Page 127 of The Last Storm
I narrowed in, listening for the pulse of its heart, the energy of its mind. Its life force. I called to it and it stilled, listening.
Come.
It took a half step in our direction. I clenched my teeth with effort.
Come.I tugged at its life force and it took off at a sprint to the battlefield. Sweat broke out along my forehead as I held its lifeline with every bit of control I had.
My eyes snapped open as it neared the tree line and slowed.
A loud thump shook the ground.
The soldiers stilled and looked back at the forest. Horrified screams erupted from the men still in the forest.
The trees swayed.
Another thump.
Thump.
My jaw went slack as the largest creature I had ever seen emerged from the woods.
It looked feline, but not. Its skin was black as night, sleek like oil, and it was armored with iridescent scales. Long canines protruded from his mouth, just under the black pits that served as eyes. They absorbed the light, creating a soulless abyss in each socket.
It prowled towards the men, its shoulders slinking with each step. Shadows billowed from its skin, shrouding it in constant darkness.
Every man froze with terror.
It halted at the edge of the field and raised its head to me, meeting my eyes.
I gave a single nod and it lunged.
* * *
Rogue
My heart stopped as a colossal creature of the night stepped from the tree line.
It must’ve smelled blood.
Just as I readied to incinerate it, it raised its eyes to Ara.
The blood drained from my face.
I snapped my eyes to Ara and she was already meeting its gaze. Fiercely. Proudly.
My jaw fell slack as pride swelled in my chest.Incredible.
It was asking her permission.
Anincredibleforce of nature.
I glanced down at Doran as he looked up at me. We locked eyes, stunned. She nodded to it and it pounced, ripping through human after human, flinging their bodies to the side as it went.
They began screaming and running. Straight into Fae territory.
* * *
Ara
