AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Music flared so loud and suddenly that we all jumped. Even Dev startled. Joseph's arms locked around me, and Arkan rattled a growl that made my whole body break out in goosebumps.
"Remember what we talked about," Dev whispered to X, sending my anxiety up to full capacity.
X nodded.
"What?" I hissed. "What did you talk about?"
"Come out of there, Avie," Eidolon called from outside, silencing our conversation. "Or I'll comeinthere and kill every one of your mates."
Ah, my mistake.Thiswas full capacity anxiety.
46
This plan was batshit insane, but maybe that was our strength? Eidolon was vicious and psycho and completely ruthless, but we had more than a single screw loose. Our screws were so loose we could catch them and build a complete, 48-piece tool set.
"Alright, alright, we get the idea," I yelled, blasting out of the far door of the hall of mirrors, and schooling my expression at the sight that met me.
The open spaces of the fairground were filled with the undead. Upright, zombie-like corpses stood in rows upon rows behind where Eidolon waited for me. There were no generals with him this time, no Maxine, no Jacko, and even Shira and Walsh were dead. There was only the endless army to contend with.
Only.
"Decided to upgrade from bloodpie demons to zombies?" I asked conversationally, strolling down the slope to stand in front of him. Alone. That was the key part—take him off guard, keep him guessing. Keep him on edge.
"Bloodpie," he repeated, no amusement on his green, scaly face. At least I wasn't looking at the Christian Lachesi sham anymore. It would be easier to kill him like this.
"Like mudpie," I informed him with a crazy grin. I might as well dial up to full insanity to balance out my anxiety.1
I strode towards him, as if this was a regular father-daughter outing and not a fight that would end with one—hopefully not both—of us dead.
"Nice army," I remarked, allowing myself to scan the spaces between glowing rides and empty booths, the aisles full of rotting bodies. No easy exits.
"You like my legion, Avie?" Eidolon asked, waving an arm to gesture at the grotesque soldiers. "It took me a long time to build them. You should be proud, too, most of your power went into their creation."
A pulse of low, thunderous rage went through me. "That'smymagic, you thieving bastard."
I gave a hard, sudden yank on all my mate bonds.NOW!
Power flooded me from every direction and I gasped, hair floating above my shoulders and my hands flashing red hot. This was the benefit of being a circle—we were stronger together, able to share power and strength, so no one was weak.
Now, I was so strong that my leathery wings flared wide and I gasped, fire coating my tongue.
Eidolon laughed. "A new parlour trick, Avie?"
I didn't bother replying. I slammed my wings down and shot across the last bit of space between us, enjoying Eidolon's smug smirk. He wouldn't know what hit him. Namely, me.
I was so pumped up on power that even as he stole it from me, I had enough strength to slam my forehead into his in a devastating headbutt. I grunted a curse at the pain, my nose wrinkling when wet squishy blood coated my forehead. But I laughed at his sputtering sound of surprise.
"Actually, you taught me that," I replied and drove my knee up between his legs.
I stepped back when he collapsed to the floor, but unease panged through my chest. I dove through my mate bonds for comfort. Too easy, this was too fucking easy—
I spun, searching the rows of zombie-like demons, with their rotting faces and tattered uniforms. Panic made my heart speed. I was too exposed here, with no mates to back me up.
Part of the plan,I reminded myself.All part of the plan.
"Where are you, you coward?" I yelled, giving the 'Eidolon' I'd kneed in the balls a passing glance. Oh, would you look at that? He was just a regular, oozing dead guy now.2
"Who's playing with parlour tricks now?" I taunted.
