Chapter 44 · There you are

He smiled despite the blood in his mouth. "There you are."

The abomination reached them.

Seraphina moved first.

She drove her shield into its chest and hooked her sword behind one leg. Raven stepped with her, shoulder aligned to hers. The creature struck down. She turned her shield. He caught the blow on the spear.

The platform cracked under their feet.

"Push!" she shouted.

"I am pushing!"

"Push harder!"

"You are very demanding for someone holding the wrong end!"

She twisted under his arm and cut the creature's remaining lower limb. Raven drove forward at the same instant.

The abomination staggered back.

Straight toward the golden throne.

The chains behind it snapped taut.

The core opened wider.

Black light spilled across the chamber.

Seraphina's face changed. "That is not holy fire."

"No."

"What is it?"

"Hungry."

"Can you control it?"

"Absolutely not."

"Good. I hate plans that sound safe."

The creature roared and swung all four arms.

Raven and Seraphina crossed their weapons.

The blades struck together in a hard X.

The abomination's attack hit them.

Their boots slid. The tether stretched. Raven felt the bond digging into his ribs. Seraphina's shoulder pressed against his.