Then a man rushed me from the side. Dropping my bow, I grabbed the krael from my belt and ducked, but a yellow tail shot over my head, hitting the Mole in the gut. He was dead, even if the fool didn't realize it yet, so I turned for the next.
And found myself face-to-face with Gideon.
"You..." I growled.
He grabbed my braid and slung me into the leaves. "Ayla Ross." And then he kicked.
Once before, he'd done the same to me in the dining hall. Back then, I'd been helpless. Fighting back would've only resulted in more punishment, so I'd taken it - and survived. Now it was his turn.
His leg came at me and I grabbed it, then twisted. He fell. I rolled on top of him, but I'd dropped my krael to grab his leg. That left me with only my hands - and two other weapons.
"Kill!" I screamed, slamming my fist into Gideon's face the way I'd seen Dragon men do with each other.
He hit back, knocking me over, then rolled to get above me. Gideon's hands found my neck, and he squeezed as hard as he could - until Pepper slammed into his side.
Her growls were deep and vicious. Her speed carried him not only off me, but three feet away. Then my beloved new dog thrashed, clutching thisasshole'sarm in her mouth.
And he screamed. The sound was the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard.
Eighty
Rymar
The dogs alerted and then took off, giving me barely enough time to think, let alone react. Ayla was faster. That woman had her bow in her hand and was firing off shots into the dark while I was still trying to nock my first arrow. But when a man rushed her, a single sting made sure he couldn't try again.
Then she ran, intent on something. Zasen, Kanik, Lansin, Xav, and Chlo rushed in, crashing into the rest. Demon snarled as he attacked, making a gap around us, but I was trying to find Ayla! She'd vanished into the darkness, forgetting the rest of us couldn't see as well as her.
Then I heard her. She said one word, and it was a growl. "You..."
"Ayla!" I yelled, heading for the sound, but a Mole grabbed me, spinning me around. He had a knife. I had a tail. Grabbing his wrist, I managed to block his arm, and my stinger went between his ribs. This close, I could see the man was young, barely more than a boy. His eyes were the palest blue I'd ever seen, and they went wide. His mouth parted - and then the venom took control.
Shoving him away, I kept going, trying to find Ayla in this mess. Zasen and Kanik swore she could handle herself. They always told me not to worry about her, but I still did. I always would. That was what happened when you loved someone. And yes, I felt that. I wouldn't say it yet, but I wanted to make sure I had the chance to do so once she was ready.
Which meant I had tofindher.
Holly rushed past me, her brindle coat allowing her to blend in. Following her, I turned just in time to see Ayla kneeling over a man, punching him hard. He flipped her over, grabbed her throat - and then Pepper was on him. The Mole was thrown feet from Ayla, giving her a chance to cough and roll onto her knees.
And Pepper had no intention of letting that man live. The dog shook, snarling like some feral beast. She was completely intent on her prey, oblivious to the Mole rushing to defend his friend. I paused, torn between going to Ayla and helping the dog, but Ayla was already on her feet, retrieving her weapons, and not even slowing down.
But the Mole rushing at the dog had a blade and a scowl.
"Pepper!" I cried. "Come!"
That was Ayla's dog. She didn't even like men. I knew she wouldn't listen to me, and yet in the middle of this chaos, she did. The black and tan dog spit out the man's shoulder and raced toward me, darting right past the Mole who'd been intent on killing her.
"Kill!" I snapped, pointing back at him.
Pepper slid, turned, and launched herself. This time, she didn't get the man by the arm. She caught the back of his neck, flinging her weight against him - and I heard the snap.
"Guard Ayla!" I ordered.
She might not know Ayla's name, but it was a risk I was willing to take. Holly did, and somewhere out here, that dog would be listening too. But the real thing I needed was a littledirection, and Pepper gave me that, running straight toward Ayla like she could somehow see through the shadows and bodies in a way I simply couldn't.
And that was when the first shot rang out.
"Disarm!" Lansin roared.
A moment later, Ayla did the same. "Disarm!"
