storm beside me.
A second later, the varulv yelps.
"Got the bastard!" Malachi cheers.
I spread my fingers apart to see Dax holding the giant wolf. He tosses him, sending him careening into a tree. Leaves and branches shower down, but it doesn't slow the demon dog any. He's on his feet again in seconds, leaping at Dax's back.
Dax spins with his lyststål raised, slicing through the animal's throat. Blood splatters everywhere as the animal falls backward. He doesn't get up again.
Two others flank Reaper, trying to attack from both sides. The beautiful warrior doesn't even look tired as he whirls his lyststål overhead, ready to launch it at whichever of the two try him first. The smile on his face is sinister, deadly. He's enjoying this.
I think they both are.
Dax shakes off the blood of the varulv he just killed, stepping up beside Reaper. "Stop playing with your meal, brother. It's not nice."
"Meal?" Reaper scoffs. "These pups aren't even big enough to count as a snack. Letting my lyststål taste their blood is almost offensive."
Dax chuckles as the varulv closest to him snarls as if he understands the warriors' mocking. "Then let's be done with this and find a more fitting prize to play with."
"Ja," Reaper agrees.
They move so quickly I'm not even sure I see them move at all. One minute, they're standing still, talking smack. The next, they're five steps closer to the varulv, their lyststål whirling so fast they blur. The varulv leap at them, snarling and howling. Reaper was right, though. They aren't even a match for the warriors. Within seconds, the demon dogs are dead, their lifeless bodies falling to the ground.
Dax grins at Reaper, releasing his hold on his lyststål.
Reaper grins back, nudging one of the varulv with his foot. "That almost wasn't worth the effort. Either they've gotten slower over the centuries, or they were new blood."
Dax grunts his agreement. "Let's go melt this ice so we can get out of here before we have to find out one way or another. They weren't the only four in this forest. I hear the others out there still."
"Ja." Reaper jogs toward the bridge ahead, stepping over the bodies of the demon dogs.
"What happens to them?" I ask Malachi. "Will someone stumble across them?"
"Nah," Malachi answers. "Within hours, their bodies will desiccate. After that happens, a stiff enough wind will take care of what's left."
My stomach turns at his explanation, but it settles my mind too. At least no one will stumble across them and end up hurting themselves messing with something they don't understand. Humanity is good at that. We're told not to touch, and we can't resist doing exactly that.