Page 181 of The Moon's Fury

A pulsing fury set every nerve alight, obliterating any rational thought. She was poised to begin pummeling Burhani again, fist hovering in the air, when something large and hard struck her temple.

She gasped, pain flashing across her face as her hand flew to her cheek. Her fingers came back wet with blood.

Burhani seized the opportunity to shove her off and scrambled backward, fingers digging into the sandy dirt for purchase. Her face was swollen and bleeding, the same shade painting Layna’s raw knuckles.

Burhani spat out a mouthful of blood and snarled, “You couldn’t have done that sooner?”

Layna shook off her disorientation and followed Burhani’s gaze.

Her eyes landed on an old woman, her face creased with more lines than a sun-dried coconut husk. The sunlight glinted off her stark white hair, and her back curled inward like a sagging hammock strung too low between trees. She leaned heavily on a gnarled cane, its base sinking into the soft, sandy earth.

But her eyes were sharp as they assessed Layna.

“I wanted to see who I was dealing with,” the old woman said, her voice dry and aged, like brittle parchment. “Now I know.”

“Who the fuck are you?” Layna seethed, wiping the blood dripping down her cheek.

“Show some respect, Moon Queen. We’re practically family.” The old woman’s smile was toothy, menacing. “I’m the Sun Slayer.”