Chapter 41

Note: Thanks to Alex for beta reading this!

Morana threw herself down an alley as a fireball from Sulanga exploded where she stood. She gained her feet only to see a werewolf charging at her. The gray-furred wolf snarled with hunger, fangs dripping with saliva.

Morana shrieked.

The werewolf hit the ground like a boneless fish. It rolled and vanished in a burst of motes. Morana panted. She had to ambush Sulanga. She looked around then darted away from the battle and rounded the building.

I’ll hit him in the flank, she thought. They had to keep Sulanga out of Leo’s dungeon. If the bastard entered the Dark Lord’s domain, it would be over.

Fire exploded by Morana while Crystal threw ice at the treant.

The woody monster girl, her crown of branches rustling overhead, dodged it. Then she swept out her arm. It grew into a whipping branch that hurtled at Crystal’s head. She rolled beneath the attack, mist spilling off her icy body.

She came up to find a werewolf charging at her, howling with fury.

“Shit!” Crystal gasped as the wolf leaped.

Snezhinka threw a crystal dagger that struck the werewolf in the flank. The bitch snarled in pain then crashed into Crystal. As the werewolf tackled the ice sprite to the ground, she formed a dagger out of ice. Claws tore into her chest as Crystal hit the ground on her back.

She snarled in pain and buried her dagger in the werewolf’s throat. Blood spurted. The wolfish monster girl howled in pain. Crystal cut through the tough hide. The werewolf snarled and snapped jaws down at Crystal’s face.

But the fangs vanished into motes before they ripped into her flesh. The ice sprite heaved a sigh of relief. She forced herself up, her breasts heaving before her. Pain throbbed from the cuts, but she was still in the fight.

Sulanga’s voice boomed with magic to her right.

He stared at her.

“Shit!”

She dove down an alley. The lightning struck the wall by her. Sparks sizzled. Crystal shook her head. Snezhinka rushed after her, entering the alley. The yuki-onna glanced at her, the question on her face.

They needed a plan. Crystal struggled to think of one. They had to get the drop on Sulanga. Kill him fast. His Flamebody spell would be an issue. Their ice attacks were not as effective. They would have to hit him hard. Coordinate with—

Wood creaked.

“Look out!” Snezhinka shouted and shoved Crystal back.

She stumbled as a whipping branch slammed down on the yuki-onna. The clubbing blow from the treant slammed Snezhinka down into the pavement, her head bashed in. The yuki-onna hit in a burst of mist that rippled from her icy body.

She vanished into motes.

The treant, a wicked smile on her woody face, sent her branch surging up for Crystal. The ice sprite conjured a frozen dagger and slammed it into the attacking limb. Her blade shattered on the hard exterior.