AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I concentrated on the next rope, this one over her biceps. As soon as that strand broke, Kyla had the use of her right arm.
Something scuttled in the dark behind us. My gaze met Kyla’s. Her eyes had gone wolf.
“What is it?”
She swallowed. “Scorpions. From the Middleground. I recognize the scent.”
I worked faster. Kyla kept her ice-blue gaze behind me, and I knew she’d alert me when she needed to.
“They’re coming,” she bit out.
I’d gotten her right leg free. “Can you shift?”
“I tried earlier. The rope tightened until I didn’t have enough room.”
One more rope left.
“Duck!” Kyla roared.
I dropped to the floor as something flew at me from the right. Kyla snarled and lashed out with her free hand, her claws slicing through its neck.
I backed up, taking in the creatures. They were bigger than a large-breed dog, eight-legged, their backs covered in what looked like blade-proof armor.
“Our king will be pleased…” one of them hissed, and I shuddered.
“They can fucking talk?”
“Oh yeah,” Kyla huffed out. “They had plenty to say when Danica and I killed them in the Middleground.”
“Right. Your bestie Danica. Lots of bonding experiences going on between you two. Did you compare notes when you were lying to me?”
“Yeah, we talked all about how you’re an unforgiving asshole.”
I clenched my fists. One of the scorpions scuttled toward me, and my A-F was in my hand before I realized I’d moved. I sliced at its skull, stumbling as it merely ducked and rammed its head into me.
I fell on my ass. But at least from here, I could see its vulnerable underbelly. I stabbed and dragged the knife toward me, gagging at the smell of its guts. They slid out in a wet pile, and the scorpion screamed. I kicked out at it until it fell off me, writhing.
The other scorpions didn’t seem all that concerned about their two dead friends.
“Hungry,” one of them howled.
“Don’t let them sting you,” Kyla said. “It’s poisonous. Get me free, and I can help.”
“How the fuck do you suggest I do that?”
“If you don’t do it, you’re dead.”
“I can kill them with my power.”
“But what if the consequences of using magic in this place get worse based on just how much magic you use?”
“The scorpions are already here. How much worse can it get?”
She snorted. “Are you seriously asking that question? There’s a big difference between cutting through some rope and burning eight scorpion creatures alive.”
She had a point. If the scorpions were in response to the power I’d used, would killingthemwith power attract something worse?
I reached out a hand. Kyla grabbed it and directed it to the rope. I concentrated, but two scorpions flew at me, leaving me no choice but to dart away.
