Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105815 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Get down!” Rei shouted.
The words were still leaving Rei’s lips when Huli dove straight into Xiao Dan, knocking him to the ground. Junjie fell to the dirt and rolled to a large tree. The wind eased, and he could hear the approach of dozens of feet as they ran through the forest toward them. Bow strings twanged and arrows thunked into thick tree trunks. He peered out from behind the wide maple to see at least twenty elves racing in their direction with bows and swords drawn. Only one of them was on horseback.
“Trin.” Rei’s voice became a vicious snarl as he launched himself from his hiding spot. The wind nearly carried Yichen’s curse away, but the vampire didn’t hesitate to follow his mate into the fight.
“Huli, the horse!” Xiao Dan pointed at the magnificent beast, sending Huli in for the attack.
The fox raced forward, getting ahead of Rei to lunge at the horse. The beast was still larger than the fox, but Huli could maneuver faster, avoiding the creature’s hoofs as it kicked and bucked. Other elves tried to attack Huli as the fox worked to unseat Trin, but they didn’t have a chance. Both Xiao Dan and Junjie joined the fight, protecting the fox and cutting through their adversaries.
Trin roared in frustration as he gripped the horse’s reins with his left hand while trying to swipe at Huli with the black onyx sword in his right. Trin’s sword swung too close and clipped the tip of one of the fox’s tails. A pained yelp ripped from Huli, and Xiao Dan cried out.
“No!”
In the blink of an eye, brilliant sunlight cut through the forest. The forest of maples, oak, and pine changed to green bamboo. Junjie cringed for a heartbeat, his body instinctively fearing the sunlight, only to realize that none of it was real. Xiao Dan had called on his powers to wrap them in a massive illusion.
And just like he always did when he panicked, Xiao Dan had taken them back thousands of years to the time of their human existence.
Junjie glanced down to find that he was in a deep-green robe with leaves stitched into it with a fine blue thread. His throat tightened. He’d always loved this garment, but it hadn’t had a chance at surviving the long years.
Close to him, Xiao Dan and Yichen were dressed in old-fashioned robes while Rei and Huli had vanished. The elves had paused for a breath, seeming stunned by the shift in their surroundings.
“You think you can stop us with this weak glamour?” A dark and twisted chuckle escaped Trin’s throat, and he pointed his sword at Xiao Dan. “No one is better at glamour than the fae.”
As he spoke, tiny holes dotted the air as if embers had fallen on Xiao Dan’s illusion, burning holes. With each passing second, the openings were growing larger and larger. The sparkling sunlight was fading, and the bamboo stalks were disappearing. Even Junjie’s emerald-green robe was fading from existence.
Shoving aside the lingering feelings of loss, Junjie jumped into the fight, slashing one elf across the throat while he was still distracted. A troll-like creature blocked his blade with his staff at the last moment and darted away with a high-pitched squeal.
“I don’t need my glamour to be better than the fae’s. I just need mine to distract you.”
As the wind carried away Xiao Dan’s words, Trin’s horse’s panicked shrieks pierced the night. The horse bucked, kicking out its hind legs and then its front. As the last of Xiao Dan’s illusion dissipated, Huli appeared and chomped on one of the horse’s legs.
One more wild kick and Huli flew off, but so did Trin.
The elf hit the ground and rolled away from the steed. Huli flipped and landed on his feet with the skill of a gymnast. He scampered to Xiao Dan’s side, bloody teeth bared. The horse shot off through the forest, leaving the fight well behind.
“Mine!” Rei snarled. He launched himself at his half brother, a short sword clenched in each fist.
Metal pounding against metal echoed through the forest. Junjie turned his attention away from the two royals fighting to focus on the rest of the forces Trin brought with him. Rei could handle his half brother. But he could do that more easily if he wasn’t worried about some asshole coming along and stabbing him in the back.
The troll creature that had escaped him minutes ago now shot an arrow at him. Junjie dodged it, slipping behind a tree. As he came out on the other side, he slid a dagger from his waist and threw it at the troll. The blade spun, reflecting the flash of lightning before burning deep in the troll’s forehead. He didn’t make a sound as he collapsed on the ground, his bow falling from limp fingers.