Dyna. For all of his efforts, he couldn’t save her. He was useless.
Horace jerked and released his chokehold. Cassiel gasped for fresh air but lost it again when the Raider’s full weight collapsed on top of him. From his back jutted three arrows
The men swore, and they backed away. The quiet was eerie as the sound of soft footsteps approached. A stranger in a tattered green cloak came into view. He held a loaded bow with two arrows aimed at the Raiders.
“Gods.” Abenon motioned at his nine companions. “Well? Kill him.”
The stranger shot the arrows, killing one. He dropped his bow and whipped out his luminous sword from beneath his cloak. It caught the sunlight as it swung to meet the others coming for him. He was a blur of movement, disarming the Raiders in one swing and slashing through their bodies in the next. The men hit the floor at his feet. He flicked his sword, removing the blood and calmly sheathed it before gathering his bow and Cassiel’s weapon from the ground.
“Who are you?” Abenon demanded.
The stranger slipped off his hood. Teal eyes looked at them from a face set in sharp calculation.
“He’s that elf, Lieutenant,” another Raider said. “The famed warrior of the Vale.”
Abenon gritted his teeth, spitting another curse.
Rawn removed the body pinning Cassiel down. “Are you wounded?”
“Clearly,” he grunted as he sat up. “You followed us?”
“On my honor, I did not. I was in Corron when I heard the commotion.”
“You heard us?” They were deep within the alleys.
Rawn tapped his ear in reply, then yanked out the knife stuck in Cassiel’s wing. He winced at the dull pain, but the wound had already stopped bleeding. The Raiders watched in amazement as it healed.
Lieutenant Abenon sneered and readied his scimitar blades. “I rescind my order, men. You can stick the Celestial a few times.”
Rawn liftedEsh Zayinand handed it to Cassiel. Once the hilt was in his hands, petals of white flames unfurled. They faced the Raiders, ready for another fight when a familiar growl rumbled behind them.
Cassiel smirked at the sound. “At last.”
A shadow leaped over his head and landed in front of them. Sharp teeth flashed from its black jaws, yellow eyes gleaming, muscle rippling beneath its fur. Abenon froze. He stared at the massive wolf in dread, the color draining from his face.
Zev looked at Cassiel over his shoulder questioningly.
He motioned at the men with his chin. “They took Dyna.”
Zev’s frightening snarl reverberated in the alleyway. He stalked forward. Predator locked on its prey.
Cassiel shrugged at the Raiders. “I suggest you run.”
They tripped over each other to escape. Zev leaped, taking them down under his weight. Cassiel cringed at the sound of their screams and the crunch of bone. Blood streamed through the cracks of the ground, trickling past his boots. So this is what became of those who threatened the werewolf’s cousin.
Abenon scrambled away from the attack with one of his bloodied arms hanging useless at his side. He snatched up a fallen scimitar and descended on the wolf gutting a man.
“Zev!” Cassiel shouted.
The wolf dodged the strike and pounced on the lieutenant. Abenon’s gurgling scream cut off, blood spraying the alley walls. Cassiel looked away, ignoring the churn of his stomach.
Zev shifted into his naked form and pinned his glowing eyes on him. He shook and heaved with rage. Blood stained his mouth and rippling body hovering between wolf and man.
A deep, bone-chilling growl rumbled in his throat, “How was Dyna taken? I left her in your care!”
Cassiel dropped his gaze. “I’m sorry.”
Zev snarled at Rawn. “Why are you here?”
