Page 97 of Cruelest Kiss and Fairest Blood
Lenore screams as the creatures from above my dark veil come tumbling inside the walls of the garden. We get our first look at what’s been storming around.Wolves. Or the closest thing to them that one could find in the in-between. They have an extra set of legs and six burning orange eyes. Muscles swell across their bulky frames. Oversized jaws snap wildly as theyfall. Four in total. They drop to the ground, landing on their feet with a cat-like grace. The tops of their skulls are open wide, revealing a secondary fang-filled mouth where their brains should be.
I fling my shadows over Lenore, cocooning her in darkness. Brief gaps between my storm of shadows gives me a momentary glimpse at Lenore’s frightened and confused face. I doubt she was expecting me to let the beasts inside.
If I can find a long enough moment where all the creatures are distracted, I could get us out. With so many monsters in such close proximity, it will be impossible to take flight. My wings are too large. I’ll be dragged down and torn apart the instant I try. My only option is to leave the monsters dead or dismembered. Then Lenore and I can leave the garden in peace.
My suspicions of a rivalry are confirmed when the first wolf barrels into the closest snake. The beast slams the top of its wolf-like, tooth-filled skull over the snake’s head, sucking it in. The snake vanishes. Moments later the bones reappear, spilling out of the wolf’s second mouth and landing in a motionless heap in the dirt. The snake does not rise.It fucking worked. Somehow the void in the wolf’s skull is able to strip the snake’s bones of their magic.
All four wolves have launched an attack, but they’re outnumbered. The first wolf to fall does so with a snake wrapped around its belly. There are several sickening crunches as its abdomen is constricted and crushed. Behind them, a second wolf releases a mournful howl and sucks the murderous snake into its skull. The pile of bones it spews out is unrecognizable. After avenging his pack mate, the animal takes out a second snake. There are now three wolves, ten snakes.
As much as I’d like to sit back and enjoy the fight, the creatures have other plans. I spy a pair of snakes in the cornerattempting to strike Lenore’s shadow shield. There’s a green flash each time their boney jaws connect with the shadows.
In my domain and in the mortal world, my shadows are strong enough to withstand almost anything. The dynamics of the in-between are foreign. Part of my power was drained as the price to enter. I’m not fighting at full strength. Which means my shadows aren’t at full strength either. I can’t let them get to Lenore.
Splitting my thoughts, I pour a part of my consciousness into two separate shadows. My thoughts fuse with the monsters that dwell in my darkness. I direct them toward the piles of discarded snake bones.
Reanimating the bones, I use my shadows to shape them into creatures of my own. Two small scorpions emerge. It’s impressive, but won’t be enough to fight off both snakes. Merging the two, I create one massive scorpion. Much better.
“Protect Lenore.” I speak to the shadows, to myself, through our connection. The insect leaps overhead, landing between the cocoon of darkness hiding Lenore and the attacking snakes. With incredible speed, it whips its bone-shard-covered tail up and over its back, parrying the blows from the snakes.
Oversized pincers snap forward, gripping the snakes by their necks and hoisting them in the air. Their long bodies twist and writhe as my scorpion holds them suspended above the ground. I just need to keep them occupied until a wolf can take care of them.
Fire rips through my left shoulder as a pair of frothing jaws lock onto me. Acid burns into my skin as every jagged tooth sinks deeper. My claws ram upward, sinking deep into the wolf’s throat. I can’t kill it. I need its help to finish off the bone creatures. But I can’t let it destroy me in the meantime.
The wolf yelps, releasing its hold on me. I use the moment to fling it several feet away. My hand burns from the acidity ofthe blood coating it. I roll my shoulder, testing it. I’m already healing, but the wound is incredibly deep.
“All these fucking snakes and you want me?”
The wolf charges again. This time I dodge its attack. Shadowing from one spot to the other, I make my way around the garden. Quick glances back to the corner show my scorpion still restraining the snakes. A new monster count reveals two wolves, five snakes still standing.
The one I wounded is bleeding badly. He spins, searching for me each time I shadow away.
A small burst of relief fuels my tired muscles when I spy one of the wolves lunging for Lenore’s corner. With a flick of my wrist, my scorpion drops one of the snakes. It hits the ground and is quickly devoured by the wolf. He goes for my scorpion next.
I can’t have him wasting his energy on something that isn’t even a real enemy. I disband the scorpion, recalling my shadows. The bones drop to the ground, freeing the other snake. The skeletal serpent manages one quick strike before the wolf takes him down.
I take stock once more. Two wolves, two snakes. The injured animal is still stalking me. I shadow myself to the other side of one of the remaining snakes, leaving it slithering between me and the wolf. Confronted by the skeletal beast, the wolf has no choice but to fight it head-on.
The overwhelming rattling in the garden quiets. As the injured animal lifts its muzzle, I note that there are no more skeletons left. Just two eerie wolves and twelve eyes fixed on me.
In a coordinated attack, they both lunge forward. We collide in a tangle of limbs, teeth, and whispering darkness. My shadows take on a life of their own, tearing away at the wolves’ rancid fur. My monster roars when teeth penetrate my abdomen. I’m quick to retaliate, my claws shredding the mouththat just dared to bite me. They keep coming. Pain pierces my skin.
With a last storm of power, I release an onslaught of dagger-shaped shadows. They shoot through the air, piercing flesh. A desperate yelp and dying howl confirm they’ve met their mark. Both wolves have fallen. They look like pincushions with the amount of shadow spikes sticking out from their bodies.
My shadows disband, leaving me in a pile of brutalized flesh and crumbling bones. I groan. My stomach fucking aches where a chunk of me was torn free. Breathing deeply, I lie still. Shadows knit my body back together, working harder than usual due to my massive expenditure of power.
At last, I rise. At least my wings are unscathed. It’s hell healing those.
The furious pounding of Lenore’s small fists returns my attention to her hiding spot.
Lowering my shield, I release her from the shadows she’s been tucked away behind. Her steps are tentative as she absorbs the scope of the carnage filling the bone garden. She clutches a femur in one hand and a skull in the other.
“What were you planning to use those for?” My cocky grin is not received well.
Her gaze whips to mine. “Couldn’t you hear me screaming?What was that? You were getting your ass handed to you and I couldn’t do anything but watch. Those things damn near ripped you apart. Why didn’t you let me out?” Her anger is unexpected.
“I was keeping you safe.” Did she really think she could do anything against those demons with a few tiny bones? Lenore’s overconfidence never ceases to amaze me.
Her scowl deepens. “I wanted to help and your stupid shadows wouldn’tlet me out.”
