Page 14 of Ashes and Lilies
I gasped as it suddenly clicked. Of course, I’d seen them in textbooks and in person the one time Finn took me to the zoo. But it was still strange because with every native-to-the-area breed of animal around, I hadn’t expected a hyena in this part of the country.
Conner stalked toward me while Damen, unaware, faced the other three hyenas on the opposite side of the room. To my left was a plush chair and the physical version of the cane that Mr. Weaver had been using.
A cane wasn’t great as far as weapons went, but it was certainly better than nothing. I grabbed it, holding it out in front of me as I faced the looming threat.
It was then that Kasai swooped through the air, knocking Conner to the side. The interference created a tiny opening between Jamie—who was holding his head with both hands now—and the couch and the front door.
“Bianca!” Damen’s call echoed through the room. His tone sent a shiver up my spine.
Damen’s skin was pale, his high hair had lost some luster, and his movements had slowed. He held the blood-coveredsliver blade tightly in two hands. His eyes met my own in worry.
“Run!” he said. “Get out of here.”
My palms sweated. I squeezed my hands around the cane. Why was he wasting his breath on me even as the three hyenas closed on him? He should be more worried about himself.
“No…” My chest swelled as the refusal spilled from my lips. A part of me wanted to listen—my every atom longed to sprint to freedom.
But I couldn’t leave him behind. We were members of the same quintet.
It wouldn’t be honorable.
So even though it might upset him—as it’d been obvious that he thought of himself as in charge—I couldn’t obey.
“I can’t leave you,” I told him. Even though I really, really wanted to. But I’d finally found friends—a place to belong. While they were brave, and I was not, I still couldn’t run away and abandon one of them.
The onmyoji’s eyes widened, and surprise and fear touched his features. He moved in the same instant that the victorious barks echoed through the room, and two of the three hyenas that’d been encircling him—and Conner—lunged at me.
Visions of snapping, gnashing teeth, and snarls overtook my senses, and even though I should have done something—even if it were only to whack one of the beasts over the head with my pathetic weapon—my body froze.
Conner’s rancid breath touched me first, as he’d been the nearest. The barest wisp of hot air brushed my cheek as I stumbled back and fell to the floor. The phantom anguish of teeth tearing into flesh was a prelude to the quaking terror that filled me. The little resolve that I’d gathered to fight vanished.
I squeezed my eyes closed and, dropping the cane, covered my head as the furry creature was on me.
A ghastly roar drowned out the snarls and barks and caused my insides to shake. The hyena froze, and a large, hard form crashed into me.
The pain of teeth ripping into my flesh never came.
Whatever had tackled me held me princess-style. A sudden sense of safety and security enveloped me, even though the emotion made no sense considering the terrible sound emanating from the chest pressed against my ear.
4
There was a long,quiet moment. The room had descended into stillness.
“Bianca!” Damen called, his anxious shout breaking the tension.
My eyes popped open, and I realized my cheek was plastered against a sculpted chest. My perusal trailed upward to my rescuer's attractive—and angry—face.
For some reason, I was shivering. I touched my fingertips to my lips, unable to speak. But Titus wasn’t looking at me anyway. His green eyes were dark with fury, focused across the room.
“Can’t you keep things under control for ten minutes?” he snarled, his arms tightening.
Damen peeled to a stop beside us. “What took you so long?” he asked, reaching toward me. Before his hand touched mine, Titus stepped back.
“What happened?” Titus held me out of Damen’s reach.
“I didn’t want to leave any lasting damage.” Damen frownedat Titus, lowering his hand. “I was about to step up; she wouldn’t have been hurt.”
“It never should have gotten to this point!” Titus retorted. “You should have left after you called me. This is your fault.”
