Page 95 of Flame and Fury

“Seriously, you two. Stop flirting,” Greer shouts, barely dodging out of the beast's way when he takes a swing at her. She considers this flirting?

“You’re a strange woman, Greer.” I pick up my fallen sword. Our flashlights are scattered on the ground, creating a crisscrossed pattern that provides just enough light for us to see. Drake has dropped the flail, and he and Nico are taking turns rushing in and punching the minotaur.

“Time to stop playing around,” Wren says, picking the flail up off the ground.

She swings it over her head a few times until it’s humming in the air. The Minotaur lowers his head like he’s about to charge and Wren takes aim. The spiked ball connects with his skull with a sickening crack. The beast stumbles back, his hoofed hand lifting to the side of his head. I don’t waste the opportunity, launching myself onto his back and slamming my sword straight through until it pops out of his chest. The minotaur rears back with a howl, throwing me off, but my sword stays buried in his back.

“You pissed him off now.” Nico sounds excited. He’s got a collection of knives in his hand and proceeds to throw them with impressive precision. One embeds itself into the beast’s eye, and his roar causes the ceiling to crack, dust raining down on us.

Wren takes a running leap and jumps on the minotaur’s back. She climbs him like a wall until her arms are around his thick neck, holding on while he thrashes. Not only does she manage to cling to him, but in the chaos, she somehow gets the amulet free.

“Greer!” Wren shouts, tossing the necklace to Greer, who’s closest.

“Get the fuck off him, Wren.” My sword is buried in the minotaur, but I don’t want to attack him while Wren is holding onto him anyway.My heart is stuck in my throat as I helplessly stand off to the side.

My hesitation costs me.

The beast bends forward, flipping Wren over his head. I watch in slow motion, helpless, as his head surges up, and Wren's body is impaled on his horn.

“No!” I bellow, my cry shaking the rafters.

The horn of the beast is sticking out of Wren’s stomach. Her back is bowed over his head. That’s not enough for him, though. The minotaur shakes his head, with an angry snort. Wren goes flying, crashing into the graffitied cement wall with a sickening sound.

My vision turns red around the edges. The tunnel brightens as though lightning skitters down the track. I move so fast that the Minotaur doesn’t see me coming. With a jump, I kick him in the back with both feet, knocking him forward. Rage pumps in my veins. I yank my sword out with a shout and bring it down on the beast’s neck with all my strength.

The blade only makes it halfway. I hack at the bastard’s neck until I’m covered in blood, and his head is rolling around on the ground. Drawing back my leg, I kick the head down the tunnel, where it lands in the mud with a final plop.

My breaths saw in and out of my chest. I turn toward Wren, my heart shredding at the sight of her limp body. I’ll call Hermes. We’ll get the fuck out of here. Get her help. Get her healed.

Another drone flies above us. I slash at it with my sword, destroying it with one swipe. “Keep sending them, and I’ll keep taking them down,” I shout, rushing toward my future. My whole world.

“Wren,” Lark gasps out.

With the air wavering around her, the weak lighting confuses my eyes. I’m steps away when the image in front of me solidifies. Crouching over my fallen Fury, a smug look on his face, is the guard who always transported us for the challenges.

“Nathaniel sends his thanks for unmasking another Fury to the world.”

We all lunge toward them, but he’s gone too quickly. He’s taken Wren before we ever had a chance to reach them.

I grit my teeth, biting back the painful shout that's burning a hole in my chest. It's too much to bear. I run toward the fucking minotaur's head and kick it again with all my strength. I wish I could reconnect it to his body so I can chop it off a second time. “Mother fucker.”

I stab my sword into the muddy ground, let my head fall back, and scream.

“Do you feel better now?” Greer has her hands on her hips, frowning at me.

“No.” There’s an aching gap in my chest. Fear like I’ve never known burns through my veins. My toe actually hurts a little, too, but I'd never say that out loud.

“Ready to do something about this?” Greer swipes her hand under her chin and flicks away a collection of gore.

Wren will be okay. She’s a Fury. Not even being speared through with a minotaur’s horn will keep her down. That doesn’t mean she’s not weak and vulnerable right now. And I have no fucking clue where they’ve taken her.

I pull out my phone, blood smearing over the screen as I try to push the buttons.

“Fuck,” I hiss out, helplessly wiping my hands on my soaked pants. Lark appears in front of me and gently pries the phone from my fingers.

“Let me.” Without another word, she presses a few buttons and calls Hermes. “We need you to come get us right now.”

I can only imagine what Hermes is saying on the other end, because Lark closes her eyes with an exasperated huff.

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