Page 69 of Queen of the Crimson Throne

Luka?I asked again.Luka!

It looks like we will have our hands full out here as well. The quake did wake some monsters after all.

Before I could reply, the monsters rounded the corner.Sixmonsters—there were six of them. Their bodies were massive and they each had three heads, each bearing a resemblance to a different creature. What in the Goddess name kind of magic created these mutations?

I ran towards the first creature. My sword cut through one of its heads, the one resembling a boar with its massive curved horns protruding from its rectangular snout. The creature’s blood sprayed. I couldn’t tell what color it was in the dim light, but it didn’t look red and the smell was foul. Certainly not normal blood.

I tried for a second head, but the creature snapped its jaws, its long snake-like fangs scraping my arm, clear through the fabric of my leathers. I hissed and took a step back. I clenched my jaw against the force of the blow as my sword thrust through the monster’s body, the cut on my arm burning.

The two remaining heads let out a shriek before its body collapsed onto the floor in a heap. I didn’t spare them a second glance before I bounded towards two more monsters that entered the dead end, shooting out with my flames in one hand and my sword in the other.

The creature hissed as it erupted in a ball of flames. My sword found home in the other creatures leg, it limped slightly as it came towards me again, its three heads growling at me as slobber—or poison—dripped from their maws.

I grabbed the daggers from my side and flung them, one after another toward the beast, but it didn’t slow them.

It ran toward me, its growl shaking the tunnel as I speared my sword through one of the skulls as another one dipped low for my leg.

I screamed as its teeth pierced through my leathers into my thigh.Holy stars. I clenched my teeth as the creature tightened its hold, its teeth puncturing through flesh and bone. I removed my sword from the creature with all the strength I could muster.

Lennox. Are you okay?Luka’s concerned voice pierced through my mind.How strong was this fucking bond?

Fine. I bit out.Only a little scratch. I panted.

I moved through the pain, slicing my sword up through the creature’s chest. It removed its grip from my leg and I screamed, stumbling back, my sword ripping from my grasp as the creature reared back and growled as it assessed me.

Fuck.

I could feel the blood gushing from the wound on my leg. My blood soaked through my leathers and dripped down my body. The ground beneath my feet was slippery from it. I took a deep breath and blocked out the pain.

Later.

The creature regained its posture and came barreling towards me again with my sword still embedded in its chest and one head hanging lifeless at its side.

I kicked out with my non-injured leg, forcing it back a step as I stumbled, my injury screamed under the pressure, but I clenched my teeth and tried again to block it out. Wounds would heal, but I had to make it out of here alive.

I closed my hand around the dagger strapped to my other side but turned at the flash of movement at my back.

I wasn’t fast enough. The creature I had left in flames had recovered. Its charred body was still quick as it scraped its claws down my back.

I screamed, my dagger clamoring to the floor.

Lennox? Lennox, are you okay?

I stumbled for my dagger, my back screaming as I stood. The creature with my sword still embedded in its chest swiped for me with its barbed tail, hitting me in the chest and slamming me against the wall of the cave as its barbs pierced through my leathers. I tried to take a step, but the creature lashed out with its tail again. This time my head slammed against the stone wall of the tunnel.

Lennox.

Stars danced in my vision. I tried to blink them away, tryingto stay standing as the world became blurry around me. I could still hear Kara and Luce fighting around me.

The tail came again. My entire body slammed against the wall. I screamed as the raw flesh of my back scraped against the wall as I slid to the floor.

I tried to stand—the hilt of my dagger bit into my palm as I gripped it tighter.

I need to stand.

I needed—Lennox.

That voice. I needed to get to that voice.

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