I want to make with you?”
Silvo pushed her forward a step. “This is one of the females you are searching for. A daughter, perhaps.”
Lilah twisted her neck around enough to see the dumbass’s face. “What? Are you joking? Do I look anything like him? I don’t think so.”
Luzzeh smiled. “I haven’t seen this one, but yes, by her clothes and words, she is one of the three I seek. What do you want for her?”
“I want your dark magic to kill that dragon.”
He meant Ferrus. Anger raced through her. She pivoted her body and kicked for the jerk’s balls, but he moved, so she hit his thigh. His hand tightened around her neck until she felt her throat push against her windpipe. She stopped struggling, sucking in as much air as she could.
“I don’t necessarily need her,” Luzzeh said. “I want the stone she carries. After I get that, you can kill her. Search her pockets.”
Silvo dragged her back against his body. He leaned down and licked her cheek. “I'll gladly feel all her pockets.” His hand slid down her stomach, headed directly south when her pocket was more southeast. Disgust rolled through her as she anticipated his touch on her girly parts.
Not able to take it, she turned her lower body to the side and dug into her pocket to pull out the gemstone Grandmom had given them to open a portal back to Earth.
“Here,” she said, “just take it.” Silvo was going to find it no matter what, and this way, she at least avoid wandering hands. She held it out on her palm. Luzzeh pulled a drawstring bag from his waist and held it open.
“Drop it in here.”
Damn this moment. There was only one thing she could do. She hoped she wouldn’t condemn her and her cousins to a life of hell in this dimension. She closed her fingers around the stone, then slowly put her fist in the bag and let the stone fall in. Her hand came out open and empty. Luzzeh closed the bag, tucking it into his belt.
“Now kill the dragon,” Silvo snarled, throwing her to the ground, forgetting about her.
Luzzeh scoffed. “I want all three of the females before I do what you want.”
“That wasn’t the deal.” Silvo stepped forward and squeezed Luzzeh’s throat. “I will kill you if you don’t obey me.”
Then something strange happened. A smoky shadowlike fog rolled off the Kappie King’s neck, up the warrior’s arm, and into his chest. Silvo inhaled a deep breath, and his eyes turned red for a couple seconds. Then a roar ripped out of him that shook the ground.
He laughed hysterically, just like the Joker in Batman. Whoever laughed that kind of laugh couldn’t be a good person. Silvo turned his palms up and stared at his hands.
“This feels great. So much power.”
Lilah glanced at a wide-eyed Luzzeh. “Did he just take your magic?” she asked. Was that even possible? Between his hands, Silvo created a ball of something—energy or dark magic and launched it toward the mountain. In a few second’s time, the ball slammed into Ferrus’s dragon form. The Kappies surrounding him blew away like leaves in the wind.
Holy shit. How did he do that? Ferrus roared, falling onto his side. Silvo lifted his hands to make another ball, but he wasn’t going to throw it.
Lilah attacked. She gave him a kidney punch in the back, hoping fae had kidneys or some vital organ there. Silvo bent backward, his head going back as another roar ripped from him. Next, she went for his knees, trying to kick them forward so he’d fall, anything to keep him from hurting her mate again.
His one leg curved, but it did little to stop the backhand that slammed into her face, taking her down. Her world spun as pain and heat sliced across her head. She could barely move without her stomach revolting.
“Stay out of my way, female. You will soon have enough of me after I chain you down and fuck you time and time again.”
Silvo threw another circle of magic. She couldn’t see where it was going, but Ferrus’s agonizing roar ripped her heart open. High-pitched screams filled the air as the Kappies retreated down the hill, running from the killing magic.
Silvo did that stupid laugh again. She had to stop him the only way she knew how. She reached out and touched his shoe with a fingertip, imagining his whole body as a bronze statue on a pedestal in front of