Trial by Fae (Dragon's Gift The Dark Fae #1) - Linsey Hall Page 0,24

what I was doing.

Especially since he knew about Dragon Bloods. I didn’t think he’d made the connection that I was the same woman he’d met, but it was still too close for comfort.

Finally, the bird was close enough to the ground that I wouldn’t die if I fell. I forced a blast of heat into him, strong enough that he melted in a rush of water that poured over my head and drenched me like a tidal wave. I slammed onto the ground, gasping.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of another golden gem sitting in a puddle. It had been inside the bird, and now it sat only five yards from me.

A bit farther away, the lion shifter sprinted toward the gem. He was in full lion form, his massive mane blowing in the wind and his fur golden and bright. His keen yellow eyes were glued to the prize.

“Bastard!” I scrambled to my feet. No way I’d let this opportunistic feline steal my treasure.

I raced for the gem, swooping it up right before the lion reached it. His huge body plowed into mine and knocked me to the ground. He loomed over me, fangs gleaming.

Then his head plunged downward as he went for my throat.

I burst into action, adrenaline and instinct driving me. I rolled to the side as his fangs slammed down. They tore through my upper arm and pain flared. I shrieked.

This bastard was going to kill me.

7

Panting, I brought my feet up and kicked the lion so hard in the stomach that he flew off me. I scrambled upright and shoved the gem into my pocket.

The lion roared and surged to his feet, charging me.

Bastard.

Instead of fighting a monster for a gem, he’d decided that I was easy prey.

“Wrong, sucker,” I growled as I drew a dagger from the ether.

I had three prizes right now, and they’d all stay mine, no matter how badly he wanted them.

He leapt toward me, and I dived right, slamming my dagger into his side. I yanked it sideways, then pulled it out.

He roared and turned on me, blood pouring from his side.

“I’m not going to kill you,” I said, dancing to the right to avoid him. “I’m just going to embarrass you.”

The lion lunged for me, and I darted away again. This time I was too slow, and he sliced a claw on the side of my thigh. Agony shot through me, and I stumbled.

“Oh, I’m losing patience.” I hurtled toward him and slammed my blade into his leg. I sliced hard and deep, and he roared.

I pulled my blade back and scrambled away. He went down hard, his back leg out for the count.

Aching, I stood. Blood poured from my thigh and arm, but not enough to stop me. Fortunately, it blended with my black clothes so no one could see that I was weird. The lion shifter roared and dragged himself toward me with his front legs. If he’d been a real cat, I’d have felt guilty as hell.

But I could still remember him as a man, standing on that platform with his cunning eyes, analyzing the contestants.

To see which of us he’d take out.

Not me.

“I’m done with you.” I darted away, not interested in killing another contestant.

I had enough blood on my hands. I’d stick to demons and black magic apparitions, thanks very much.

A scream sounded from behind me. I spun, spotting the blue-haired Fae in the grip of two banshees. They were trying to tear her apart, their skeletal grip tight on her arms.

“Oh, hell,” I muttered, then sprinted for them.

I limped, but I was still fast. I reached the closest banshee without her hearing me, and grabbed her around the neck, yanking her away from the Fae.

The icy touch of death seeped from her skin, into my hands and up my arms. My wounds burned more fiercely as cold swept through my veins. Aching, I threw the banshee away from me, and the creature whirled, rising up on the air like a terrifying witch. Her ragged black hair hung in her face, and her black eyes burned with evil intent.

“You’re one creepy bitch, you know that?” I drew my sword from the ether. “The fact that you’re levitating without wings is…yikes.”

She howled, her mouth a great gaping black hole.

“You’re joking if you think that shriek foretells my death,” I said.

Her eyes burned into me, and she flew toward me, arms outstretched. She was almost upon me when I swung, going right