The corner of Everett’s mouth lifted. “I’d like that.” He let go of Dax’s hand and reached for the door. He got out, but before he even closed the door, he let out a loud yell. “What the hell are those?”
Dax jumped out of his vehicle as Ivor and Emory raced toward them from the other car. Emory shot into the air, andDax whipped his head up to see what he was after. And what Everett was pointing at.
Five large perytons circled above them.
They were terrifying creatures with massive red-tipped black wings and long talons on their feet. Their stag heads with heavy black antlers and glowing red eyes made them look like something that had sprung from Hell—if that place actually existed. To Everett, they had to seem like something from his worst nightmares.
Dax had encountered them before, which in turn had made him study them. They tended to hunt in packs—mainly because they had tunnel vision. He could exploit that weakness. As well as the fact that the lower portions of their wings were gossamer. Delicate.
One of the perytons dove toward Everett, who still stood, mouth gaping in utter shock.
Dax ran around the vehicle, grabbed Everett, and pulled him to the side just as Ivor stepped in front of them. The peryton that had been coming for Everett slowed, wings spread wide, its talons long and deadly. Wind whooshed as it flapped its heavier upper wings. The preternatural was massive, strong enough to carry off a human—which was obviously their intent. Dax got the feeling they hadn’t expected three bodyguards, because the perytons hovered above them for several long moments before they split their group. Shooting out in different directions, each one started diving, aiming long talons at whoever was beneath them.
Emory shot into the sky again but since he could no longer stay in flight very long, he could only get in quick punches before having to come back down to earth.
Ivor ducked as one swooped for him, twisting at the last moment to grab the bottom of the peryton’s wings. There was a horrible ripping sound, and the creature screeched and shotaway. Ivor had part of a wing in his hand. He dropped it before running toward another diving peryton.
Dax opened the door of the SUV and pushed Everett inside. “Stay here,” he ordered and shut the door. He swung around just as sharp talons sliced through the shirt and skin on his shoulder. The peryton body-checked him, sending him into the side of the vehicle before darting away. It soared upward, spun, and angled in Dax’s direction again. Another came at him from the opposite side.
Dax stepped away from the SUV and tried to grab the leg of the closest one. If he could get a good grasp on it, he could swing it into one of the few trees lining the driveway.
But the perytons both zig-zagged as he swung around, one’s talons scraping his arm and the back of his hand. He glanced down. The cut was deeper than he’d thought. Blood sprayed out as he raced toward one of the perytons and tried to grasp its lower wing. The whole time, he stayed to the side since they had no peripheral vision.
The other one flew close, the stag mouth snapping at Dax’s back. He swung around and managed to get his fingers wrapped around one of its legs as it tried to shoot back into the air.
Dax added his other hand, heaved it up, then slammed it into the ground. Even with his immense strength, it was huge and weighed so much, maneuvering it was difficult. But he swung the now deadweight body around, slamming it into the other peryton. That one flew backward, hitting a tree so hard it fell to the ground, obviously dazed.
Ivor ran to it and punched it in the head, and it keeled over. He’d dispatched the one that had attacked him already, so now there were only two still trying to attack Everett. Emory was fighting them both. They were airborne, so neither Ivor nor Dax could fight them, but they waited below in case Emory managed to fling one down from the sky.
It was fascinating to watch Emory fight. He could zip to the ground and back up unbelievably fast, his movements graceful, white wings spread.
“Incoming!” he yelled as he shot above a peryton and slammed his clasped fists down on the stag head. The peryton fell into a spiral and hit the ground hard.
With most of the creatures down, Dax felt safe enough to leave the SUV, and both he and Ivor ran toward the downed peryton. It was already getting to its feet. Ivor, who was a lot faster than Dax, jumped up and kicked it across the face. Dax arrived a moment later, punching the creature before it could get its bearings. The peryton collapsed to the ground just as Emory sent the last one down from the skies.
Dax ran beneath it, ready to grab and swing, but it managed to sink its talons into his wounded shoulder. He grasped its leg, yanked the talons from his flesh, and yelled as he slammed it into the ground.
Emory landed on the ground next to Dax, breathing hard and keeping his eyes on the fallen preternaturals.
“Is it safe to come out now?” Everett asked through the open window of his door.
Dax nodded and waved him out.
“What are they?” Everett asked as he approached Dax. He shuddered, staring at the unconscious creatures.
“Perytons,” Dax answered. “Elusive preternaturals who must have been hired to carry you off. Someone really wants you.”
“Or that nephrite,” Everett muttered. “What do we do about them? I mean, calling the cops would be weird, right? Or do cops know about you guys?”
Ivor smiled at Everett. “We have this covered, no worries.” He walked closer to Dax and lifted his arm to look it over, then tore more of his shirt to see the wounds on his shoulders. “Weshould probably get Alaric out here to see to those. A couple of the punctures are pretty deep.”
“You were hurt?” Everett patted around the wound, being so gentle Dax couldn’t help his smile.
“I don’t need Alaric—they’re all flesh wounds,” Dax assured him.
“Then I’m going to clean them up,” Everett announced before looking at Dax’s friends. “You two feel free to come and go for whatever you need. There are drinks in the refrigerator, and after I clean Dax’s wounds and make sure he’s okay, I’ll make some sandwiches for everyone. Later, though. This might take a while. That sound good?”
Dax couldn’t believe Everett was so calm after an attack like this. He couldn’t help but admire him.
