Chapter 50
Adrian had to keepKrol in sight. Red gave him the body back, and it hurt like a bitch, but he had to be better off than Bosse and Alifair. He had no idea what she’d done to the wilkotauk werewolf, but its eyes had rolled up, leaving black holes right before Justin’s bear torpedoed it.
Justin still fought the werewolf, but his bear, Herc, looked to have it under control.
Krol was shouting like a lunatic as he spun in place. “Mage!Show your face, damn you, or you’ll lose the mate.”
Pulling on his ripped pants, the only clothes he had left, Adrian’s back hurt as if someone had beaten him with a log. The wilkotauk had not gotten close enough to claw him. That meant the dark magic he’d used on Red had battered his wolf’s body. Herc made the wilkotauk pay the minute he stumbled, thanks to whatever Alifair did.
Adrian kept walking toward Krol but cautiously. Too much magic had flowed already.
Krol ordered his Lammogo, “Kill everyone out here except me!”
His bird creature slowly turned its head to Krol and stared, not moving a tiny bit.
“Bring him to me, Lammogo!” Krol screamed and pointed at Adrian.
Then, the massive mix of eagle-like head and shoulders attached to a lion’s lower body took to the air and flew toward Adrian.
Herc stepped up beside Adrian, snarling a low, hair-raising sound and smelling of fresh blood. Justin spoke to Adrian in his mind.Bosse warned us the Lammogo has poison or something in its claws that paralyzes a victim.
Shit fire. Can you stop him?
In answer, Herc’s huge head swung to look down at Adrian. The bear gave him a wry expression. Justin laughed.Herc said he’s just getting warmed up.
Adrian left the bird creature to Justin and called out to Krol, “Hand over both women now. You have made a serious mistake crossing the Gallize.”
Behind Adrian came a loud squawk of pain. He glanced back to see the Lammogo on its back and Herc standing on his rear legs, staring at it.
Turning back to Krol, Adrian started to order Krol to kneel with his hands behind him but hesitated at Krol’s panicked look. What was he about to do?
For the first time, Krol appeared cornered and searching everywhere. He had no escape. Adrian would be on him by the time he reached any cover.
Krol screamed, “Zuzani, appear now or lose the pregnant Gallize mate!”
Herc made a snuffling sound. Adrian angled his body to ensure Herc was fine while keeping Krol in view.
The flying bird lion stood again. Its lower body dropped down and then pushed up to leap into the air, even with Herc towering over it with a massive paw ready to swat it down.
The bird’s two paws and outstretched body stopped in midair.
Energy began to spin above the walkway that extended from one side of the structure to the other, twenty feet off the ground.
A Power Broker appeared. The damn mage. This confirmed Adrian had been right to be cautious. The Guardian would not be happy about this.
Herc leaped around and took two steps, growling in fury.
The Power Broker pointed at Herc and ordered, “Do not come any farther.”
Justin’s bear could go no farther and raged as if he’d run into a wall.
