Entwined Realms Volume One(9)

No, no, I was so close!

“Let me go!” she screamed, raking her nails against his bare chest in an effort to wound him, his skin so hard it was as though her nails slid against stone. If she hurt him he gave no sign. He put one arm under her knees and held her bridal style tight against him. He spread his wings, the wingspan massive.

She looked back at the shadow warrior. He had finished with the zombies, swords still in the air as if he had swung his last killing strokes. His head turned toward her as she was pulled into the air, the creature taking flight with her.

Soft words were spoken into her ear. “I will not harm you, little human. Hold onto me. I will protect you.”

The creature could speak. His voice was deep and soothing and gentle and so at odds with his appearance. That voice, combined with her fear of falling, overrode any other considerations. She circled her arms around his thick neck for some semblance of stability and safety and held tight as the creature flew her into the waiting night.





Chapter Four





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They had been flying – what… thirty minutes? Three hours? – when they arrived at an expansive keep nestled within a jagged mountain range. From this angle she noticed several multi-story towers rising from the stone, but the design was so clever the keep had to be near invisible most of the time.

They set down on the top of the highest tower, the landing so skilled only the slightest bounce let her know they were on solid ground.

She was in shock – she had to be. It was the only explanation for why she was not crying or cursing her luck, the creature, her father, card games, and anything else that led her to leave her apartment in the first place. The calmness infusing her now felt unnatural, ready to shatter with the first application of force.

Still, she’d take whatever advantage she could get right now. Maybe the calm would hold, at least long enough to discover why she had been taken.

Be reasonable. Friendly. The first rule of negotiation her dad taught her was to find out what the other person wanted and figure out a way you could convince them you’d be able to supply it. That, and always be realistic about what was going on.

Well, here were the ugly facts. She had no mad-ninja-skillz to rely on and her family didn’t know where she was. She didn’t know where she was. The only way she was leaving was if this creature allowed it.

The creature was looking at her and made no move to put her down. Should she look at him? Would he take that as aggression? During the flight she hadn’t looked at him and instead kept her gaze fixed on the hollow at the base of his throat. His neck was thick and led into heavily muscled shoulders, and his body gave off so much heat he might be able to be substitute for the furnace of a small home. She hadn’t gotten cold as they flew.

There was no other option. She needed to try to communicate, and communication couldn’t happen if she didn’t look at him.

She muttered a quick prayer in case any gods were wandering around. None appeared, so what choice but to get on with this? Steady on, girl. One deep breath, two, and then her gaze met his.

Midnight black eyes under a prominent brow bone. The planes of his face were nothing but hard angles, his chin a square slab. It was as if he had been chiseled out of stone, his face displaying none of the roundness of flesh.

He was studying her as much as she was studying him. He didn’t have any eyebrows, but his brow bone came together to form a little furrow between his eyes.

He seemed approachable, no negative emotion on his face she could detect. No time like the present to find out her fate. “Why have you brought me here?”

Those eyebrows drew even closer together at her question. Did her words confuse him? Unless she had been hallucinating, he had spoken English to her.

Before he made any sign that he would answer she heard movement behind her, the same thwup that had marked his landing. She turned to see a good dozen creatures like him, every single gaze locked on her as though she was wearing a homing beacon.

Calm, I need you to hang on. Don’t leave me now.

A female pushed away from the others and walked until inches from Larissa, one clawed hand coming to rest on her hip. Her features were a fraction softer than the male’s, her body the stuff of comic books – outrageous curves framed with sleek muscle. About her she had an aura Larissa recognized from every cop she had ever met. It was confidence and authority mixed with a good dose of Don’t fuck with me.

This female would never be pathetic enough to huddle in an alleyway screaming or freeze in terror. Larissa’s eyes flicked away.

“Terak, what is this?” asked the female, in an offhand way that was supposed to indicate you really weren’t interested in the answer.