Page 117 of Heartsong
“I don’t want Albion,” Gavin growled, revealing his own set of fangs, “but I will defend it from the likes of you.”
“I’m going tosave it.From you, from everyone,” Glendower hissed, all that poise and charm gone now. The man who glared at Gavin was dangerous, his eyes bright with belief and desperation.
Throwing his hands at Gavin, Glendower tossed another volley of magick, this one crackling through the air. Gavin grunted and threw up his own wave, the two clashing with such force that everyone else staggered at the impact.
Seizing the chance, Anna stomped on her guard’s instep and pulled out of his grip.
He grabbed for her, but Anna whirled away, running for the other side of the room. She didn’t have any plan, just get to a corner to protect her back. She felt the guard on her heels, the vibration of his boots as they smacked the floor. Heat sizzled through the apartment as waves of magick clashed across the dining room table.
She threw herself into the corner, turning just in time to see the guard barreling down on her. He reached for her arm, but Anna knocked it away with one of the moves Frey had shown her, shocked she remembered. The guard went for her again, and she managed to avoid getting grabbed until he overwhelmed her with his greater size and strength.
In close, Anna did what needed to be done—she kneed him right in the junk.
The guard wheezed but didn’t go down. His hold loosened just enough for Anna to pull her arms out of his grip and shove him away.
A pink, clawed hand appeared on his shoulder, and Anna watched, stunned, as Carrie flipped the guard over her shoulder and onto the ground. She stepped on his neck with her bare, elongated foot until he went still, her beautiful face pulled back in a fierce hiss.
Frey and the other guardian tangled across the living room, the remaining guards trying to help get him down, and Glendower and Gavin were having some sort of magical duel—leaving her in the corner to stare in amazement at Carrie.
“Hello, my dear,” she said with a smile, “sorry for being late. Evening traffic, you understand.”
Anna didn’t understand anything, no, but could only bob her head in a nod.
“This is all a terrible shock to you, I’m sure. We’ll explain everything, but for now, please know that Gavin and I are your friends.” Closing the distance between them, Carrie took Anna’s hands in her own and squeezed. “We’re clan.”
The words were said with such intensity, such longing, but they didn’t freak her out the way Glendower’s had.
At leastshehadn’t tried to strangle her.
Anna opened her mouth to say…something, but what came out was, “Behind you!”
Carrie whirled in time to catch the guard coming at them. Despite being shorter than the man, she caught his arm and stopped his strike. Her left wing came up and sucker punched him in the jaw as effectively as a fist, the wing claw raking across his cheek. Her fist came next, striking him in the windpipe.
The guard stumbled backward sputtering, and Carrie had no mercy. She leapt, wings pumping, and threw him to the ground, where she got behind him and locked her arm around his neck. Her legs and wings kept him immobile as she choked the air from him. The man’s face went red and then purple, and Anna had to look away when his tongue lolled violently between his overstretched lips.
Carrie counted down from five in a soft mutter once the man went limp and then let him go.
“I hate hand-to-hand combat,” she said. “Swordplay is much neater.”
She lifted her brows, as if expecting Anna to offer her opinion. All she could do was nod at the scene behind them.
“Quite right. Stay here in the corner, this will be over soon.”
Anna did as she was told, huddling with her back to the corner, and watched as Carrie raced for the two grappling gargoyles and handful of guards left standing. She barreled into the human men, freeing up Frey to knock the obsidian gargoyle off of him.
A magical duel was going on in her dining room, blue sparks flying across the table into the kitchen, and three gargoyles were brawling in her living room. Anna didn’t know where to look, going dizzy trying to keep up with it all.
Her gargoyle won out, Anna unable to look away from him long. His every move was powerful, meant to inflict damage, but her heart still lodged in her throat as she watched him fight. The odds were turning, but the insidious thought still crept in—what if I lose him?
No. Can’t think it. Won’t happen.
That didn’t stop her worry, nor make her heart descend back into her chest. Anna clutched her arms around herself, head drooping with its own weight. God, just standing upright was an effort, and tears stung at her eyes.Not now, not yet. Hold it together a little longer. He needs you to stay safe.
Frey leapt upon Dragan, and while the big male tried to buck him off, he went for the collar around the obsidian male’s throat. He slashed and pulled, baring his fangs in frustration.
“Only he can take it off,” Dragan grated.
The look Frey gave him was full of pity, and the obsidian gargoyle roared to see it. They went rolling across the floor again, smashing her coffee table into tiny splinters.
