Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44211 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 177(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
The two Dax faced charged him from opposite sides. They were apparently not that bright because he easily dodged out of the way, and they rammed into each other. He used their resulting disorientation to his advantage, raining punches to the multi-colored’s head and neck until it collapsed.
The lead kelpie screeched like a bird and managed to knock him into the water. He splashed hard into the cold liquid, found his feet quickly, but it had followed and was already shifting into its water form. Tentacles shot out in every direction from its round head, and its razor-sharp teeth elongated. It tried to force him deeper, but he locked his legs as water splashed into his face. Blinking it away, he grabbed one of the tentacles with both hands and ripped it from the thing’s body.
This scream was so loud, it was bound to bring humans.
It was harder to fight the kelpie here. The water made its already slippery skin worse, so Dax’s punches weren’t landing. He stepped back and deliberated the best way to get it to land. It would follow him, of course, but before he could move, tentacles quickly wrapped around his body as the kelpie pulled him farther out into the deep water. He was under long enough for his lungs to start to ache, writhing and grasping at tentacles. He finally managed to pry one loose and swim to the surface, gasping in air.
He had to get it into the shallower section so it would have less leverage. He lurched toward the shore, but those powerful tentacles grasped his ankles and yanked him back. He kicked out, dislodging them, one of his booted feet smashing into its blurry face. It reared back and seemed to be floundering, so he knew he’d rattled it. Taking advantage, he swerved back to grab it and bring it into the shallow water. It was heavy and cumbersome, and he had to swipe at the tentacles that tried to grab him.
He should have brought a knife—he just didn’t usually need one in a fight. Instead, he dragged the kelpie onto land, picked up a massive rock and brought it down on its head. Then did it again for good measure.
When it was finally still, he looked for Emory. The angel was using his telekinetic powers to fire large stones at the russet kelpie. He saw that the colored mane one he’d knocked out was rousing, so he jogged over to smash its head in with the same rock. He dropped the stone and stood there catching his breath, his jeans and T-shirt dripping.
Emory joined him, already pulling out his cell phone to call in the cleanup crew.
Cursing, Dax dug his own phone out of his wet jeans. Water dripped out of it, so it was probably toast. He’d have to pick up a new phone tomorrow.
“They’ll be here in about ten minutes,” Emory said as he slid his phone back into his pocket. He looked Dax over. “Those wet jeans must feel miserable.”
“I see you managed to not get wet.”
Emory shuddered. “Only in the shower. ” He looked at the dead kelpies, features drawn with real regret. “Why do they never just leave?”
“Wish I knew. Hopefully, word will spread among their kind, and they’ll know these shores are protected. We had no choice.” Like his friend, Dax really did hate taking lives, but it happened sometimes in this line of work he’d chosen. He’d intended the job to be temporary, a blip in between his studies, but he loved the close-knit family he’d found. So years had passed, and though he’d started to feel restless, he had no plans to leave anytime soon. More degrees could wait.
After all, he had many years still ahead of him.
“Do you think that increase in magic you talked about is what attracted the kelpies here?” Emory squatted next to the one he’d killed. It had started to shift back into its water form as it died, so it was a macabre mix of tentacles and horse.
“Possibly. I’ve been meaning to ask Xavier about it. I feel it constantly now, like prickles on my skin. My mother has mentioned it, as well. I inherited that ability from her. She believes more preternaturals will be drawn to the area.”
“Let’s hope they’re the nicer ones. Or better yet, maybe it will attract another jinn. We don’t have anyone who can turn to smoke to sneak into locked buildings anymore.”
“Finn did leave us high and dry. But I guess he’s earned the chance to travel with his soulmate.”
“It’s still wild, him falling for the Ajax Craig.”
Dax nodded. “It is. Hard to believe that rock star is one of those humans who can see through our magic.”
“What I don’t understand is how so many of us lived for so long without knowing about these humans.”