Free Faery Born (Book One in the War Faery Trilogy) by Donna Joy Usher

leaving lines of blood over their bodies.
    ‘What the?’
    Their limbs pulled into their bodies and re-emerged covered in dark fur. Their heads distorted, their noses and mouths pushing away from their eyes, elongating into long snouts.
    ‘Grams…’ I started to back away from them.
    They snarled as they shrank, their bodies warping as they twisted and moulded. Dropping to all fours, one of them threw back his head and howled.
    Two huge, black dogs stood where the goblins had been. Saliva dripped from their massive jaws and red eyes glowed with an evil light. Low growls started in their bellies and worked their way up their throats.
    ‘What did you do?’ I gasped as I moved backwards.
    ‘I turned them into guard dogs.’
    The growls became more ferocious.
    ‘Why?’
    ‘I must admit, I didn’t think that one all the way through,’ Grams said, slowly placing one leg behind the other.
    Their growls became barks, raw and vicious, as they crept towards us.
    ‘Turn them back,’ I said.
    ‘No time,’ Grams shrieked. ‘Run.’
    Their jowls pulled back to expose long fangs as they broke into a charge towards us. There was no way we were going to be able to outrun them.
    I screamed as the first dog leapt, gnashing teeth aimed for my throat. Throwing an arm up in front of me, I prayed for a shield. Instead, the dog exploded. Blood spattered like some surreal artwork as chunks of flesh peppered us.
    Grams wiped an arm across her face. ‘Is that what happened to the watermelon?’
    ‘Kind of.’ The watermelon had been more sticky than disgusting.
    The second dog circled warily, its hackles raised as it growled and barked. And then Bobby Helman leaped on top of it, wrestling it to the ground. He gripped its jaw shut with both hands as his body pinned it down, and then he ripped its head to the side at an awkward angle. The dog let out a high-pitched yelp as its neck cracked.
    Bobby climbed to his feet and wiped his hands on his pants. The dog lay motionless at his feet. ‘Thought you could use some help,’ he said. He reached back down and picked up one of the daggers the goblins had dropped during the transformation. ‘You’ll get them to safety?’ he asked, pointing at the rest of the group.
    ‘Yes.’ I nodded my head.
    He gave Layla a quick hug before jogging off to help the Border Guards.
    ‘I could do with a nice cup of tea,’ Grams declared. ‘Anyone care to join me?’
    Nancy stared at Grams with wild eyes. ‘A cup of tea?’
    ‘Thirsty work this killing goblins.’ Grams pulled her skirts up and started heading back towards the path. After a few seconds Layla and the Dickson Triplets followed.
    Betty hugged her arms around her chest and sung softly to herself as she stared around the field. Nancy took her hand and led her after Grams. The little girl continued to sing Happy Birthday as I brought up the rear.
    We had reached the top of the path when one of the triplets let out a whimper of fear. It took me a second to hear what they had already; crashing through the trees off to the right of the path. It had to have been caused by more than one person, and I doubted very much that any Border Guard’s woodcraft would be so sloppy.
    ‘Go,’ I whispered to Grams. ‘I’ll lead them away.’
    The group of women hurried away from the mouth of the path and off towards our house.
    I licked my lips and stared toward the noise. Hopefully they would keep going right on past. But of course they didn’t, and a few seconds later the first goblin burst from the trees and stared in the direction the women had gone. A quick glance over my shoulder showed me Grams, disappearing from view around the corner. A grotesque smile distorted his face as he pulled his dagger from its sheath.
    ‘Oh no you don’t.’ I stepped into view. ‘Not on my shift.’
    Another three goblins emerged from the trees.
    Ahh whizbang.
    If I just ran off they might decide to go after the easier target Grams had presented. I had to get and