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And then a huge boom shreds the air as the orc smashes into the doorway in a burst of dust and debris. I flinch as jagged chunks of stone zoom by my head. His stench floods the room.
Gag me.
When I peer back into the library, I see the doorway is now a giant, gaping hole. The orc’s enormous body stands near the first bookshelf, dust swirling around him. Tilting his giant head, he begins to sniff the air.
“Oberon’s luck,” Ruby mutters. “I thought for sure I scared him off.”
Add overconfidence to my sprite’s ever-growing list of negative attributes.
We both duck low as quiet descends. My heart rams my ribcage, my fingertips numb as adrenaline funnels all my blood to my main organs.
The orc roars, and my heart flip-flops. Shivering, I peek through a hole in the books just in time to see the orc lift a club the size of a full-grown adult human. Spikes longer than my hand poke out from its wooden surface.
Spikes, for Fae’s sake.
We’re so dead.
I hold my breath as he smashes the weapon into the bookshelf on the end of the row. The impact is so big I feel it in my bones. Books and wood splinters fly all around us. My mouth goes paper-dry.
One thought flashes in my head: We need to get out of here.
Afraid any noise will alert the orc to our location, I motion Ruby to run toward the door, using the bookshelves as cover.
“What?” she whisper-yells. “You need to pee?”
“No!” I whisper, throwing up my hands. I shake my head while planting a finger over my lips. But it’s too late. The parquet wood floor trembles and creaks as the orc approaches, sniffing and making animalistic grunts.
A quick glance and I nearly die from fright. The orc is on the other side of the shelf, close enough I can make out the black dots flecking his green skin, the frayed leather pants he wears. Each desperate breath sends noxious odors funneling down my throat.
The sound of a deep inhalation fills the air. Crap.
I grab a wood splinter—the only weapon I can find—and motion to Ruby to split up. Run on the count of three, I mouth. One, two—
Ruby darts away before three, a war cry screaming from her lips. She makes it five feet before a hand the size of a basketball shoots through the top shelf, sending books flying, and snatches her.
Dammit.
Her curses flood the air. My legs urge me to run. To flee. I imagine shooting down the aisle to safety. He’s distracted. It’s not like he’s going to eat her—
“Tasty thing,” a deep, booming voice comments, the sound like two boulders smashing together. “I will crush your head like a grape and crunch your tiny bones between my teeth.”
Oh, hell.
Mustering the remnants of my courage, I jump out into the open. “Hey, Ugly! Let her go.”
The orc’s olive-green brow furrows, deep lines converging. “You.” He sniffs again as if confirming something. “You,” he repeats.
With a growl, he tosses Ruby aside and lunges for me. I dart left and make a break for the door.
I make it two whole freaking feet before fingers like stone wrap around my waist. The ground disappears—he’s lifting me! I twist in his hand enough to face him. Hot, rancid air blows over my face as he appraises me with a hungry look. “Can’t eat. Must take to him. Can’t eat, but want to eat.”
Oh, God.
Ruby appears, Shimmer bless her. She buzzes around his head, pricking him with her toothpick-sized blade. He bellows and swats at her. She ducks his blows, sending balls of magic into his beady black eyes. The world careens around me as he fights with Ruby. The stench and the swirling and the fingers vising my stomach make puke surge up my throat. Then I remember the splinter of wood in my hand. It’s only four inches long, but the end is sharp . . .
The orc swings again, his fist finally connecting with Ruby. I scream as I watch her arc through the air and slam into the stone wall near the gaping hole that used to be the door.
“Hideous bastard!” I scream.
