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Before I can protest again, he leaps from Nebula’s back and silently blends into the darkness.

“You better be a good boy for me,” I lean forward and whisper into Nebula’s ear. “I don’t know what I’m doing or how to defend us.”

He jerks his head up and down in what could be considered a nod. I’m going with that instead of assuming he’s telling me I’m pissing him off. Either way, he’s the one in charge, and he probably knows it.

CHAPTER27

RAIZ

* * *

The cold from the stone wall at my back seeps through the layers of clothing covering me as I wait for whatever creature that’s stalking us to pass by. I have a feeling it’s just a cave ursax. If that’s the case, I’ll be able to eliminate the threat quickly and quietly.

Soon after the hoofbeats of the kyrils fade, I pick up the clicking of claws on stone. One animal. Big. Slowly and silently, I unsheathe my sword. Any sound of a struggle will only attract interest from other predators.

I can smell it now. The foul, rank breath of a creature that doesn’t discriminate in what it chooses to consume. Ursax were the reason building underground cities proved to be such a challenge.

The glowing eyes of the beast are all I can see at first. It stops, its large maw dripping saliva as its nostrils flare. Now that it has caught my scent, there’s no use waiting against the wall.

I step out in front of it, slashing my sword with brutal force. The metallic scent of blood fills the narrow space, and the walls shake with its roar of pain. The creature’s eyes lock on me as it pounces on me.

So much for not drawing attention. I move forward, avoiding its jump and aiming for its life organ, but it swipes out a paw, its claws catching my arm. I feel the blood welling from the wound. The beast inside me rises to the surface ready to meet the challenge.

I drop my sword as my talons and fangs extend. We’re already making noise, might as well have fun with the fight. I launch onto the back of the creature and slam my talons into its flanks. It rears back onto its hind legs in an attempt to dislodge me, but I’ve locked my legs around it and my talons have hooked into its ribs.

It throws itself against the wall, smashing me between its body and the stone. Bits of rock fall around us as it swings its body in the opposite direction. My head narrowly misses a piece of rock protruding from the wall. I dig my talons deeper, satisfaction at the feel of muscle and tendons being flayed apart by my strength rolls through me like a wave of primal destruction.

As the red haze of fury settles around me, I unleash my full strength and tear its ribs from its body. Blood sprays around me as the ursax falls to the ground, its body a mess of bone and shredded flesh. My fangs ache to sink into flesh, but this being was brought down too quickly and easily.

The wound in my arm burns as the toxin from the ursax’s claws seeps into my flesh. I bend and pick up a sword, wiping it clean on a patch of fur not yet coated in blood. Hopefully the carcass will distract any predators’ attention who heard the fight.

“Are you okay?”Hyva speaks into my mind.

“Yes, I had to kill an ursax. It got a little messier than intended.”

“Are you injured?”

“Just a scratch.”I don’t need him hovering around me when I just have to let the toxin run its course.

“From what?”

I sigh heavily.“Its claw.”

“Did it inject the toxin?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think so.”

“Liar.”

I chuckle at the annoyance dripping from his tone. Nothing gets under his skin faster than someone he cares about not letting him help them. Which I understand to a point. I mean, it drives me mad when I can’t help Neev.

“I’ll let you look at it if you don’t hover around me like a nursemaid.”

“You’ll let me treat it and say thank you, you mean. Should we stop and wait for you?”

“No. Keep going. I know where Las is having us stop for the night, if I don’t catch up before then, I’ll just meet you there. Is Neev okay?”

“She is. I think she’s sore, though. She keeps shifting her weight back and forth.”