Gisila reached out and flicked the spell with her thumb and pointer finger, and a ripple of flames spread across the vault’s surface, while the spicy sensation of dragon magic hit me.
Oh, no.
The magic script shattered like glass. It sloughed off the vault, leaving it unprotected.
I have to get out of here. Now.
I planted my left arm on the ground and pushed backwards, slithering away. I waited until I thought I was far enough away from the door that my specialty boots wouldn’t be heard before I got to my feet and crept toward the wrecked lobby gate, still holding my handgun.
If we can get some magic canceling cuffs on her, it will be a lot easier to contain her even if she’s wielding an elf weapon. But how could we hold her long enough to get the cuffs on her?
I picked the best spot to climb over the gate where I would produce the least amount of noise.
“Ah, slayer. You are just in time,” Gisila said.
Forgoing stealth for speed, I jumped over the gate wreckage and immediately zigzagged.
Behind me, Gisila grunted as she strained to grab me and missed.
“There’s no point in running, slayer. I’m going to lay my hands on my birthright tonight,” Gisila called after me.
Birthright? What is she talking about?
I moved in a deranged pattern, crisscrossing across the lobby as I kept my speed up as fast as I could go.
I was outpacing Gisila, but just barely.
Heading outside is the best option for combat. She could seriously hurt me if we keep to an enclosed space like this where I can’t use my speed to full advantage. Even if we go outside I don’t think she’ll shift—that would leave her vulnerable during the transformation.
The next time Gisila tried to snag me, I faked a dodge to the right, then put on a burst of speed, almost reaching the lobby doors.
“Aren’t you concerned about Considine?” Gisila shouted after me.
Despite all my training and my finely honed instincts, I hesitated.
In my moment of indecision Gisila grabbed me by the collar of my shirt. “So youdocare for him. Interesting.”
She effortlessly plucked my gun from my grip and heaved me backwards.
Her casual toss sent me flying through the air, sailing over the broken gate and landing on the floor.
I managed to roll with the impact, absorbing some of the force. I was going to have a few bruises but no broken bones.
Gisila, meanwhile, threw my handgun, sending it crashing through Tutu’s front window.
This set my teeth on edge—I wouldn’t be able to recover the weapon, which was my best chance against her, but also because that wasterriblegun safety, and it could have been accidentally set off in the process and hurt Orrin or Tetiana outside.
I boosted myself to my feet, scrambling to the side to avoid the burning ball of molten fire Gisila tossed in my direction.
I cleared it with plenty of space, but the fire burned so hot the skin of my face felt baked.
“You haven’t been able to find even the smallest clue about his location, have you?” Gisila, standing in the narrow gap to the lobby, created another raging ball of flames and chucked it at me. “Serves you right—he can be the price you pay for keeping me from what’s rightfully mine for so many months.”
I ran in serpentines through the loading station, avoiding the two fireballs she chucked at me, only partially listening to her rants.
The one positive to a thrown gun shattering the window was that it definitely alerted Tetiana and Orrin that I’d been found out, but they wouldn’t do anything until backup arrived, in accordance with Cloisters policy.
Actually, the squad alone probably wouldn’t be considered adequate forces to face a dragon shifter. I might be stuck solo until additional reinforcements arrive. I guess I’ll have to either escape or try to stay alive until they get here.
