Drawing on my depleted power, the familiar sensation of bones shifting and reshaping rushed over me as I transformed into a bat. But unlike Angelo's graceful flight, my wings were heavy and uncoordinated. I flew erratic patterns through the thick bayou air, struggling to maintain altitude as my weakened body fought against the transformation.
My vision blurred as I lost precious feet, the soggy ground rushing up to meet me before I managed to catch an updraft.
But I wouldn't let anything happen to Serenity—not after she'd saved my life.
Hades roared as he drew closer to Serenity, the sound reverberating like thunder. His massive paws were extended, claws gleaming in the moonlight like curved daggers ready to tear flesh from bone. The wind from his wings created a downdraft that whipped Serenity's hair around her face as she maintained her grip on the writhing Gunnar.
He'd land on her back any minute. Death was only a few seconds away.
The scene unfolded in horrifyingly slow motion. Serenity was completely focused on whatever healing magic she was channeling into Gunnar, oblivious to the lethal predator diving toward her. Her white light pulsed with each of Gunnar's agonized screams, and I could see the strain on her face as she poured everything she had into saving him.
Angelo was still too far away, his black bat form streaking through the air but not fast enough to intercept Hades. My ownflight was erratic and weak, my damaged body barely keeping me aloft.
Hades was three seconds away. Two seconds. His roar of triumph split the night?—
Then something massive and dark shot between them, colliding with Hades in mid-air with a bone-jarring crash that sent both creatures spinning through the darkness.
But in the chaos of wings and claws and snarls, I couldn't tell who had intervened—or if they were friend or foe.
