Sinister Magic: An Urban Fantasy Dragon Series (Death Before Dragons #1) - Lindsay Buroker Page 0,38

kept Chopper up, ready to defend myself if I had to—was he about to object to me killing them too? This time, I’d only been defending myself, but did he know that?

He ignored me and faced the human-formed werewolf on the trail ahead. I tapped my translation charm to life in time to hear him speak.

“You are Thymust Fast Claw,” he stated to the werewolf.

“I am. What are you doing here, Dragon? This is not your world, and this forest is ours. We have claimed it.”

“I am Lord Zavryd’nokquetal. I go where I wish, and I enforce the laws of the Dragon Justice Court.” He lifted a hand.

The werewolf must have sensed what was coming, for he tried to spring away. But yellow bands of power formed around him, restraining him and halting his escape. They lifted him into the air, his feet dangling a foot above the trail.

“You have violated the laws of Serinmoor by slaying the lover of the princess of Darkenthrall. For this, I will take you to the Court for punishment and rehabilitation.”

The wolf-man threw back his head and howled. I couldn’t tell if it was an objection or if he was already in pain, already being rehabilitated.

Several of the other wolves, all of them ignoring Sindari and me now, slunk forward, sniffing their leader and eyeing Zav. Two of them shape-shifted into humans, almost as large as the dangling werewolf. Zav wasn’t small in his human form—he was several inches taller than me—but he wasn’t as large or as brawny as they were. They puffed out their naked chests and flexed those big muscles.

“Let him go, Dragon. The laws of Serinmoor mean nothing here.”

Not worried about their posturing, Zav didn’t back down. “The law established by the Dragon Justice Court is applicable in all worlds, and it will be upheld everywhere. Leave now, or you will regret testing my mettle. And my patience. If I have to spend another moon on this benighted world, it will be a moon too many.”

“Release him, Dragon. Or you’ll know the ferocity of the pack—and your own mortality.”

This would be an opportune moment for us to leave, Sindari noted. To either go back for your mother and her pet or to continue on while they are distracted.

Good point.

I backed slowly away, though I was curious if the combined ferocity of the pack could actually hurt someone who could incinerate bullets faster than they could travel from the gun to his body.

Can you lead me to my mom and Rocket? I had no trouble sensing the dragon or werewolves, but I had no extraordinary abilities to help me find normal people—or dogs.

Yes. She recaptured him. They aren’t far. She’s heading back to check on you.

We’d barely moved ten yards away when the werewolves sprang at Zav. Two of them burst into flames, the same as the bullets. They weren’t incinerated, but the squeals of pain as they ran off, fire burning their fur, would haunt my memory for a long time.

I turned and jogged back down the path. By the time I found Mom and Rocket, the skirmish was out of sight, but more yelps of pain filtered down through the forest.

“Are you okay?” I waved at her and Rocket, whose tail was clenched between his legs.

“For now.” She looked warily up the hill. “Do we try to get around them or go back?”

“I don’t think the werewolves will be a problem after this.”

“And the dragon?” Mom’s usually stoic face was ashen.

“He captured one and said he was hauling him off for judgment.” I was tempted to abandon this mission and go back, but to what? I didn’t have any other leads, and who knew how much time Colonel Willard had? “Why don’t you tell me how to get to the tunnel, and I’ll go in without you. You could wait here or go back to the car.”

“If that’s the reception you get when you meet magical people, I think I should offer to go in and you go back.” She held out her hand. “Give me that vial, and I’ll go ask about it.”

“They’re not going to be happy with you, either, after you shot their guard dogs, if that’s what the werewolves were.”

“My bullets didn’t do anything.” She shook her head in disgust. “Do you have special ones?”

“Yes.”

White light flashed up the hill. I whirled toward it, prepared for some new attack. But the dragon vanished from my awareness—from this world. The lead werewolf had too. The others