Uh-oh.
The harpy screeched, and the sound activated some primal part of my brain which immediately wanted to run and hide. I swallowed and managed to hold my ground as she launched herself at Kyla, her talons extended.
Kyla reached out with one paw, batting her aside as if she were a bug. The harpy went flying.
I’d vowed to cheer. “That’s right, Kyla. You smack her with your giant paws!”
Kyla turned her head, blinking both eyes in an attempted wink. I shook my head. She really needed to work on that.
Evie stalked toward the harpy. Solonia was getting to her feet, her expression stone-cold.
“Tell us why you’re working with humans and witches,” Evie demanded.
“Fuck you.”
“We’re going to find out. You’re only delaying the inevitable.”
“I’m going to kill you. And then I’m going to kill your wolf. Then I’ll kill everyone you’ve ever met.”
Evie held up her hand, and the harpy dodged a magical attack, her movements breathtakingly fast.
“Ooh, better luck next time, Evie,” I called.
Evie grinned. Then she was lunging to the side as the harpy shot into the air, arrowing toward her.
Fuck.
Evie gestured, and the harpy ran straight into her ward. I gaped. It took serious power to raise a ward that quickly. And I could see by the color draining from Evie’s face that it was difficult to hold it.
The harpy shrieked as blood sprayed from her nose. She’d hit the ward with her face. I winced.
“We just want to talk,” Evie said.
The harpy sneered. They were trying to wear her down, tryingnotto kill her, but she was just becoming more and more enraged.
Solonia gave another wordless scream that made me clap my hands over my ears. Then she launched herself at Kyla.
I’d once seen a video of an eagle attacking a wolf. It hadn’t prepared me for this. The harpy’s claws dug into Kyla’s fur, but Kyla rolled, bringing the harpy with her.
She slashed out, and the harpy screamed again, but she was still holding on. Blood sprayed across Kyla’s fur, and my heart rate tripled.
The harpy let out a sick, choked sound, and I craned my head for a better view. Her armor had shifted, and Kyla had taken full advantage, burying her own claws deep in the harpy’s belly. Solonia would heal it, but it wouldn’t feel good. The harpy fell back. Evie took a step toward her, opening her mouth. Clearly, she figured the harpy would be willing to talk now.
The harpy made it to her feet. Then she turned and flew at me.
I guess she didn’t get the memo. I was just here to look pretty.
Kyla sprinted toward us. Evie shot out a stream of power, but the harpy dodged it. We were here to talk, and she was here to kill us. That gave her an advantage.
My knees automatically came up as my back hit the ground, and the harpy lay against them. She hissed at me, lips peeled back from her fangs, and my heart kicked inside my chest. The sudden adrenaline dump narrowed my vision, until all I could see was the harpy currently attempting to claw out my heart.
I was the weakest link, and she’d decided to take me out to make a point. I could respect that. But I had no intention of dying here today.
The KA-BAR was on my ankle, but there was no way I’d reach it. I’d left the Colt in the car, still wary about carrying it.
Vas’s vision of my dead body flickered through my mind, and I reached out, groping blindly.
I scooped up a handful of dry dirt and threw it in the harpy’s face. She let out a shriek of rage. Her hand slashed out, her fist slamming into my jaw.
