Page 198 of The Kingdom's Reckoning
The soldier with the bow lay sprawled on the ground. Lips quivering, he pointed at the sky, his hand trembling as a dark shadow fell over them. "It’s a drakonis. It’s?—"
Graeson cut him off with a snarl before turning his gaze on Kallie. Swirls of smoke came from his nose with every exhale. "Well?"
Kallie didn’t balk at his icy glare and rolled her eyes at him, paying him no heed. Soul bond or not, she did not need to explain herself to him, especially when the answer was obvious.
Turning to the soldiers, who were shifting into fighting stances, she gestured toward the drakonis. "This one is friendly. If you kill her, you answer to me. Got it?"
"What? How do you?—"
The soldier’s retort was cut off as Nyrri landed hard. Her talons dug into the dirt to help stop her momentum, sending up a plume of debris. The drakonis flared her nostrils, inhaling the scent of the blood and saliva soaking the street. Her lip curled in disgust, and a low rumble slipped from her mouth. Kallie couldn’t tell if Nyrri snarled at the sight of the dead drakonises all around them or the apprehension radiating from the unfamiliar faces.
Kallie glared at every soldier as she strolled over to Nyrri. Thankfully, none tested her threat.
Several soldiers nodded, fear widening their eyes as Kallie went to pet the beast.
Kallie smiled at Nyrri. It had only been a few days, but she had missed the ferocious beast. As she scratched Nyrri beneath her chin, Kallie said over her shoulders, "She will not harm you."
"But I might."
Kallie jumped at the voice.
Paper-white hair flew in the wind as Ellie leaned over to peer around Nyrri’s head. She gave Kallie a coy smirk. "I didn’t realize you would take an arrow for me, Kals. I’m touched."
"Don’t be too touched. I didn’t even see you, which is shocking because of your big head," Kallie jested. She would have been lying, though, if she said she wasn’t happy to see Ellie.
Ellie gasped and pressed a hand to her chest. "Come on! My head is not nearly as big as Gray’s. And to think I came all this way to save your asses." She clicked her tongue in dismay, feigning offense. "By the looks of things, we came just in time, too."
"We?" Graeson asked, looking between Ellie and Nyrri with raised brows.
Kallie looked down the street where the pair had come from.
There was no army to be found. Ellie was alone.
Yet Ellie smiled. "We’re all here."
"All?" Kallie asked.
The Tetrian warrior nodded. "The Pontians too. Impeccable timing, to be honest. We ran into Terin and Dani as we reached the city’s gates."
Graeson grimaced, throwing his head back. "Please don’t tell me Dani is joining the fight," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Ellie shook her head. "Last I heard, they were taking her to that camp of yours."
Graeson sighed in relief.
"But knowing Dani, who knows if she’ll stay behind, even if it’s in her best interest to do so."
Graeson cursed.
"She’ll be all right," Kallie whispered, giving his hand a squeeze in reassurance. Dani was stubborn, but not foolish. She would not put her child at risk.
Ellie crossed her arms and leaned her hip against Nyrri’s side. "So," she said with a click of her tongue. "Were ya’ll just going for a stroll, or shall we get back to it?"
Chapter 83
MYRA
Myra felta surge of fear rise among those remaining in the camp the moment the soldiers appeared. Warriors clad in black leather and armor moved through the trees, the dripping sunlight reflecting off the metal. Those closest to the intruders scurried back. Children ran behind parents, grabbing their legs.
