CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Mist battles another of the puke-green kelpies, but more of the scaled horses trot around the main battle and edge toward us.

Okay, not us. Me. They're definitely trying to get to me.

"What did I ever do to you?" I mutter under my breath.

"Come now, sky gift," one of them says in a melodious voice. "Take a ride on my back. I'll show you sights such as you've never seen."

I know it's a horrible idea, that these are fae that can't be trusted, yet a shiver of magic brushes over my skin, and I take a step forward.

"Wait," I blurt. "I didn't mean to do that."

"Of course you did," another kelpie says, dulcet tones dripping poisoned sugar.

My traitorous body takes another step forward.

"Aren't you just the tastiest little morsel?" the third says, his light tenor resonatingly beautiful.

"Hsst, don't break the spell," the first one says. "Besides, we're not eating her yet. She's a sky gift. We have to figure out why the Moon Goddess brought her to Alarria."

Even as my mind wails that they want to freaking eat me—and not in the fun way—I take another step forward.

Mist growls behind me, then lets out a yelp of pain, and tears prickle the backs of my eyes. My friend's only getting hurt because she's fighting to protect me, and here I am, caught in something like a mesmer spell.

"Come to me," a sickeningly sweet voice beckons. "Come to me, little morsel."

Another traitorous step carries me so close their shark teeth fill my sight.

Krivoth bellows my name.

I long to turn toward him with everything I have. His strength, his touch, his belief in me…

My foot lifts for another step, and I scream, "No!"

I punch my free hand down toward the ground, reaching with every last bit of my being. The look of pride Krivoth gave me after my last training session fills my mind. I clasp it to my heart, remembering how it made me feel.

I will be that, for him and for Mist and Storm. They need me to find my strength. I need it.

"Come, little sky gift," a kelpie croons. "Come ride with me."

I grit my teeth, sweat tickling down my face in an irritating trickle. But I resist. I do not take a step forward. Instead, I force my foot back to the ground beside the other one.

That extra connection is all I need. The power of Alarria rushes up my legs and joins with the magic already swirling inside my chest, wiping away all walls. It twines around my magic, singing through my limbs until I want to laugh with the giddy joy of it.

But first…

The kelpies step closer, hemming me in and looming over me in a way that's oppressive.

I flash back to that moment on the stairway when Tim threatened me, and the same wish pulses out of me.

"Leave me alone!" I throw up my hands and push.

A percussive whomp of air tosses the great beasts backward, spinning ass over teakettle.

Another snarl comes from behind me, and I whirl.

A kelpie rears over Mist, its hooves snapping through the air. One lands on her shoulder. She's normally fast enough to get out of the way, but she's already fought two others and her tail droops with tiredness. She lets out a pained yowl.

I yell, "Mist, duck!"

The cat drops to the ground, her outline growing insubstantial.

I jab my hand forward, and power pulses out of me in a wave. It punches the kelpie's raised body directly in the chest. It goes flying backward to hit the ground with a loud crunch.

A whoop slips from my lips. "Take that, you scary assholes!"

Then a pained gasp comes from behind me.

I whirl around to see Krivoth with an axe buried in his thigh.

Two snarling ogres face him, one raising a nasty spiked mace overhead, ready to crush Krivoth's skull.

My heart leaps into my throat.