Page 48 of Faerie Hunted

Helpless.

Son of a bitch, that hurt!

Black dots danced in front of me, and through the blur I saw them wrestle Noren to the ground, slamming his head down to the dirt repeatedly. His growl cut off unnaturally and he fell still.

The warriors dropped him and turned to me, their eyes glowing red.

The pain took a back seat to the red hot fury coursing through my blood. They’d hurt my partner. Despite my disadvantage, I drew on my power and forced the change as well.

I’d barely escaped against one male in halfling warrior form. Against two, and working with my zombie bite, I stood no chance.

Not a single damn chance.

They snarled out a warning, and without waiting for my vision to clear, I launched at them. Landing just short and gnashing at the closest warrior’s leg. The surprise had him tripping.

I stalked forward, my hackles lifted, muscles contorting as I stepped up beside Noren. My bones gave a twang before they contorted and lengthened. My snout grew longer, teeth sharper, and black hair grew thick along my muscled arms and legs.

They were still much larger than me. Without thought, I pounced, enraged enough to tear them to shreds.

The one on the left saw me coming and opened his mouth to roar out a warning. The ground shook, the trees dropping multiple leaves in a maelstrom around us.

I pivoted to avoid the swipe of his claws and came up swinging with a roar of my own. His eyes grew wide with shock, the whites showing, and I raked my claws across his jaw.

We were motion itself, but to stop would be to damn us both.

Noren needed me.

Noren was hurt and all he’d done was try to protect me.

I went full out, despite not being at my best. Their scents were noxiously strong, a combination of musk and sweat and hormones. I was wild and furious and the smell drove me out of my mind in the worst kind of way.

Without the strength in my limbs, I was as good as meat to these guys.

They worked together seamlessly, partners from way back if I had to guess, and the one on the left brought his paw down toward the top of my skull.

I ducked at the last moment, turning to kick against the nearest tree trunk and gain momentum. I came up swinging with a rock in my paw and let it fly.

It hit the shifter in the side and he yelped, howling, clutching his side.

How do you like some cracked ribs,fucker?

I redoubled my efforts and pushed off the ground, grabbing the nearest tree limb and swinging around to land behind the second warrior.

He turned, much too slow with his enormous bulk, and I took him around the midsection and pushed him to the ground.

A bonfire glowed inside of me as I reared back and sliced my claws across the warrior’s back. I realized I’d barely grazed his skin as he bucked beneath me.

If I didn’t take care of them, they’d take care of me. I just needed them unconscious. Then I could get Noren and find Onyx.

I dug my claws in deeper until I cut through fur and skin and tendon.

The warrior’s howl of pain split the forest air, but my triumph was cut short when his cohort grabbed me around the neck and yanked.

I flew off the other one’s back, my air supply cut. Choking, I reached for my magic, the deep swirling pool of it. There was more to this than physical might. If I had enough magic to complete the change, then I had enough to work a spell.

I’d call down the sun. I knew how to use the elements to help myself.

I scrambled to get free at the same time, kicking out with my hind legs but finding no purchase. I wrapped lethal claw-tipped fingers around the shifter's bulky forearms to pry him off of me.

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