Chapter 15

I reached down to help the gorgeous woman to her feet. As we walked from the room, she asked, “What is your name, my lord?”

“My name is Shaun Kaughman, and my mate is the otter beast-man Petarina Lontra. Please don’t call me lord. It makes me uncomfortable. Also, you’re free now, so you don’t have to serve anyone,” was my reply. I noticed the women had found clothes to wear in the guard room when we arrived.

I was happily surprised Petra found her armor and katars in a chest. She gave me a peck on the cheek just before handing Nadine a simple white dress. I approached the closed sanctuary door while the two women started to whisper to each other. I was surprised to find several people crowded near the door when I pushed my senses through it. A familiar unease passed through me from their malice.

“Petra and Milla, can you come here a second,” I called out. I was surprised to see Nadine accompany them, but let it go. I pushed into Shalyndria’s cord and checked on where she was. Since she was seated in her study worried sick, I tried to communicate with her like I had Petra, “Princess, did you send any guards to the Church to back me up?”

While she processed my new ability, I turned to the women before me, “We have a welcome party. I caught eight people just on the other side of the door.” I heard Shalyndria’s voice in my head and dove back into her cord.

“No, I’m still waiting on more to arrive. The ones sent to the market haven’t returned yet either,” was Shalyndria’s reply. While mulling over my options, I heard a loud thump. I was taken aback by the sight before me when I opened my eyes.

Nadine had a blissful smile on her face, but the fangs poking between her lips surprised me. However, the biggest shock was behind her. Emerging from the bottom of her dress, Nadine now had a thick snake body extending some 20 feet behind her. When she spoke next, her voice had taken on a pronounced hiss, “Aaahhhh, that feelsssss ssssso much better. The knightssss forced me to take that form ssssince I joined the Church.”

I blurted out the thought stuck in my head, “Why do you have fangs if you’re based on an anaconda? I recognize the scale pattern on your tail.” I twisted my wrist, using the pain to get my train of thought back on track. Reassessing the locations of the slavers on the other side of the door, I made a plan. After dropping my pack, I pulled out the breaching charge and detonator. Meeting Nadine’s eyes, “Nevermind, that was an idle thought stuck in my brain.” I looked at my lover and our friend, “This charge will destroy the door and discombobulate anyone within several yards, hopefully killing a few for us. Once I push through the door, Petra, I want you to follow me and turn to your right. Use magic to take out targets starting from that side while I start from the left.” After her acknowledgment, I turned to Milla and asked, “Are you ok, killing? Or would you prefer to sit out and heal us?”

Milla lowered her gaze to the floor, “I can’t kill people. I’m sorry, Shaun.” Petra wrapped the teary cat-woman in a tight hug

I responded with an embrace of my own, “No problem, Milla. I noticed you stayed out of the fighting before and just needed to know why before we attacked.”

Nadine spoke up behind us, “I can take her place, Sssssshaun. I would love to work beside you.”

“I could use all the firepower we can get. Follow after Petra and take out the three in the middle with magic,” I smiled as I waved her forward. Once they understood what was to happen, I attached the breaching charge to the door and had them stack behind me clear of the door. Once Milla had the other women down the stairs, I activated the detonator and waited five seconds before it exploded.

Before the dust cleared, we rushed through the door. I took note of the red cross on each man’s armor as I went left and swung around to shoot my targets. I was stunned when my first shot was dodged. Activating full physical enhancements, I tried moving behind him. His speed matched mine. I was glad I chose my plate carrier when the ceramic plate and Kevlar weave absorbed a blow from behind.