Read Online Daeton's Journey (Wiccan-Were-Bear Book 10) by R. E. Butler - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: R. E. Butler
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and ends here.”
Letting go of her bear, she shouted for Perseus. She could feel him nearby; she just hoped he could get to her in time.
* * * * *
Perseus heard Daeton call his name. She was hidden behind thick smoke, but he could sense her through their mating connection. Ekho suddenly leaped up onto his back and said, “Into the smoke, I’ve got your back.”
Perseus gave Ekho one of his swords and leapt in the direction of his mate. The smoke was cold and thick, and he was disoriented for a brief moment as he passed through the thickest part of it. As his hooves hit the ground, he saw Daeton facing off against a man who looked exactly like the white-haired wizard.
Daeton threw the bone blade to Perseus and exploded into her shift, charging the wizard, who threw lightning bolts at her as she roared and bore down on him. She slammed into the wizard, knocking him to the ground. Ekho leapt from Perseus’s back as Urtals came from behind the wizard and lifted their clubs to harm Daeton. Perseus shifted into his human form and dove into the melee.
The wizard struggled under Daeton. Lightning crackled on her fur and the scent of burning fur and flesh was heavy. She growled angrily but didn’t ease up, covering the man with her body and keeping him down. She snapped her mighty jaws at him, tearing his flesh with her fangs. Bones crunched and he screamed as she broke his wrists and the lightning ceased.
Perseus rose over them and lifted the blade high into the air. “I send you to your maker with blood and bone,” he said. A strange but familiar power filled him, ancient and strong. As the wizard screamed in terror, Perseus drove the blade into his heart and twisted. The wizard jerked with a sharp cry and then went still. Acrid, black blood poured from the wound and Daeton shuffled away, her nose wrinkling. The smoke disappeared, seeping into the ground like a curtain falling away.
Ekho joined them, staring down at the wizard.
“He looks like Urijah,” Ekho said.
“It can’t be him, though. We saw Daeton kill him,” Perseus said, shaking his head.
“Well, whoever the fuck he is, he’s dead now. Let’s just make doubly sure.” Raising the sword, Ekho swung it down swiftly and cleaved off the man’s head. It rolled away, coming to rest against the body of an Urtal.
Perseus looked around and found his dad, brothers, and the other Centaurs finishing off the last of the Urtals and Vehsi. Dead bodies littered the street, but he didn’t see any Centaurs among them, and was thankful. Next to him, Daeton rubbed her muzzle against his shoulder and growled softly. He slid his arm around her thick neck and kissed her ear.
“I know, little bear. You’re safe, our son is safe, and the danger to our lives is gone.”
She made a sound of agreement.
Ekho said, “Should we burn the bodies in the street or cart them into the settlement?”
Rysk and Tyrant joined them, along with Cosmo and Perseus’s brothers. “Here,” Cosmo said, coming to stand with Perseus. He rested his hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m proud of you, son.”
Perseus smiled at his dad. “Thank you for standing with us.”
“I will always stand by your side.”
Someone brought Perseus a pair of trousers and boots, which he donned and began to work with the others to bring all the bodies into the center of the wide cobblestone street. Daeton used her strength to tug bodies along with the others. She was as determined to gather the dead as the rest of them were.
When the final body had been tossed onto the pile, Cosmo drenched them with accelerant made from the sap of reluin trees, and touched a torch to it. Perseus, Ekho, and Daeton stood far enough away from the blaze that they could only feel a little heat. Rysk and Tyrant were nearby, staring intently at the fire.
“Thank you for coming,” Perseus said to the males. “I didn’t understand why you
Letting go of her bear, she shouted for Perseus. She could feel him nearby; she just hoped he could get to her in time.
* * * * *
Perseus heard Daeton call his name. She was hidden behind thick smoke, but he could sense her through their mating connection. Ekho suddenly leaped up onto his back and said, “Into the smoke, I’ve got your back.”
Perseus gave Ekho one of his swords and leapt in the direction of his mate. The smoke was cold and thick, and he was disoriented for a brief moment as he passed through the thickest part of it. As his hooves hit the ground, he saw Daeton facing off against a man who looked exactly like the white-haired wizard.
Daeton threw the bone blade to Perseus and exploded into her shift, charging the wizard, who threw lightning bolts at her as she roared and bore down on him. She slammed into the wizard, knocking him to the ground. Ekho leapt from Perseus’s back as Urtals came from behind the wizard and lifted their clubs to harm Daeton. Perseus shifted into his human form and dove into the melee.
The wizard struggled under Daeton. Lightning crackled on her fur and the scent of burning fur and flesh was heavy. She growled angrily but didn’t ease up, covering the man with her body and keeping him down. She snapped her mighty jaws at him, tearing his flesh with her fangs. Bones crunched and he screamed as she broke his wrists and the lightning ceased.
Perseus rose over them and lifted the blade high into the air. “I send you to your maker with blood and bone,” he said. A strange but familiar power filled him, ancient and strong. As the wizard screamed in terror, Perseus drove the blade into his heart and twisted. The wizard jerked with a sharp cry and then went still. Acrid, black blood poured from the wound and Daeton shuffled away, her nose wrinkling. The smoke disappeared, seeping into the ground like a curtain falling away.
Ekho joined them, staring down at the wizard.
“He looks like Urijah,” Ekho said.
“It can’t be him, though. We saw Daeton kill him,” Perseus said, shaking his head.
“Well, whoever the fuck he is, he’s dead now. Let’s just make doubly sure.” Raising the sword, Ekho swung it down swiftly and cleaved off the man’s head. It rolled away, coming to rest against the body of an Urtal.
Perseus looked around and found his dad, brothers, and the other Centaurs finishing off the last of the Urtals and Vehsi. Dead bodies littered the street, but he didn’t see any Centaurs among them, and was thankful. Next to him, Daeton rubbed her muzzle against his shoulder and growled softly. He slid his arm around her thick neck and kissed her ear.
“I know, little bear. You’re safe, our son is safe, and the danger to our lives is gone.”
She made a sound of agreement.
Ekho said, “Should we burn the bodies in the street or cart them into the settlement?”
Rysk and Tyrant joined them, along with Cosmo and Perseus’s brothers. “Here,” Cosmo said, coming to stand with Perseus. He rested his hand on his shoulder and said, “I’m proud of you, son.”
Perseus smiled at his dad. “Thank you for standing with us.”
“I will always stand by your side.”
Someone brought Perseus a pair of trousers and boots, which he donned and began to work with the others to bring all the bodies into the center of the wide cobblestone street. Daeton used her strength to tug bodies along with the others. She was as determined to gather the dead as the rest of them were.
When the final body had been tossed onto the pile, Cosmo drenched them with accelerant made from the sap of reluin trees, and touched a torch to it. Perseus, Ekho, and Daeton stood far enough away from the blaze that they could only feel a little heat. Rysk and Tyrant were nearby, staring intently at the fire.
“Thank you for coming,” Perseus said to the males. “I didn’t understand why you
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