Skarn’s silhouette wavered ahead.
“I do not like your method of traveling, Rynna.” Kaelith clutched his stomach on landing.
Lunging, she caught his arm before he could topple as Fenn’s blade came up, his other hand flaring with power. The rocks around them tore into the air, scattering in a shrieking whirlwind that sent any nearby enemies scattering. But through it all, a high-pitched laugh cut through the storm, close enough to raise the hairs on her neck.
Kaelith went rigid. And in the next moment, he straightened, shaking her grip from his arm.
“Kae?” She raised her arms, palms up.
“That one owes me a debt, Rynna.” He wouldn’t look at her. “Don’t stand in my way.”
She hadn’t realized how much weight he’d been carrying, or how deep the hunger to settle it ran. He’d been entirely focused on her since she’d brought him back.
Then it hit her—white-hot. This was his version of thenightmare. Memories of pain lanced through her, snapping her limbs taut as the image of a greenish sphere flared around her.
“I’m here.” She swallowed it even as her fangs sliced her tongue, and her pulse roared in her ears, knowing that the one who caused him such harm still walked. “Do what you need.”
“Rynna!” Fenn’s voice was faint through the blood-rush.
She snarled, shaking her head clear. Then, her hand rose, tangling in the thick black at the root of Kaelith’s ponytail, yanking his face to her until their noses nearly touched.
“You fucking make him pay.” She held him there. “Right now. In this moment. Nothing else matters. Fenn and I will give you the time you need.”
“Rynna!” Fenn’s voice rose, closer.
Behind them, the tide of undead jerked to a stop, mid-step, arms flailing, fingernails scraping at empty air mere inches from the trio.
“What the hell…” Rynna’s fingers itched at her sides, watching the corpses writhe.
“Perhaps the apprentice would also like a one-on-one with our new friend,” Fenn said, eyes cutting to Kaelith. “Are you ready for this?”
A shimmer caught in the other man’s gaze, the pupils tightening to knife-thin slits of purple light. Shadows pooled around his irises, and when his hands flexed, each fingertipgleamed—nails stretching even further as they hardened into hooked points built for ripping.
No words passed between them. The dead began to move, one after another, stepping aside to clear a crooked path.
Kaelith’s weight rocked forward, but Rynna’s hand shot out, catching his arm again. “Don’t do anything stupid. I will chase you into Hell itself just to tear your dick off if you get yourself killed.”
He actually blinked, startled—right as a flicker of purple flashed between the bodies ahead. Skarn.
“I would never do something so foolish as dying,” Kaelith scoffed. “Not now that I’ve got you back.”
Rynna didn’t answer. Her fingers lingered on Kaelith’s, feeling the faint tremor there—not from fear, but from the coiled hunger she’d seen take men apart from the inside. The kind that didn’t care what was left standing after it was fed. She let go slowly, forcing herself to inhale, the ache in her chest settling like lead as he stalked forward. Alone.
Fenn moved up beside her, his presence a wall at her flank. And, together, they watched the path ahead as the dead peeled back one by one, making way for Skarn’s slow advance.
Chapter forty-seven
“Master.”Thevoiceslitheredfrom beneath the hood, thin enough to scrape the air. “You must be so cold out there. All alone.” The figure’s arms spread wide. “Come home.”
Rynna’s skin prickled, the chill rolling down her spine deepening when she caught the minute lift of Kaelith’s shoulders—stiffening even as the exhale left him in a restrained sigh.
“I failed you, apprentice.” His weight settled into one hip, feet braced. “No discipline. No respect.” A single talon rose, idly picking at his teeth. “Only the dead for playthings.”
The hooded shape moved closer, light from the barrier catching in the black voids of his eyes, highlighting the narrow slivers of green burning faintly in the center.
“Your only failure.” His grin spread, revealing fangs longer than Kaelith’s, curving nearly into his chin. “Was choosing that whore over me,Master.”
A laugh slipped out of Rynna before she could stop it. Of all the things. In the middle of a zombie apocalypse.
