A low growl rumbles from deep within my chest.
“I don’t have time for this.” I turn, heading for the cafe door. Sairos can do what he wants without me. I’m not sticking around to find out.
I’ve got to get to June.
I don’t know what the hell is going on, but I know something bad has happened.
I can feel it in my bones.
She needs me.
I don’t know how I know, I just do. It must be the link, stretched thin as it is. She’s calling for me.
Just as I reach the back door, a flash of fire magic blasts toward me, flinging me against the sharp edge of the counter.
I growl, picking myself up, a trickle of blood running down my arm from where I slammed it into the corner of the countertop.
Turning slowly, I ask, “Where the hell is your honor, attacking a man with his back turned?”
Sy stands facing me, hands out, more fire glowing in his palms.
“Honor?” He laughs. “Wake up, Z. This worldhasno honor anymore.”
“Then what are you doing picking a fight that should have ended centuries ago? Give it up.”
I turn away, hoping he won’t block my exit this time.
From behind me, I hear, “At least I’m not a coward.”
I growl again, muttering a curse under my breath as another fireballwhooshespast me, slamming into the door in a puff of metal-melting smoke. He’s not going to let me go without a fight. Not easily.
“I don’t have time for this,” I grumble, shoving a wall of air at him, blasting his next fireball clean out. “You feel that, don’t you? The air here is way too damn unsettled. This cafe is built on a stupid faultline. The veil between worlds is thin here, thin enough it’s crumbling at the edges. Can’t you feel the monsters nearby, just waiting to get through?”
Sairos cracks his neck from side to side, grinning like maybe that idea excites him. Like he actuallywantsa fight.
“There’s plenty of time to deal with them after I’ve dealt with you.”
That bored bastard.
I knew it.
I reach for the door, one hand out, blocking him with a blast of wind. “Listen, Sy. I’ll tell you what. I’ll fight you. I’ll fight you if that’s what you really want, but not today.”
“Ha!” He laughs, advancing on me. “You really are a coward. You’re running away!”
“Call me whatever the hell you want, but I’m not sticking around to hear it.” I grab the door, flinging it open before he can reach me. “My human’s in trouble.”
Before he has a chance to say anything else, I slam the door behind me, blasting it with a rush of air so it stays shut.
I just hope the bastard’s gone by the time we get back.
He wouldn’t dare pick a fight in front of my human, would he?
You
Panic. Sheer, blinding panic.
Your feet are frozen.
