Page 208 of Voidwalker
“Antal, stay,” Fi said. Not a plea. An order.
Confusion slashed his brow, a look of distress that crept up on her heart faster than she could counter. He still looked like he’d peel Astrid into pieces. But he came no closer.
Verne cackled.
“Are you so easily tamed, Antal? One whimpering human, and your claws go dull?” She beckoned to Astrid. “Bring her here.”
Astrid walked Fi forward, dagger burning her throat. Antal stayed rooted as if it pained him, as if Fi’s commanding stare could slice out whatever phantom heart dwelled in his chest. How had she earned such trust?
She wouldn’t waste it.
“Perhaps we can still barter,” Verne said as they neared her.
Behind Fi’s back, Astrid twisted Fi’s wrist until her fingers brushed a belt. Then, the hilt of an energy dagger. Who needed two daggers? Astrid, of course.
Fi gripped the weapon.
“Leave, Antal,” Verne said with condescending confidence, a victorious tilt to her grin. “Leave in earnest this time. And maybe I’ll let you keep your pet—”
When Astrid released her, Fi didn’t hesitate.
She lunged at the distracted daeyari, plunging her energy dagger into Verne’s chest, straight into whatever shriveled heartrested within her ribs. Astrid struck next, digging a blade into her Lord Daeyari’s throat. Verne’s snarl came out choking, blood staining her fangs.
A dagger wasn’t enough to sever her neck.
Verne lashed with scarlet claws so fast, Fi barely drew a shield in time. The blast shoved her backward, red shards striking silviamesh, slicing across her cheeks. She hit the ground stinging. Too far away, Astrid fell to her knees, burns cut across unarmored arms and hands. Behind them, Yvette shouted as Mal hunched, clutching his face.
Verne backed away, throat healing, eyes like firebrands on her traitorous Arbiter.
When Antal lunged, she pulled a metal cord from beneath her coat. He snarled as Verne dodged his claw swipe, lashing the cord around his wrist with a flash of binding red energy, a kick sending him to the ground. Then, a glower at her Beast, still crouched on the sidelines.
“Daeyari!” Verne shouted, hoarse through blood. “Ulk! Lemen yzrae!”
The Beast tensed at her command. Minutes ago, Fi had contemplated pity for the creature. But pity returned to horror as he stood to full height, fully healed, teeth bared and red eyes bright at the call of his mistress.
Mal hunched in the snow, injured but breathing. Kashvi grabbed the crossbow from his hands and aimed at Verne. Yvette stayed fixed on the Beast, all backing to a defensive huddle. No one fired, a gamble of which target to hit first, leaving an opening for the other to strike. This was why they’d planned to face Verne alone.
But it was Astrid who moved, pushing to her feet despite the burns on her arms.
“Navek!” She held up a shaking hand. “Ijen! Wait!”
The Beast’s skeletal head snapped to her.
And hesitated.
A mote of intelligence sparked in the creature’s blank red eyes. He looked to Astrid, the woman who’d touched him with light hands. To Verne, her expression murderous.
“Useless beast!” Verne snarled. “You’re mine! Lemen yzrae!”
“Ijen, Navek,” Astrid urged. “You’re not hers. You don’t have to—”
She shrieked as Verne fell on her, claws sinking into her arms.
“How dare you?” Verne spat at her Arbiter. “You think you can betray me? You think you’re anything to me, just because of those half antlers on your head? I’ll—”
Thecrackwas haunting—a little musical, if Fi was honest. The sound of the Beast’s jaws closing on Verne’s leg, bone snapping beneath teeth. He ripped her sideways, hurling her against the frozen ground with an equally satisfying smack.
Verne pushed to her good knee with a gasp, shock flashing in scarlet eyes as her Beast mantled protective over Astrid, black blood on his teeth.
