I flung open the door just in time to see a portal expand. Magic crackled, and before I could move, the real Galin stepped casually into my room.
Chapter 22
Galin
Water dripped from her silver hair, along her shoulders, down the curves of her breasts peeking above the towel. She looked like a nymph fresh from a deep forest pool. For an instant, I imagined what her legs might look like wrapped around my hips, like they had been on the battlefield.
I smelled lavender—and something more. A feral scent I couldn’t place. My body stiffened.
With effort, I pulled my eyes away from Ali so I could concentrate. I looked to the window. “Sorry for the intrusion, but we need to talk.’
“You could have knocked,” she shot back, “and come in the door like a normal person.”
“That would have been a bad idea, obviously. I’ll leave after we talk.”
“Fine. Give me a minute.” She stalked past me, toward the bedroom.
While she dressed, I crossed to a small mahogany table of tumblers and liquor and poured myself a whiskey. I let the smoky flavor roll over my tongue, wishing I could be alone in this room with Ali under very different circumstances.
When she returned, she was dressed in her usual black leather. She looked exhausted. “What do you need?”
“Your help stealing back Loki’s wand.”
“Again? We already did that.”
“Levateinn is exceptionally powerful. We could use it to defeat an army. I could simply turn the High Elf troops into a school of fish. They’d slowly suffocate, no fighting necessary. Alternatively, I could temporarily transform the Night Elves into lions, and you could eat your foes alive.”
She crossed her arms. “That is … disturbing and enticing at the same time.” She still seemed wary of me, but at least she was letting me speak.
Before I could reply, a loud knocking at the door interrupted us.
“Ali?” A woman’s voice pierced the wood. “Can we talk?”
“Shit. I think it’s Thyra. You need to leave.”
Already, a key jingled in the lock. I didn’t have time to scribe a portal. Instead, I slipped into the bedroom, mere seconds before the door opened. I left the door open a crack so I could listen.
“What do you want?” I heard Ali say. “I was just going to bed.”
She’s a feisty one, I’ll give you that, whispered a deep voice in my head.
Shut up, Ganglati.
She has a fine figure, continued the shade. Have you enjoyed her body yet?
From the other room, Ali’s voice rose. “No, you can’t come in here.”
I heard the faint tinge of fear in her voice, and my muscles tensed. I peered through the gap in the door, expecting to catch a glimpse of Thyra.
But it was an elf in a black cloak, a cowl shadowing her face. With a blade in her hand, she lunged toward Ali. My heart skipped a beat.
Ali dove out of the way of the dagger. As she did, she kicked upwards, knocking the dagger from the assassin’s hand. It flew across the room and skittered under a chair. The assassin swiveled and kicked Ali back.
I tried to pull the door open to get to Ali, but the shade was taking over, controlling my body.
What are you doing? I screamed mentally.
The Night Elf might die. I haven’t seen the transition from life to death in so long. How I’ve yearned for it.
The assassin held Ali by the throat, crushing her ability to call for Skalei, and I was immobilized, terror screaming in my mind. My legs were locked in place, muscles frozen.
Horror washed over me as I realized my mate was about to be murdered, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.
Let me go! I shouted at Ganglati.
All lives must end. The shade sounded casual.
I strained to move as the assassin lifted a blade to Ali’s throat. Panic was ripping my mind open.
She was going to die.
I tried to look away, but Ganglati kept my eyes focused on Ali’s throat. I haven’t seen a death in thousands of years, he whispered excitedly.
He had taken over my body, but Ali was my light in the darkness, and I would get to her. I felt like ice had stiffened every part of me, and when I moved, it was like my muscles were being sliced with shards of glass. Still, I tried to rush for her before it was too late.
Chapter 23
Ali
The assassin lifted me by the throat, and the edges of my vision swam.
She leaned against me with her full body weight, pressing me into