Page 86 of Dream Reaper

Jerrid took a step closer, but Talos snarled, ignited a flame in his palm, and shot a jet of fire in his direction. Jerrid ducked and rolled to avoid the stream of blue heat.

Ava launched herself forward, claws extended, wings driving momentum into her running legs. Talos spun to face her and flung another fireball straight at her, a curse twisting his lips.

This blow struck her hard in the face, and Ava went down with a shriek.

Jerrid recoiled as if he had been the one blindsided by the blistering magic.

This wasn’t working…

CHAPTER 21

AVA

Pain exploded in Ava’s spine as she slammed into the ground. Dragon hissed inside her mind, his powerful thoughts sending a surge of warmth and strength through her body.

That numbed the pain.

She rolled onto her belly and shoved herself back to her feet, facing Talos. Blood smeared the lower half of his jaw, but his expression remained mutinous. He wouldn’t give up, and she didn’t know how much more she could take.

I’ll help you, Dragon whispered, but he sounded tired too.

They needed more energy, fresh strength. But they had only themselves to depend on. She inhaled deeply and drew on her deepest reserves, pulling the last remnants of her strength to the surface.

Fresh determination flooded through her, and even Dragon’s thoughts grew sharper, more focused.

“How long are we going to play this game?” Talos asked as he cracked his knuckles.

His gaze flicked briefly over her left shoulder. Footsteps informed her that someone was coming up behind them. She didn’t have to look to know who it was.

Jerrid dragged himself to her side. Ava gave him a sideways glance and ignored a stab of guilt. He looked like a whipped pup. Leaves and twigs stuck in his hair, and one of his cheekbones had begun to swell.

Good for him, Dragon muttered. It’s his own fault…

But Ava wasn’t so sure. They had been the ones hurling him around the forest in the middle of the night.

She forced her attention back to Talos because Jerrid was right. They needed to end this—together, the three of them—before someone got hurt.

“Just surrender and this can be over,” Jerrid threw at Talos. “You’re no match for the three of us.”

“Four of us.” Brynja appeared behind Talos, a shovel gripped in both hands. “This is my home, elf, and you’re not welcome here.”

Talos snorted, but unease flickered across his expression. He was cornered, an animal backed into a canyon with no escape.

And he knew it.

He bared his teeth and angled himself as if trying to keep all of them in his line of sight, an impossible task as they spread out around him, Jerrid limping noticeably. Ava dared a second to look his way, concerned whether or not he was up to the task. Apparently, he had taken quite the beating while they fought in the forest.

She hadn’t meant to tug him along with her, not realizing how deep the connection ran between him and Dragon.

I was aware, Dragon said, sounding a little smug.

“Naturally, you did that on purpose,” Ava breathed, beyond exasperated. “You have no soul.”

I have no guilt. There’s a difference.

She ignored him and angled toward Talos, her clawed hands held wide to each side. She was getting used to these things—they were quite handy to have in a fight.

“You could just leave,” Ava said, ignoring the sharp look Brynja sent her way from over Talos’s shoulder. “Just slink back into the forest and disappear. We wouldn’t stop you.”