“You littleCUNT,” Lizbeth roared, lunging for Xenia, who tapped her cuff and reappeared several feet away. “Do you haveanyidea what you’ve just ruined? How many centuries of planning?”
Keep her talking, keep her chasing.
Those were the only thoughts in Xenia’s mind.
Just a few more jumps, and?—
Lizbeth’s claw caught Xenia’s shoulder and she yelped, portaling a few yards further.
All the jumping was making her nauseous. Though the distances were short, the frequency was jarring. Xenia’s vision blurred and spots appeared in her periphery.
HighGods,where was Cael?
Xenia pressed a hand against a damp tree, trying to not to vomit as Lizbeth stalked toward her. “I’m sorry about your parents, I truly am, but?—”
Lizbeth paused, startled. “How do you know who my parents were?”
“The Cynn Drakan. Aedelmar and Priya Burkhardt. Everything Arran took from you… the dragon, your people. I’m so sorry for all of it.”
Lizbeth’s face crumpled momentarily before twisting with fiery rage. “You have no idea what you’ve done.Noidea! He was mine to end, and you took him from me, and?—”
“I know the dragon’s name,” Xenia said, playing her final card.
Lizbeth’s features went carefully blank.
Xenia continued, “Were you hoping to get it from Arran? That’s what you’ve been searching for, isn’t it? Were you hoping to ransom his son for it? Arran wouldn’t have given it to you. He would have let you kill Cael before he’d give up that information.”
“How doyouknow it?” Lizbeth crept closer and Xenia’s fingers hovered over the cuff. Rain plinked against the leaves, puddling at her feet. Birds chirped overhead, and the wind whistled through the branches. The edge of the tree line—Xenia’s final destination—was less than a hundred feet away.
“Your father isalive,” Xenia said and Lizbeth’s face fell. “He’s in Tartarus. My friends were sent there, and they learned thename from him.” Xenia reached out a hand. “We’re going tofreethem. Lure the dragon, then take her to the prison to burn down the wards. You don’t need to get your revenge today. Join us. Then take your revenge against the entire Empire.”
Lizbeth tilted her head, considering, then rubbed at her neck wound again. She began to shake her head as brown fur fluttered along her limbs and her nose transformed into a dark brown muzzle. “I don’t make deals with fuckinghumans.”
Three things happened at once.
Cael burst into the clearing, shouting Xenia’s name.
Lizbeth swiped a massive claw across Xenia’s torso, shredding fabric and slicing her chest open.
And Xenia tapped the cuff one final time.
The two females disappeared, then reappeared inches outside the tree line.
Outside the edge of the Stoneridge property line.
Where Lizbeth Burkhardt’s head exploded.
Xenia collapsed to the ground,clutching at her ruined chest.
“No no no nono!” Cael wailed, skidding to his knees in the tall grass and pulling Xenia into his lap.
She was covered in blood, brain matter, and skull fragments. He couldn’t tell which blood was hers and which was Elodie’s. Lizbeth’s? He thought he’d heard Xenia call her that.
Xenia’s hands brushed feebly at the vicious, bone-deep slash in her chest. Her skin was paling. She was losing too much blood.
“Stay with me,” Cael begged. “Stay with me, Zee.”
Her eyelids fluttered and her limbs trembled as a laugh shook her thin, cold body.
