Mathieu (White Flame Trilogy) - By Paula Flumerfelt Page 0,164

whether that was Anastasie or Enak?” Erik said.

His voice caught in his throat, but he would bet it was Enak.

He turned the doorknob and gave it a push. In the split second before it swung in, a softness washed over him, accompanied by a trickle of Avian’s scent. Something deep down told him it would be okay.

The door opened and the trio spilled into the room. Mathieu’s sword was still drawn, his hands tight on the grip. “Where is he…?” His gaze traveled over the room.

“Are you looking for me?” The King stepped out of the shadows at the far end of the room. The room itself was long and high, almost an exact replica of the Throne Room, except that there was a huge desk at the end instead of thrones. The King came around to lean back against his desk and folded his arms over his chest. “So you’re who has been destroying my beautiful city.”

Anger broke through the panic that had settled into Mathieu’s chest. “I’m here for your life, you bastard.”

“Is that so?” The King gave Mathieu a bored look before tilting his face up. “Well, I think you’ll find that a bit difficult.” As if on cue, the sound of fluttering wings descended on the room.

Two large dragonflies the size of houses dropped into the area between Mathieu and the King.

“Is that the best you can do?” Erik laughed.

The man against the desk smirked. “No. This is.” He snapped his long fingers, and an odd snapping sound filled the room. With grotesque sounds, the dragonflies started to curl into themselves and mutate until their legs were replaces with sharp stingers that dug into the floor, fire licked at their mouths, and the wings took on an metallic glint.

“Oh, shi--” Mathieu dived to the side the one closest to him lunged at him, wings fluttering madly. The way they moved was disjointed, the wings only powerful enough to lift the dragonflies until their six stingers scrap along the stone, making a bone rattling screech. The fact they were longer than four carriages end-to-end didn’t help their gruesome image.

The dragonfly was bearing down on him, standing at least three times his height. Fire released his way, but it was clear the dragonfly had no control over it. Ducking, it flew right over Mathieu’s head, but he could feel the heat of it. He swung his dual blade out widely, forcing his energy into the space between. But his weapon bounced back with a resounding clang, making his arm shake. Of course they were armored. It couldn’t be any other way.

Mathieu rolled forward under the belly of the beast, praying there was unprotected. But it was just as armored as the leg had been. “Are you kidding?” He could stand up completely under the dragonfly and he did his best to stay under it, out of its line of sight. But he realized that this was a very bad idea, because the longer that the monster couldn’t see him, the more wildly it started to attack at nothing, becoming more dangerous, if possible.

Dodging out into the open, he steeled himself for more fire. And it came, but he swung his sword hard, cutting through the flame. The dragonfly fluttered at him, its front legs, now stingers, stabbing out at him. Mathieu stumbled back, doing his best to avoid them, but he stumbled backwards and landed on his back. He knew that one hit from those yard long stinger meant it’d all be over.

A pained whine came from his left, followed by Erik yelling out Vincent’s name.

Doing his best to still avoid the dragonfly, Mathieu looked towards his father and cousin, and he nearly lost it. Vincent lay in a heap on the floor, bleeding out and whimpering. “Vincent!” He’d had enough of this. Lifting his hand into the air, he let his eyes come to rest on the phoenix wrapped around his wrist. Anger was rippling through him and the gold started to glow red. He could feel Erik’s pain coursing through him with Enak’s power. “Svenak!”

Power so strong that it hurt to contain welled up in him. He knew he was yelling, but he wasn’t sure what, as he aimed the flow the molten energy at the mouth of the dragonfly. The magic flew out of him, and it felt like his soul was being taken with it. He wasn’t sure what he had expected to see, but it was like a jet of solar energy shooting