Master of Desire (Merlin's Legacy #6) - Angela Knight Page 0,44

it at all.

“One night out,” Helena growled, starting toward them with Liam at the ready. “All I wanted was one night out, and you assholes ruined…”

A shadow blocked out the moon. She glanced up. “Helena!” Liam barked. Something huge and incredibly heavy slammed into her head like a falling safe. Light exploded across her vision. And then there was nothing but darkness.

* * *

Something heavy hit the ground with a meaty thud that cut off a startled cry. A troll roared in triumph. Essus broke off his attack on the leading Sidhe warrior and banked to dart back up the alley, his heart hammering, his feathers thunder and flame. When he saw what lay at the other end, horror iced his soul.

A huge armored troll crouched on top of Helena, who lay sprawled in dire wolf form under the thing’s big booted feet, obviously out cold. Better than eight feet tall, the troll was all scarred emerald muscle, yellowed tusks jutting from his bulldog jaw, orange eyes cold with cruelty under thick green brows. The cartilage of his pointed ears wore rows of piercings that swung with tiny gems -- a troll gesture of arrogance, as if nobody would dare rip them off in a fight. His hair grew in a patchy irregular pattern on the gleaming green bulge of his skull, like lichen on a rock. Tooled leather armor strained over his bulk, and he carried a massive axe in one immense hand.

“Helena!” Conal shouted, a note of anguished fear in his voice.

Essus threw a quick glance to the side and saw his friend wielding Darkbane in great whirling arcs, forcing five Sidhe attackers to maintain a wary distance.

“Essus!” Liam screamed, sounding frantic.

Essus whipped his head around and spotted the gun god lying beside a discarded pizza box, as if knocked there when the troll plowed into Helena. He was in the form of that huge misshapen shotgun.

“Olwydd, get that gun!” one of the Sidhe roared. The troll sprang off Helena and scrambled for the gun. Essus wheeled and darted toward Liam, pouring power into his feathers until fire roared from them like tiny jet engines. If Olwydd got to the gun first, they were all fucked. “Shift!” he screeched, swooping for the big shotgun. No way he could get that blunderbuss off the ground.

“I can’t!” Liam yelled.

Oh, hell, somebody has to be touching him. Essus hit the gun just ahead of the troll. Even as his claws closed around Liam, magic exploded around the enormous weapon. A heartbeat later, he was a stiletto. Essus threw himself and the knife into the sky, barely dodging a swat of an enormous green hand.

Do something! Liam bellowed in his mind. Just where Essus didn’t want the bastard.

I am! He swooped at the troll, tucking his feet so close, the magical blade felt ice cold against his burning feathered chest. The troll ducked, whirled, and ran back toward Helena, a shield spell glowing blue around him. Essus pursued him at top speed. Olwydd would have to drop the shield to grab Helena. The timing would be uncomfortably tight. He intensified his flame into a howling roar that sounded louder than he’d ever heard it. Liam, feeding him even more energy.

The troll bent, his shield dropping… Now!

Don’t hit Helena! Liam yelled, sounding frantic.

Essus breathed out a stream of fire that struck the troll in the left shoulder. Olwydd screamed in agony as he jerked Helena off the pavement by the mane. She swung like a rag doll. Flames licked the length of his arm.

Snuff the fire! Liam roared. If that fucking troll goes up, Helena will go with him!

Cursing, Essus snapped his will over the flames, which instantly winked out.

“I’ll make you pay for that!” the troll howled at him over one shoulder as he opened a gate and leapt. The portal winked out a heartbeat before Essus reached it.

Demon winds, you stupid bird! Liam snarled in frustration. Never mind, I know where they went. I’ll open a…

We’re not leaving Conal! Essus snapped, wheeling back toward Conal’s battle with the Sidhe. He can’t open a gate by himself!

Fine, but if she dies, you fucking parrot, I’ll serve you to that wretched boy of yours with an apple in your mouth!

* * *

Shit, Olwydd has Helena! Panic stabbed Conal like a blade of solid ice. And he knew exactly what that could mean. I’ve got to get her back! He twisted aside, avoiding a vicious sword stroke. He swung Darkbane in a blurring arc,