Battle Bond: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #2) - Lindsay Buroker

1

“It’s a trap.”

The slender wire was barely visible under the mulch and fallen apple-blossom petals, but even if I hadn’t seen it, my half-elven blood would have allowed me to sense the faint hint of magic.

I’d taken three laps around the sprawling orchard, rows of trees stretching across dozens of acres, and it was my only proof that someone magical was in the area. Or had been in the area. Whoever it was hadn’t been considerate enough to leave footprints.

I stood up, flicked my long blonde braid over my shoulder, and contemplated my options. Then impulsively chose one that wasn’t that wise. I stepped into the trap.

Wire tightened around my ankle, then pulled at my leg hard enough to yank me off my feet. A second later, I dangled upside down, hands stretched toward the ground, like a cartoon hunter outsmarted by a clever rabbit.

My car keys, inhaler, and the stupid lavender-scented nose spray my doctor had recommended to calm my nerves tumbled out of my pocket. I hadn’t needed so many silly things along on missions before my previously excellent health had gone off the rails. I still wasn’t entirely sure what inflammatory markers did, but I was supposed to be de-stressing my life to improve them. Hard to do while dangling upside down from a tree.

Fortunately, Fezzik, my custom-made magical submachine pistol, stayed secure in its thigh holster, and Chopper, my even more magical longsword, remained in the scabbard strapped across my back. The hilt did clunk me in the back of the head as it shifted, but I deserved that. My leather thong strung with magical charms remained around my neck, but I had to tuck my chin to keep it there.

Val? Sindari’s voice spoke into my mind—Sindari’s amused voice.

I’d thought he was on the other side of the orchard, but when I twisted, I saw the great silver tiger padding toward me, his large paws barely stirring the grass between the rows of trees.

“Yes?” I answered aloud instead of in my mind.

With four of the neighborhood children missing, and dozens of local pigs devoured in the last week, the owners weren’t wandering the property right now, so I wasn’t worried about being overheard talking to a magical tiger.

Do you need me to rescue you?

“No. Actually, I need you to scoot off over the hill so whoever set this trap won’t sense you when they come to check on what they caught.”

Sindari sat on his haunches and looked up at me. You intentionally stepped into that situation?

“Yes. Now, scoot.” I made a shooing motion. “You can come back and rescue me if more than four enemies show up.”

You should be able to handle four kobolds by yourself. They’re only two or three feet tall.

“That’s why I said I’d only need rescuing if there were more than four.”

Sindari’s gaze shifted toward the next row of trees. One approaches now.

Good. I switched to thinking my responses, trusting the telepathic tiger would hear them. Shoo.

I am Sindari Dargoth Chaser the Third, Son of the Chieftain Raul, Feared Stalker and Hunter of the Tangled Tundra Nation on Del’noth. I do not shoo. He did, fortunately, engage his ability to fade from sight—and from the magical senses of anyone except the person holding his figurine.

Since that was me, I still felt him there. A few seconds later, I sensed more magical beings out there. Six of them, and they were spreading out around us. I resisted the urge to draw my weapons, instead letting my arms dangle over my head. I was just a helpless visitor foolishly caught in their trap.

Something pelted me in the butt, and I jerked, gasping at the pain.

“What was that?” I clasped a hand over the smarting spot. It felt like someone had cracked a whip.

A faint twang sounded, and something stung my opposite shoulder.

Are they shooting me? I twisted, trying to pinpoint the location of my assailants.

With slingshots. Do you wish me to rescue you now? Sindari sounded more amused than concerned for my welfare.

If these were the beings responsible for kidnapping—and possibly killing—children, this wasn’t a laughing matter.

Another projectile—a rock?—buzzed past my head, stirring my hair. The leaves rustled in a nearby tree.

Just capture one. We need to question someone.

As Sindari sprang away, I yanked Chopper from its scabbard, pulled myself up, and sliced through the wire above me. The blade cut through the enchanted wire without trouble, and I had just enough room to flip a somersault and land on my feet. I still had