* * *
Ilith looked down at a wide-eyed Peter and sniffed.
When would her Savior learn? This small one was definitely of Kenneth’s line. Their energy was too similar for it to be anything else. Ilith sniffed again. Hmm. That was interesting. Although he was Silva it wasn’t the same breed as the others Tate and Ilith knew.
More secrets of this world rising to the surface.
Putting aside such thoughts, Ilith dug her claws into the ground and fixed her attention on Nathan. The armor from Tate’s relic bubbled to the surface, encasing her scales in a protective coating.
Ilith paid no attention. She studied her enemy as he picked up a cylinder that hummed at his touch. A rope of scarlet extended from it, barbs dotting its length.
Ilith showed her teeth in an instinctive snarl. She had a history with that abomination, had felt the pain of its touch on her scales.
The fact it had inflicted the same agony on her mate’s bonded nearly drove her insane with rage.
Make it hurt,Tate instructed.
Ilith crouched, her sharp eyes picking up Night’s shadow as he worked his way to the ceiling above Ryu. She would inflict a hundred times the misery on Nathan as he had on her mate.
She exploded forward, her wings creating gusts of wind, allowing her to cover the short distance in a flash.
Nathan looked up at the last minute, alarm filling his expression as screams sounded from the sleepers below. Even taken off guard, he didn’t hesitate, flicking his whip toward Ilith.
Agony seared her side as she barreled into the ancient.
Ha, Ilith thought in satisfaction at Nathan’s roar. Black armor crawled over his body, offsetting the worst of Ilith’s blow.
Behind her, a weapon barked several times as Peter started his attack.
Nathan hit the ground and rolled, putting distance between Ilith and him in a split second.
Ilith pouted. Stupid ancient and his petty tricks. They wouldn’t be enough to keep him alive.
Nathan held the whip in one hand as a blade formed in his other. Resembling the pillar over the Rift, it swallowed all light that got near it.
Ilith sent him a mocking look. Did he really think having a weapon in both hands was going to save him?
Wait a minute. Why does that blade look almost exactly like George’s?
Not the same. His is bigger.
Son of a bitch,Tate spat.How did a fragment of his blade land in the empire’s hands? George probably never had a chance if he was influencing her the last few months.
Ilith didn’t have time to pay attention to her savior’s musing as she concentrated on her enemy, dodging another flick of the whip.
Out of the corner of her eyes, she caught sight of Night dropping silently to the ground before slinking toward her mate’s bonded and the young one.
Ilith opened her mouth, belching flame.
Nathan dodged to the side, rolling out of the way to the sound of Ilith’s rumbling chuckles.
He came to his feet in a flash, his face a mask of rage.
“Loathsome lizard. This is the last time you get in my way.”
The foul little man was absolutely right. This was their last showdown. After today, Nathan would have a new home—inside Ilith’s stomach.
How many times must we go over this? Sentient creatures should not be eaten!
