Blaise caught her an instant before the Crom would have mowed her down. Lifting her in his arms, the mandrake whirled her past the razor-sharp, blood-encrusted hooves that were mired with the remnants of the Crom’s past victims.
Urian went charging in to cover them with Falcyn by his side.
Rolling her eyes at their brave stupidity since none of them were armed, Medea joined their cause. She manifested her sword and twirled it around her body. Urian unleashed his fireballs while she watched the fey creature turn around for another pass.
It started for them.
Until it saw her sword.
With one last shrieking cry, it vanished in a puff of pungent green smoke.
What the hell was that?
“Okay … that was effing weird. Where did he go?” She glanced around, half-expecting him to manifest behind them. “What just happened?”
Brogan inclined her head to Medea’s sword. “’Tis the gold of your blade and hilt. It’s his weakness. With that, you could have maimed him.”
Medea gaped at her. “You couldn’t have told me that before he charged?”
“Wasn’t allowed to say it until you found it on your own. I’m forbidden to.”
“Well, that just sucks!”
Brogan smiled. “For me more than you, my lady. Believe me.”
She had a point.
And Blaise had yet to set her back on her feet. In fact, he seemed reluctant to let her go.
“My lord?” Brogan blushed profusely.
Blaise hesitated. “Not sure I should let you down. You seem to keep finding trouble whenever I do.”
Falcyn glared at them. “Blaise! Set her down! Now!”
Medea popped him on the arm as Brogan appeared stricken by his sharp tone. “What is your problem?”
Falcyn gestured at Brogan. “He doesn’t know where she’s been.”
“Oh my God, Falcyn! He’s not some two-year-old child and she’s not a piece of candy he found on the floor that he stuck in his mouth!”
“Well, that’s how he’s acting. He looks at her like he could eat her up.”
“And you’re acting like a baby. Get over it. He’s a grown dragon. He’s allowed be nice to any woman he wants to.Withoutyour permission or approval, you know?”
Falcyn’s nose actually twitched and flared. “Doesn’t mean I have to like it.” He groused like that two-year-old she’d just mentioned.
Blaise rolled his eyes and shook his head. “He always acts like an old woman. I’m used to it.”
Brogan laughed as Blaise finally set her back on her feet, but he kept her tucked by his side.
Before she could ask about it, Brogan drew their attention to the stones that, when they stepped back, Urian realized formed a half-broken demonic face suspended on pedestals over a deep, fiery abyss.
“Well, that’s different.” And the dais was impossible to reach … Medea arched a brow. “I take it that’s the portal we’re looking for?” Brogan nodded. Her mood now was subdued and quiet. Gone was any hint of the playful sprite she’d been a few seconds ago.
Medea cast a dry stare to Falcyn. “This is when having a flying dragon would come in handy.”
Falcyn snorted. “So would rope … and a gag.”
