Not an option, however. Especially when leaves crunched nearby. I whirled, spotting the third naga, who had slipped by Roux and Bene as they fought with the other two.
“Close! Close!” I yelled, gesturing frantically at the east entryway.
With a grunt, the naga bounced off an invisible barrier. A cloud of something like fairy dust glittered in the entrance, briefly highlighting his features before fading away.
I gaped at the horrible sight — a cross between a man and a snake — and sent quiet thanks to whichever ancestor had woven magic into this structure.
The naga reached cautiously for the archway. Then he yanked his hand back, and more fairy dust twinkled.
His forked tongue flicked, and the sides of his neck flared like a cobra’s as he cursed me.
“Garce!”
How was I the bitch here?
I shot him the finger. “Get the hell off my property!”
He smirked. “Not yours for long, honey.”
What the hell did that mean?
When he circled the pavilion, I yanked magic over the next entryway to block it. But the air wobbled, telling me the protective force was overtaxed.
The naga must have sensed the same thing, because he slammed against the invisible barrier. It held — barely — and swirls of magic dust flew at me. Not good.
I raised my left hand in front of that space, desperately keeping those threads of magic together. With my right, I waved at the west door, releasing the magic and redirecting it here. The next time the naga slammed against it, he jerked back in pain, and sparks flew outward, following him.
I didn’t know whether to cheer or cry. Why build a pavilion with four entrances when there was only enough magic to protect one at a time?
The naga circled back to the east side, and I repeated the procedure, only to have him dart around and try another arch. We were playing a deadly cross between chess and basketball — minus the board, the court, and a ball, and with an angry, fork-tongued opponent.
Well, I was angry too, dammit! This was my home. My property. Furthermore, I was a nice person. (Okay, mostly.)I certainly didn’t go picking fights. Why were these monsters picking a fight with me?
Meanwhile, Roux and Bene battled on. I caught flashes of fangs, fur, and lashing tails.
The cats had a size and power advantage — not to mention those terrifying roars they made. But the nagas moved lightning-fast, dodging and slicing with their fangs and long, sharp fingernails.
Roux wrestled one to the ground, going for the throat. The naga fought back savagely, raking Roux with his teeth and nails.
Roux grunted in pain. Extraordinary healing powers allowed shifters to bounce back quickly, but certain supernaturals carried venom that could kill even the mightiest shifter. I prayed nagas weren’t among them, but judging by Roux’s grunts…
Stop!I wanted to scream.Stop!
Bene fought more cautiously, standing on his back legs to batter the second naga with his front claws, then retreating to a safe distance. But Roux was going all out for a kill, taking all kinds of crazy risks. Why?
I whirled to seal off yet a different entryway as my stalker changed directions. Then cold air sliced through the night, and I cried in relief.
“Henrik!”
Yes, relief. Not an emotion one normally associated with a vampire’s arrival, but hey. The circumstances were far from normal.
Bene’s foe took one look at Henrik and made for the woods. Roux snarled as his opponent slipped out of his grasp and sprinted after his comrade. Seeing them flee, “my” naga joined them.
Henrik followed, cursing in…Polish? Lithuanian? The man spoke so many languages, I couldn’t keep track, but his tone made it clear he wasn’t asking nicely. Bene bounded afterhim, while Roux circled the pavilion, snarling ferociously, as if someone had threatened his most prized possession.
Which was…what? Pride? Honor? I doubted it was a physical thing since tigers, unlike dragons, weren’t hoarders.
He glanced over to check on me, then snarled twice as loudly into the night, hell-bent on defending his territory.
