The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,118
sleepily at them.
Cahira huffed with indignation. “That bastard is on my throne!”
The cat stretched, then scratched at her pillow.
“How dare you!” Cahira waved a hand, and several glass ornaments close to the throne exploded.
“No!” Gabby screamed as the cat ducked down.
Gavin leaped off the throne, easily jumping over the broken glass on the dais. He landed, then grew larger and larger as he stalked toward the queen.
Brody blinked, not believing his eyes. Gavin could turn into a tiger? He snorted, recalling all the times he’d fed the cat on the Isle of Mist, when Gavin could definitely have taken care of himself. No wonder there was a shortage of deer on the island. And no wonder Gavin had terrorized the guards all night long.
“How . . . ?” Cahira retreated, her eyes widening with horror as the large cat advanced.
Gabby smirked. “You cursed him to be a cat for the rest of his life, but you never said what size he had to be.”
Cahira backed into a green marble pillar, her gaze shifting frantically from the tiger to Brody as they both moved closer.
Brody raised his sword, the tip only a few inches from her neck. “If you undo the curse, Gavin will no longer be a tiger who wants to kill you.”
“Your Majesty!” two guards shouted as they entered the throne room.
Brody glanced back. Damn. They must be the guards from the front door.
One of them grabbed Gabby and held a knife to her neck. “Let the queen go, or I kill her!”
“You heard him,” Cahira hissed. “Let me go.”
Gavin roared, and the guards jumped back, even the one holding Gabby. She reached into a pocket and pulled out some gold coins.
“Release me, and the gold is yours.” She tossed the coins to the side. As soon as the guard loosened his hold, she elbowed him in the ribs and escaped.
The guards dropped their weapons and ran for the coins, but Gavin was faster. With a roar, he landed on one of the men and sank in his teeth. The guard screamed, and the second one sprinted out the door, screeching for help.
Brody turned back to Cahira. “Lift the curse now, or the tiger attacks you next.”
“Stay away from me! I’ll turn you both into slugs!”
Brody snorted. “Try it. But you’ll have to lift the first curse before you can attempt a second one, and you’ll be dead before that happens.”
Cahira turned pale. “You dare to threaten me? I am superior to you all! I will cut you to shreds!” She lifted her arms and screamed.
With a horrendous blast, all the glass ornaments and windows exploded. Even the window in the ceiling shattered, raining glass down on the room.
Maeve collapsed on the floor, covering her head and crying out as several shards of flying glass cut her arms.
Brody glanced at her, wincing as a shard nicked his cheek. Thankfully, the Seer’s voluminous robe kept his arms and legs protected. When he turned back to Cahira, she’d picked up a jagged piece of glass. Blood dripped from her hand as she threw it at Brody.
He sidestepped it and strode toward her. “Dammit, woman, don’t make me kill you!”
* * *
Kendric smiled as he watched the enemy fleet sinking fast. Screams could be heard as a few seamen were attacked by giant sharks. He spotted Rupert, standing in a sinking crow’s nest using his power to blow the sea monsters away. No doubt a few men were getting blown away with them. And as long as Rupert was focused on the sea monsters, he couldn’t move their ships to shore. Darroc was slowly pushing them out to sea, where most of the men would drown.
An utter disaster. He chuckled. Even Leo was sinking. Soon the kings of Eberon and Tourin would be dead. And he, Kendric, son of Frederic, would rule Eberon and take the Tourinian queen to be his wife. Both countries would be his. Brigitta would be his.
Even the sun had come out to shine on them. Logan must have found Hannah, for the rain had stopped.
“Good work,” he told his soldiers.
Alfred grinned. “When that king with lightning power goes underwater, he’ll fry everyone.”
Kendric nodded. “Aye, he will.” Although Alfred was clearly pleased, the others looked as if they were going to be sick. Damned fools. He wondered what would be the best way to kill them. After all, once he took over the mainland, they would no longer be needed.