A Burning in the Bones (Waxways #3)

Chapter 51 Mercy Whitaker

51 MERCY WHITAKER

Look at the mortals. Come all this way to kill what has already died!”

Mercy knew it wasn’t the houndmaster’s voice. There was a darkness in it that she recognized from their interrogation with the viceroy. Arakyl was using him like a puppet. Speaking through him.

“I know you. I have seen every life you would have lived! Theo Brood. He killed his own father. A weakling. A man who can do nothing on his own. Dahvid Tin’Vori—a coward who could not even save his brother. Who sacrificed his lover to win a battle! Look at the trail of dead you’ve left behind! Mercy Whitaker, how many have you ignored over the years? How many more souls could you have saved? You are selfish. A sniveling worm. You live a lie! They knock and knock and you will not answer! Guion Prather…”

Before he could reveal the man’s secrets, Guion stepped forward and unleashed a bolt of magic. It was a bright stream of silver light. A projectile that hissed across the room with so much speed that it was hard for the naked eye to follow. It should have struck the houndmaster square in the chest. Instead, the dragon’s eyes flashed in answer. Powerful, hungry. Mercy saw that he’d been baiting them. Hoping for a reaction. Any small lack of discipline. It had worked.

The bolt of magic froze in midair.

She could see it spinning ever so slightly, the tip as sharp as any spear. Time stood still, however. The bolt failed to reach its target. And then magic raced back in their direction. The spell she saw was the color of a bruise. It filled the air with a corpselike scent. Something dark and rank and long buried. Arakyl used Guion’s spell like a road. All that darkness completely ignored their summoned ward—as if he’d opened a door for it—and the magic hit him right in the gut.

She expected an explosion. For him to go flying back against the cavern wall. Instead, he crumpled inward. Crushed from the outside by an invisible hand. His blood vessels bloomed suddenly before exploding. He was dead in seconds. Mercy knew it was true because Win—bonded to his brother—dropped down to his knees and let loose a bloodcurdling scream.

Arakyl took advantage of the distraction.

Another bolt of purple light spewed out from those skeletal jaws. This was the most powerful spell yet. It slammed into their current shield, shattering it to pieces. Mercy heard Theo calling to Redding to summon another one—but before they could, great shadows cut through their ranks. Teeth glinting in the fickle light. Mercy tried to call out a warning, but too late.

The hounds were amongst them.