flinch, just kept coming, the other fire genies surging
behind him.
“Hold,” Naamah ordered as her followers moved en
masse. They held.
Simon says, “Stop.”
It might have been funny under different circumstances.
Naamah turned to Dagan. “The Otherkin could have
survived without a foot, but not without her skin.” She
offered a tight smile. “Shall I burn it away? Leave her
a bloody, oozing mass?”
The ring of fire reached higher, closer, fingers of
flame flicking sparks on Roxy’s clothes. She slapped
at the embers as they ignited. But she wasn’t without
recourse. She figured that if she rolled herself into a
tight ball, she could somersault out of here with only
moderate wear and tear. Taking a deep breath, she
readied herself for the move—
“You damage her, I damage you.” Something in
Dagan’s tone made Roxy freeze. Maybe it was the utter
lack of bravado—he was making a statement of fact, not
a threat. Whatever it was, she wasn’t the only one who
sat up and took notice. The ring of fire inched away.
True to form, Naamah laughed, but the sound was
hollow. “And why do you think that your silly threats
are of any consequence to me, underling?”
210
SINS OF THE HEART
Dagan offered a tight, close-lipped smile. “I am
Krayl.”
Dead silence greeted that pronouncement, then
