The alien trilobite struck out with one of its fangs as it fell backward. She twisted in the air, grunting when the fang shattered as it hit her stone back between her wings. The blow, combined with the weight of Ashure, was enough to knock her out of the air.
She flipped over at the last second, wrapping her wings protectively around Ashure as they hit the ground and skidded several yards. Grass and dirt flew in all directions as she cut a deep rut in the ground before coming to a stop. She peered through her wings making sure it was safe.
“Tonya will thank you for saving my neck,” Ashure said.
“It isn’t safe yet,” she replied, opening her wings and releasing him. “Where is Asahi?”
“Asahi—yes, well, things became a little complicated after you left,” he nervously answered.
Nali pushed Ashure aside and stood. She wildly scanned the area. The trilobite Ashure had sliced open was turning to ash before her eyes. Isha, impressed with the success of Ashure’s move, had retrieved the enchanted sword and was using the same move on the last creature—with the help of Koorgan who held it around the neck from behind. Koorgan tossed the mortally wounded alien off the mountain. Gem and Drago hovered nearby, ready to incinerate it. Yet, no matter where she looked, Nali didn’t see Asahi.
“Where is he?” she demanded as she turned and faced Ashure, who was now standing.
“I’m not sure. The last time I saw him, he was headed in the direction of the river. He disappeared when the bugs came up over the cliff’s edge,” he confessed.
“I have to find him. The alien is still inside him. With the destruction of the others, the alien might….” She shook her head, unable to continue as visions of the dead Sea Stag formed in her mind.
“Nali, wait,” Ashure said, touching her arm when she took a step away from him.
“What?” she snapped before she drew in a deep breath and slowly released it. “I’m sorry. Pai is dead, and I’m afraid of losing Asahi.”
“I’m sorry about Pai. I know how much you cared about him. I… I think it would be best if I went with you to find Asahi. He… isn’t the same. I can fill you in while we search for him,” he hesitantly explained in a compassionate voice.
“It will be faster if we fly,” she said.
“I was afraid you’d say that,” he muttered.
Despite the tense situation, Nali smiled when Ashure turned his back to her and raised his arms so she could wrap hers around him. Stepping up behind him, she rested her chin on his shoulder.
“Thank you for being here for me,” she murmured.
“Always, whether or not you think you need me. Now, let’s go save your man,” he said.
Chapter 28
The memory of the dagger in his heart made Asahi rub the aching spot. Fortunately for him, the magic that had killed the invasive alien had healed him. Aminta withdrew to the back of his mind once he had recovered his wits after being on the edge of death. Asahi only felt her through his subconscious now. There was a force pulling him away from the cliff, and he followed it, trusting that Aminta would not lead him astray.
“You were the one who told me to stab you,” Mr. Gryphon growled when he noticed Asahi touching his former stab wound.
Asahi fought to keep from grinning at the irritated, defensive tone in the Gryphon’s voice. If he didn’t know better, he would have thought the animated dagger cared about him.
“I didn’t say stab me. If it helps soothe your mind, I am grateful for your assistance,” he said.
Mr. Gryphon sniffed loudly. “Good. I was just doing what I was told to do by the Goddess,” he reiterated.
“I fully understand that, my friend,” Asahi murmured.
The need to hurry increased the farther inland he walked. He knew he was getting close to something dangerous.
It comes. If it reaches the Gateway, the worlds are doomed, Aminta whispered in his mind.
“What is coming?” he asked.
He stopped when he observed Orion standing in a river. He frowned when he noticed a horse on the bank beside the Sea King. For a second, he wondered if he had stepped onto a western movie set. That idea burst when he glimpsed the horse’s profile. There was a long horn protruding from its forehead.
Okay, more like the Lord of the Rings movie set, he amended.
The thought had no sooner flashed through his mind than a vision replaced it. It showed the alien’s remaining portion that contained the rest of Aminta. It was smaller but more powerful than the others combined. It had used the other parts of itself as a distraction.
“Orion! Get out of the water, now!” he shouted.
Adrenaline flooded him, and he sprinted forward. A funnel of water lifted Orion out of the river and deposited him on the bank. Orion gripped the trident in both hands and pointed it at the water. Xyrie pawed at the ground as the water exploded around them.
The ground shook, and water gushed into the opening abyss beneath the river. Out of the widening gap, the head of a serpent appeared.
Orion pointed his trident at the beast and fired a burst of lightning. The energy bounced off the slick black scales. The creature released a menacing chuckle before it lunged.
Horror changed to astonishment when the unicorn stepped in front of Orion and lowered her head. The horn on her forehead glowed a brilliant incandescent gold. The serpent recoiled.
“Your tricks will not work now,” the alien hissed. “We have found your weakness.”
It will pull the ground out from underneath them, Aminta warned.
“Orion, get back! The ground…,” Asahi yelled.
In the ensuing quake, Asahi stumbled backward. The unicorn turned and bolted across the meadow and into the forest. He cursed when he saw Orion fall into a fissure.
Bracing a hand against the ground, Asahi pushed off like a sprinter. He jumped over the widening gap, zigzagging back and forth as more
