Free Slayde, Book 2 (Chaos Time Serial) by Marie Hall

ashen, his steps uncertain. Where he found the strength she had no idea. There was more to Slayde than she’d ever known and Sable’s heart swelled with pride.
    The priest’s filed teeth were tipped in a lecherous smile. He extended his sun browned hand and gripped the scruff of Slayde’s shirt.
    Slayde’s head thudded against the stone with the sound of a hammer striking a watermelon. Sable saw red. Literally. Her vision turned a deep crimson hue. She’d never experienced this before. Her fire was instantaneous and hot. She screamed, vaguely aware of the hundreds of eyes that looked up in horror a split second before those closest to her tree began to drop and writhe.
    “Control yourself, Sable!” Hunter attempted to grab her again. She shoved him away from her as hard as she could and then jumped, shifting midair seamlessly.
    Bodies slammed into each other in their chaos to escape the terror of the feral bird bearing down on them.
    The Lord glared at her, and as if he sensed he had only seconds, he plunged the knife into Slayde.
    She shrieked, the booming sound reverberated like thunder clap. The Lord released the hilt of the knife and dropped to his knees, slamming his hands to his ears. But she didn’t relent. Her lungs were large and full of air. Sable screamed to the heavens with every ounce of rage she possessed. Adrenaline coursed through her veins when the Lord dropped to the ground like a stone. Blood seeped from the corners of his eyes, out his nose, even from his ears.
    When she reached Slayde she noticed immediately how still and white he was. His chest was painted scarlet and blood pooled around his body. It would be so easy to end the Lord. Drive her talon through his chest exactly as he’d driven his knife through the others. But if she did, she wouldn’t stop until she’d shredded him to ribbons. Her rage wouldn’t let her leave until she’d exacted her revenge.
    But it was either kill him, or save Slayde.
    Slayde had minutes judging by the sluggish beating of his heart. When the Lord had driven the knife through him it hadn’t been a direct blow to the chest, but she heard the flat tone of his heart, the knife had very probably knicked it, which meant he was hemorrhaging from the inside. The only chance he had was to get to Synnergy as quickly as possible, she only prayed their healer was as good as Hunter said she was.
    There was no choice.
    She shrieked at the huddled body that suddenly looked less supernatural and more human, while simultaneously drawing Slayde into the folds of her wings. But unlike before when he could hold her back, now he was nothing but dead weight. Brain screaming at the thought of causing him anymore pain but knowing she had no choice because she couldn’t keep a tight enough grip on him with just her wings, she dug her talons deep into his shoulders, flooded with relief when he shuddered.
    Trying not to hurt him worse than she needed to, she flew as fast as she could back to the tree.
    Hunter gesticulated to her wildly, a shimmering blue portal was open before him. She didn’t stop to agonize over the fact that she hated time jumping, all she knew was Slayde’s blood leaked out slower and slower and his breaths were getting weaker and weaker. Soon she’d lose him completely.
    She dived into the portal, the wailing sounds of screams and rancid stench of blood faded into the oblivion of a time long forgotten.

Chapter 6: The end is bitter, but rejoice...for there will be joy in the morning
    Dragden, ruler of the New World, victor of the final battle—defeat shining in the eyes of his enemies as they died one by one—stared silent out the large window of his chamber. A memory that had always made him smile. Until today. Today bitterness was his friend. Sorrow his lament.
    The war had aged him. No longer the virile man he once was, his back was bent by arthritis. His skin was soft and sloughing off in thick wrinkled waves. He closed his eyes for a brief moment. The