Page 27 of Heart of Dawn
I silenced Erna with a firm, “Enough!”
The yeti threw her head back, releasing a blood-curdling roar.
I steeled myself against her display of rage, throwing extra fuel on mine.
Her head snapped back, her eyes blazing with hate. “If I can’t have you as my husband, I’ll take you as my food.” Her laugh thundered at me, so loud it shook the bone table. “Soon I’ll be picking you from my teeth.”
She charged.
I rushed to meet her, releasing a roar of my own.
The yeti swung her big fist at me. I spun out of its trajectory at the last minute, feeling the rush of air close to my face.
She bellowed an inaudible word, then charged again. I ducked a second punch, diving into a roll. I bumped into the bone table, grabbing for one.
“If you won’t love me, you’ll fill my stomach!”
I only just dodged her kick. She struck the table, the entire thing exploding under her wicked strength. Bones flew everywhere, bouncing off the walls, a few shards landing at my feet.
Now imagine my skinny body taking that kick. Stars, she’d be peeling pieces of me from the ceiling for weeks.
I had to be careful.
She paused, her nostrils flaring. “Look what you did to my table.”
“Me?”
Erna noticed the bone shard in my hand. “I saved your life, Orion. Is this how you treat someone who shows you kindness?”
Okay, maybe we could resolve this peacefully. “And I’m really grateful you did. But I can’t repay you by becoming your husband. Is there some other way?”
She shook her head, indignation coming off her in prickly waves.
“Then all I can offer is my eternal thanks.” I stopped myself saying I’d be forever in her debt. Making deals with anyone was risky business, especially creatures I hadn’t interacted with before.
“That’s not enough,” she replied. “You have shamed me. The time for love is over. You will simply be another skeleton on my wall.” She sighed. “I thought I’d caught a falling star.” She sang that last part.
I flinched under the attack of melody, a soupy sensation oozing into my mind.
She noticed, grinning so wide every tooth was on show. “What a wonderful idea.”
Erna spread her arms and began to sing, harmonious energy pushing me gently to my knees. I dropped the bone shard, struggling to fight her off.
“Why didn’t I think of this before you broke my table?” she sang.
My guts knotted and I grit my teeth. She would not take me. There were blood magi who’d threatened me with assault on the Woolwich Ferry, and this was no different. She was no different—the lowest sort of vermin.
“Love will be all you know,” Erna carried on. “Even when I break you.”
You. Will. Not. Touch. Me.
She sauntered forward, her big feet crunching the bones scattered across the floor. The melody continued to engulf me, trying to pin me to the floor. But not completely. My anger pushed back while demanding I never give up.
I had to fight her, to break her hold. No one was coming to rescue me.
I can do this.
The yeti sang some line about rings and lace skirts. I ignored her, sweat pouring down my face as I battled her song. I closed my eyes and drew on every resource I possessed.
