“Then he’s coming with us,” Charlie said roughly. “Asa, Ares, go get him.”
The two Elves took off, and I had to open up the shield again to let them through. One of the flying bullets snuck through the opening and hit me in the arm as it flew by. Blood went everywhere, and I cried out in pain. My shield fell completely and I gasped, putting a hand to my arm.
“AVA!” Oberi screamed, sounding deranged.
“Pidge, stay with me!” Charlie gasped in alarm.
“I’m fine,” I breathed, using my magic to heal the wound. The bullet popped out as I knit the muscle back together. I tried to put up the shield again, but it was too late— we were already exposed.
“Everyone get down!” Ivy cried, and my friends flattened themselves to the floor as more bullets flew over their heads. Marcus tried to put up a shield, but he was too weak, and it faltered. Alistair was too busy killing vampires by puppeteering them around to help his friends, so we were left unshielded. He forced one vampire to lash out with his fangs, slicing another’s head clean off his shoulders. He was laughing the whole time, not caring if we were exposed, only that he got his revenge on the mobsters for mocking him.
Kallie put up a shield, but it didn’t expand fast enough in time to cover me. Vampires came storming toward us. As I reeled on Oberi’s back, she let out a cry of rage. I felt her shift, fur becoming scales as my Familiar grew to an immense size.
Oberi was changing into a wyvern, and he was too big to fit inside the circus tent. He spread his wings wide, and the entire big top came crashing down on top of us. Fabric covered me, and I couldn’t see where we were going or where my friends were.
“Pidge!” I heard Charlie cry, but his voice was muffled and sounded far away. Where was he?
Though we couldn’t see, the mobsters couldn’t, either. The sounds of fabric ripping and tearing could be heard all around as vampires attempted to claw their way out of the circus tent.
Oberi was a rampaging animal. All I could do was hold on as he stormed around, smashing vampires under his feet and ripping them to pieces with his teeth. He’d gotten tangled up in the circus tent when it came down, and attempting to break free was making him more infuriated.
“Oberi, change back!” I ordered, but he wasn’t listening. All he wanted to do was protect me, and seeing me be shot had brought back memories of the Infernal Underground. He’d taken the bullet for us when Jaymin had shot him, and seeing me get hurt like that drove him insane.
Unexpectedly, a burst of Air lifted the big top off of us, sending it spiraling into the sky. Another stream of Air yanked me off of Oberi’s back, and I didn’t have any chance to hang on. I was pulled downward by a powerful gust of wind, and I slammed against Charlie’s body as he caught me. Once I was in his arms, the large tent collapsed back onto the ground again, covering the vampires and Oberi’s back half.
“It’s time to go. Everyone else is already out,” Charlie said. “The Elven guards are holding off the vampires so we can leave.”He proceeded toward the fun mirror inside the set-up tent, which was still standing.
“Oberi, let’s go!” Charlie called out.
Oberi laughed as he watched three vampires die under the searing pain of his venom. Then he turned and changed into a husky, racing after us. I held on tight, and Charlie carried me through the mirror and back home.
The portal took us straight to the throne room, where the rest of our friends were waiting. Marcus leaned against a wall, looking sick, while Alistair played with his deck of cards wearing a smug grin.
Danny, for once in his life, didn’t appear cocky, but rather relieved. “Thank fuck,” he said quietly to himself. “Don’t know how many times I’m gonna get away from that guy by the skin of my ass.”
Chancey had his arm slung around Ivy’s shoulders, who appeared quite sour.
“Screw my old man,” Ivy grumbled. “He’s always gotta take the piss out of everything, don't he?”
Kallie had already fetched my chair, and Charlie put me down in it as my chest tightened in anxiety.
“Oberi—” I breathed, and I patted his head. “I’m so glad you're safe.”
Savage beasts,he grumbled.Tore them right to bits, yes I did.
“Oh, Oberi,” I said, and I threw my arms around his neck to hug him. “You bad doggy!”
“Oberi, why didn’t you listen to Ava?” Charlie scolded. “You could’ve gotten hurt.”
They harmed what was mine, and so, were not permitted to survive,Oberi stated bluntly, before he licked my cheek.
“You went off the rails,” Charlie accused. “You need to follow orders, and do as you’re told! What if we werebothin trouble,and you weren’t paying attention? What if you had to pick between Ava and me, because there wasn't a chance we’d both make it out? We’dallbe dead if you ignored her like you did back there!”
Oberi appeared horrified at the thought of having to pick one over the other.Do not say such things. How could I ever choose? I love you both equally. Such a thing would be impossible.
“The good news is, the operation went well,” Eddie said cheerfully, before Charlie could start ranting again. “The prince and princess are safe, which is our top priority.”
“What about the other Elves?” I asked, worried. We’d left many of the guards behind in order to get here.
