Read Online Sword's Blessing by Kaitlin R. Branch - Free Book Online Page B

recalled anything, but a laugh stopped them both in their tracks.
    “Oh goody. I found you.”
    Giselle jumped, Armand frowning as he looked around her shoulder.
    “A Damned,” he squeezed her hand. “That’s what they’re called, right?”
    Giselle turned and looked. Behind them was a lithe youth, jittering with energy, with the stark white skin and jet black horns of a Damned. She frowned. How had it found them?
    The Damned answered her question before she could voice it. “I mean, he said you’d be here, but I never expected to actually find you! I thought he was pulling my chain.” He cackled, jumping from foot to foot. “Oh man, this is gonna be awesome! I’ve heard Angels give a huge rush when you rip out their throats.”
    Snarling, Giselle pushed Armand behind her and drew her sword. “First you’ve got to beat them,” she said.
    “Yeah yeah, whatever,” the Damned said, his hands trembling. “Let’s go!”
    Giselle let the Damned make the first charge. It was always better to get a handle on one’s opponent. As she spread out her wings in preparation to take off and avoid his initial attack, she realized Armand had no way to get out of the way. That was fine. “Hold on.” She sheathed the sword and grabbed him around the waist.
    The Damned was faster than she’d anticipated. If she recalled her training correctly, they started out fast and vicious, like Savannah cats, and slowly grew in power and prestige until they found themselves at the lion’s helm. She was prepared, and popped a squat before launching up. Manas whooped.
    The Damned headed for a wall, and leapt up, cackling. Giselle lofted higher, still holding Armand in front of her, sword at her hip.
    “Giselle.” Armand gasped. The Damned was running up the wall, propelling himself up the drywall of the building using his claws and strength. As she glanced, he planted four limbs and sprung out, facing them thirty feet in the air.
    “See? I can fly too!”
    Her wings were made for strength, not agility, and for a sinking moment, Giselle was certain he would land the attack. Armand folded up his legs, arms bracing on hers, and kicked both feet out straight into the Damned’s face. He careened back and slammed into the ground.
    Giselle let out a breath. “Thanks, can I put you on the roof?”
    “Just watch the wall,” he said with a grin. “You’ve got this, love.”
    She blinked, but didn’t let the expression shake her focus, and set him gently on the roof, then drew her sword. “Damned, I hereby release you of your debt to hell, and free the souls within–”
    “Shut up and fight!” the Damned screamed, and charged the wall again. Giselle set her sword, determined to defend her post and end the battle.
    Before the Damned could make it even five feet off the ground, a whip of fire wrapped around his ankle and tugged him to the ground. He fell, screaming. “What the fuck?”
    “Looks like you got a whelp nipping at your wings, Giselle,” Eli said, striding behind Samantha with the origin of the fire in his right hand. “Mind if we take a look?”
    Giselle frowned. “I had it.”
    “We know,” Samantha said, waving. The Damned was bound and gagged with a soft yellow glow. “We’re wondering how he found us. Sheer luck is fine. Someone knowing where we’re headed, not so much.”
    Giselle frowned, glancing up to be sure Armand was all right. He waved. She waved back. While the Damned was still around, she wasn’t taking chances, and left him there as she spoke to Eli. “He said ‘he told me you would be here’. You’re right, we might have a problem.” She took a few steps backward, letting Samantha work. She sure didn’t want to be caught in any strange soul manipulation. She moved back again, out of sight of Eli and Samantha, just to be sure. A pair of arms clamped around her wings and mouth. With hardly a moment to fear the marble pale arms, power overwhelmed her, and Giselle passed out.
    * * * *
    “Shit.”