Battle Bond: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #2) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,86
crashed into a tank hard enough to dent it and tear one of the bolts from the floor. The impact would have broken a man’s back, but Dob bounced off, landed on his feet in a crouch, and pointed his sword at Zav.
Already chasing after him, Zav dove to the side as a beam of white energy poured forth from the sword. It shot past him, just missing his shoulder, and slammed into the catwalk near me like a missile. The catwalk blew, shrapnel pelting me in the back as I whirled away. Pieces dug through my thin tank top—and my flesh—but I gritted my teeth, refusing to cry out. I would not distract Zav.
As Zav flung a magical attack at Dob, I took aim with Fezzik. In his dragon form, those special bullets would never pierce his hide, but maybe he would be more vulnerable as an elf.
All three bullets slammed into his chest, but they bounced off as if they’d hit titanium.
Dob leered across the water at me. Don’t worry, little elfling. I’m not offended. I’m still going to screw you later.
I fired again, aiming for his glowing silver-blue eyes. Maybe Nin’s magical rounds would have better luck.
But an invisible shield protected Dob now. Even my magical bullets bounced off. One slammed into a tank full of liquid, and the stuff dribbled out onto the floor.
Zav and Dob hurled waves of pure energy at each other at the same time. I sensed the tremendous power even though the attacks were invisible to the eye.
Zav crouched low, bracing himself as if against a hurricane. The blast of power riffled through his hair and batted at his robe, but it didn’t knock him over. When Zav’s attack struck Dob, it hurled him all the way to the wall. He crashed against the cement, snaps sounding and cracks zigzagging up to the ceiling.
Dob snarled, shook his head like a dog, elven hair flying, and between one blink and the next changed into his dragon form. He sprang into the air and rushed at Zav, but Zav must have sensed him changing, for he did the same. The black dragon was ready for the silver’s charge.
I stared as they clashed, knowing I should do something to help but not knowing what. They moved so fast, jaws snapping and talons raking, that I couldn’t follow the battle. One of their tails bashed against a tank, and it toppled as if it weighed nothing and hadn’t been secured by steel and cement. If I tried to get close, they would knock me over—or kill me—without even noticing.
“Sindari,” I whispered, holding my charm.
Maybe he would have better luck helping.
But as Sindari formed at my side, I realized something. Zav was larger than Dob and just as fast and agile. He kept coming out on top in their skirmishes. Blood flowed from a dozen gashes in Dob’s silver scales, whereas Zav only had one significant cut.
Zav maneuvered atop his foe and pinned him, sinking his teeth into Dob’s shoulder. He snarled, shaking his head like a massive Rottweiler killing a rabbit. He snapped his jaws with lightning speed, changing his grip and biting into the onyx gem embedded in Dob’s chest. Snarling savagely, he tore it out, along with a huge chunk of scale and flesh.
Dob screeched and flailed, growing more desperate. His wild, pained eyes glanced my way, and I saw the threat an instant too late.
I ran, diving behind the remains of the walkway. I expected him to hurl a fireball or a wave of pure energy, but he attacked my mind, his power lancing into it like a dagger to my brain.
A scream escaped my lips before I could bite down and stop it. I curled into a ball, almost dropping my weapons, but at the last second, I tightened my grip. Chopper had always helped me repel magical attacks before, and I needed its help now.
Agony stabbed behind my eyes, but I willed myself to push it away, to build an impenetrable wall around my mind.
A roar penetrated the haze of pain, Sindari running away from my side to attack Dob. Another roar came from the dragons. Was that Zav?
I sensed part of his power wrapping protectively around my mind. The mental attack disappeared, and the pain left so abruptly that the cessation almost made me pass out. I growled, pushing back the darkness encroaching at the edges of my eyes. Weapons in hand, I shoved myself to my feet.