Page 87 of Magical Midlife Conclave

“Crap,” I said, flinching.

Aljoe stayed stationary for a beat, and then he launched into the air. He ripped the largest gargoyle out of the sky. The gargoyle crashed into the shifters that were lunging for him. He jumped again, grabbing another gargoyle. This time he flung the gargoyle to the side, throwing him through the air, hitting the remaining gargoyle and knocking him off course.

Aljoe didn’t miss a beat. He jumped over the gargoyle on the ground, who was struggling to right himself as the shifter he’d landed on fought to regain his feet. Aljoe’s jaw opened, revealing crimson teeth. It was clear what he was aiming for, and just as clear he’d nail it.

“Crap,” I said again, stepping forward with my hands out.

Aljoe barreled into the black bear, his teeth perfectly fitting around the creature’s jugular.

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!” I dodged a gargoyle’s swiping claw, no idea what he was going for, and stepped aside as the leopard hopped up. “Get him clear! Get that bear clear!”

I wedged magic into Aljoe’s mouth as he ripped his head to the side.

“Get Indigo,” I yelled, already healing the wound even as the skin tore. “Get Indigo in here. That bear won’t have long.”

The front of the bear’s throat ripped, but only halfway, as my magic stopped the rest of the carnage. Aljoe spat the bear away and turned to face the attacking leopard. I didn’t miss the look of wild, primal frustration he gave me. He’d thoroughly lost himself to his animal, and I was in the way of his beast’s kill.

Sue jumped in to grab the bear, helped by the bear’s people.

“Tristan, get active,” I called. “Get in the air.”

The leopard landed on Aljoe’s shoulder, digging his teeth into the back of Aljoe’s neck.

Aljoe didn’t seem to notice.

Instead, he grabbed one of the gargoyle’s legs by the ankle.

“Crap, crap, crap.” I hopped closer like some sort of carrion bird.

“Jess, you’re too close,” Sue called.

“I’m not worried about me. Aljoe goes for kill shots. We don’t have long to get these people out of the way.”

“They knew what they were signing up for.”

He meant possible death.

“We are not doing Momar’s work for him! We are not going to kill each other in mock battles to prop up people’s fragile egos. I can get them out.”

Aljoe ripped the gargoyle out of the air. A wing bent as he landed. He’d be ground-bound now. Aljoe jerked his body suddenly, and the leopard rolled off, ripping a chunk of the lion’s flesh from the back of his neck. It would heal. Aljoe clearly knew that.

The massive lion was on the smaller cat in a flash.

“Don’t—” I magically got there first. I coated the leopard’s jugular in a shield, stopping the majority of Aljoe’s teeth from finding purchase. Magical sparks flew as Aljoe tried to force his way through. “Not gonna happen, bud.”

The remaining gargoyle dove onto the lion. He reached around with his claws, but he didn’t properly line up with Aljoe’s throat.

“Help me get that leopard out of here.” I darted in, grabbed the leopard by his paws, and started to drag him away. He roll-lunged, going for me. “Don’t attack me—I just saved your life, you idiot!”

I slammed him with magic to stop his struggles and let Sue bump me out of the way to grab him.

In that tiny moment, Aljoe had gotten the other gargoyle beneath him and was clawing at his stomach with his front paws while fighting the gargoyle’s claws to get at the creature’s neck.

“Tap out,” I told the gargoyle, pushed up close. “Tap out. He’s⁠—”

I slid magic against the gargoyle’s stomach to stop Aljoe from ripping his middle out. Then the throat, because Aljoe didn’t seem to have a “chill out” setting.

This time I didn’t mistake the furious look of the massive predator.