Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126030 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 630(@200wpm)___ 504(@250wpm)___ 420(@300wpm)
“Now you will see what gargoyles can really do,” Nessa said.
32
Jessie
What in the bloody hell were these idiots doing?
The resident cairn organized like they were ready to attack my and Gerard’s forces. They clustered in a sort of horde over the city, a structure that hadn’t done Gimerel any favors.
Gerard had only brought the bare minimum of his Guardians to save on travel expenses and to protect his cairn should another cairn think his absence was a good time to raid. Because of that, the resident cairn was on equal footing when it came to overall numbers.
When would these idiots learn that numbers were only part of the recipe, and they didn’t have anything else going for them?
“Fine, you want to fight?”
“Wh-at?” Tristan asked, having only heard my collection of syllables. I’d given up trying to communicate with words in my gargoyle form.
Magic pulsed, a drum beat for my people and Gerard’s. I sent it down to the city, as well, where Austin and the other shifters watched the training. They got the message immediately, stripping out of their regular clothing and shifting. Basajaunak came running to join the others.
A couple of Gerard’s people didn’t have a connection with me, and I extended it now. If they were confused what the new feeling was, they didn’t show it. They joined our group bond immediately, suddenly on the grid and ready for action.
And action they would get.
Evan hadn’t joined his Guardians for this, too new to the cairn to lead in the sky. The lead enforcer started forward, not giving us time to adjust.
Like we need it, I thought.
I sent a wave of magic up to Hollace, and he unleashed thunder into the sky. I started forward, and then Tristan was above me, grabbing me and flying me faster. The rest fell in behind as I felt Tristan’s desires and blasted them out magically, keeping our people together for the moment. My drum beat of magic picked up the tempo, and my urgency let them know that I wanted this done as quickly as possible. Patty had better be getting this on camera, because this time, I would splash it all over the gargoyle community. I would not allow any more doubt about how explosive, dangerous, and effective my team was. Naysaying stopped now.
Another push of power, and Tristan’s excellent strategy went into effect. Clusters of gargoyles spread out vertically, moving as a unit except for Gerard’s additions. They didn’t expect the change, didn’t understand the directive because of it, and fell behind. Given most of them had flown with us before, it didn’t take them long to figure it out and catch up.
I wiggled to be let go. Tristan threw me forward, ahead of the rest. I went straight at that lead enforcer, slower, clumsy in the air, but lethal. They could talk all the crap they wanted about my flying, but I’d make sure they never wanted to go up against me. I wouldn’t kill him, but I would get damn close.
He put out his hands and claws gleefully. His body sang with it. His wings snapped as he darted at me.
I hit him with a magical spell that hurt like the blazes before blasting everyone around him as well. They all tilted and wobbled in the air and then I slammed into that lead enforcer, raking my claws down his front and peppering him with more spells. He yowled, a strange high-pitched sound I had never heard a gargoyle make.
Gargoyles didn’t mess with each other’s wings, and so I left those alone lest someone accuse me of foul play. I magically drilled holes in his limbs. Scratched him to hell with my claws, bit into his neck and ripped out a chunk. He reciprocated but didn’t get far because Sebastian had helped me concoct a spell to protect me from physical damage. And help it did, immensely.
I bit his face. Slashed his middle with magic, hammered him with blunt spells, and exploded him away from me.
His body went careening downward, his wings fine but he didn’t have the presence of mind to use them.
“Damn it,” I grit out. Or tried, anyway.
A plea for Tristan’s help never materialized. He was there before I called, anticipating me.
“You did it!” I said without the smile I’d attempted.
He didn’t bother saying, “What?” this time. He was learning there, too.
His rush of power and force sent us quickly after the lead enforcer. We neared, and I wiggled free, throwing a net under the falling gargoyle. Tristan let me go and headed back to the fight. I hovered in place, ripped away the net, put up another, and repeated the process until he was about ten feet from the ground. Then I let him fall. Good enough for him, the wanker.
My ascent was slow, but I didn’t need to be close to do magic. Wind ripped part of their force to the side, and Cyra chased after them, sending jets of fire at their limbs. She enveloped a couple in weak flame, singeing their hair, and continued chasing when they tried to get away. Hollace, too, pursued, raining down lightning.