Page 82 of Facade

I dropped flat and rolled right as it whirled, slamming that poisonous tail down where I'd just been seconds before. It released an ear-curdling screech that reverberated in my chest as I jumped up. I matched its roar with a battle cry of my own as I raised the dagger high above my head and made another pass. It jumped back, swinging a massive clawed paw my way.

I ducked and lunged forward, slicing a superficial wound into its neck. Luna whinnied behind me—still, I couldn’t look.

The abomination snapped its jaws too close, the sound clanging through my head like a death knell. Spittle landed on my shoulder before I rolled out of reach. The green, mucousy substance burned through fabric and skin, down to bone.

I cried out, reaching shaking fingers to my shoulder.

That hesitation was all it needed—a clawed paw batted me aside, throwing me across the clearing as if I were nothing more than a fly.

My back struck a tree, and the dagger flew from my hand. I gasped for air, patting the ground for my only weapon—it was out of reach.

The wind blew harder, causing the trees to sway. I started to cough as the air burned its way back into my lungs. The monster stalked toward me. Everything came down to this moment—my inevitable death.

I shut my eyes.

Another roar surged through the air, thick with power, like bone grinding against stone.

Deep. Furious. Deadly.

My eyes shot open, pulse spiking as the creature searched around for the new threat, jaw snapping at nothing. How will I fend off two monsters when I can’t even handle one? I scooted back, taking shelter behind the felled tree while the beast was distracted.

Luna finally stood and stomped on the ground excitedly.

I steadied myself against the fallen trunk, then tumbled toward her. She continued her movements. Nothing I did calmed her; she only pulled away, refusing to lower. When I grabbed her mane, she locked her neck tight.

Snarling resumed behind me. I whipped around, fearing the demon was coming at me.

But it was focused on something in the air as it balanced on its haunches

Even with my newfound sight, I struggled to see what it was in the storm. My feet moved toward the hidden threat, trying to catch a glimpse. The beast crouched low, muscles coiling as it prepared to jump, growling and screeching. The sound burrowed in my marrow as I urged Luna once more to lower—begged her—she wouldn’t budge. The waxing moon poked out from behind an angry storm cloud, barely visible through the branches above. I looked back once more—

Every muscle froze.

A Gargoyle.

He was huge. His coloring was an obsidian I could get lost in, making him one with the dark sky. Star-like specks shone all over the tight bands of muscle stacked like armor over his bare chest and abdomen. My gaze inadvertently dragged lower, where those muscles stretched down, disappearing into his waistband. Leather wings worked, nearly the diameter of the clearing, as he hovered just out of reach.

My throat hitched as he pulled two heavy swords from a sheath strapped between his gargantuan wings, the steel hissing. A tail whipped around, spiked on the end. Long, black talons coated his hands and feet, which looked as if they could shred stone.

He was terrifyingly beautiful. To see him in the flesh, knowing something similar lived beneath my skin, both thrilled and terrified me.

But taking in the majestic being in front of me wasn’t the only thing to make my mouth fall open. It was the familiarity of silver flooding through the electric blue in his eyes as he focused on the beast below. The white hair that shimmered as water dripped from the newly shortened strands.

Ryker.

Despite the raging storm, the forest seemed to lean away from him. Fear him. The air charged, raising the hairs on my arms as he landed between me and the creature, the ground shuddering beneath him.

For the first time since it emerged, the abomination looked smaller—its huge frame dwarfed beneath the spread of Ryker’s wings and stature.

Ryker raised one sword above his head, long fangs showing as he roared and swung the heavy steel down toward the beast, slicing deeply into its side. It howled in pain, blood splattering Ryker’s face and chest.

The monster’s barbed tail quickly whipped out, narrowly missing Ryker as he gave a heavy beat of his wings, putting him out of harm’s way back in the air, his body angling toward me.

I met his gaze briefly, those bright, luminescent eyes bearing down on me. His mouth moved, but I didn’t hear—couldn’t focus.

Everything was happening too fast.

I missed his warning—the demon lunged at me. My hands flew up, guarding my face as I braced for impact. Luna whinnied wildly behind me—but nothing happened.