Page 83 of The Bonds of Indigo

It carries the same force that brought down the Werewolf. The moment the glowing tip hits the Pyrehound, it spears straight through its throat, cleaving the creature clean in half.

The second one is already on its heels. I dodge its leap by inches—close enough to feel the heat of its breath skim my cheek. I would survive it pinning me, but fighting a Pyrehound off my back would be the opposite of ideal.

“That was too close.” Kayn’s voice crackles through the bond, sharp with adrenaline.

I push to my feet and form another arrow as the remaining Pyrehound whips around to face me. It snarls, hackles flaring.

“Don’t give me commentary. Get the survivors out of the train.”

“What do you think I’ve been doing this entire time, little slayer?”

A retort rises in my throat, but I bite it back. I’m staring down a monster from the Beyond; bantering with that brute will only get me hurt.

The Pyrehound slams a paw into the ground, jaw grinding as viscous black saliva drips from its fangs. Its spiked fur bristles violently. Plumes of black smoke rise from it as the earth cracks beneath its claws.

The sound of rushing paws accompany a loud, terrified shriek.

I release the arrow and whip around. Another Pyrehound has latched onto the side of the train, ripping away metal. Beyond the mangled door, a girl—ten at most—cowers inside.

My thumb drags across my forearm, carving the rune for Terraquill.

I slam my hand against the ground beneath the beast. Golden spikes erupt upward, impaling it and hurling it several feet into the air. Dark, nearly black blood rains down.

“AMARAH! BEHIND YOU!”

I spin hard, dropping one knee into the dirt. My dress snags, nearly sending me crashing. And there, charging straight for me, is the second Pyrehound, half its head missing, jaw unhinged in silent fury.

And I know instantly that I don’t have the time to channel.

Releasing a breath, I watch the distance between us vanish—feet shrinking to inches—just as the half-headed beast snaps its remaining jaw open to clamp down on my face. But before it reaches me, a blinding white light fractures the air around it. The Pyrehound lets out a strangled whimper as it’s violently ripped backward, suspended for a split second before being completely decapitated.

Dark blood splatters across my face. My eyes slamming shut on instinct.

I barely process the need to stand before Kayn is there—towering over me, filling my entire world. His hands clamp harshly onto my shoulders, hauling me upright so he can search my face. Horror carves into his features the moment our eyes meet, and shockingly, he’s shaking.

For a heartbeat, something warm flickers in my chest at the sight of his panic.

“Are you okay?!” His palm cups my cheek, trying—failing—to wipe away the blood. His other hand traces along my jaw, gently but urgently turning my head from side to side. “What the fuck was that?! You missed the shot!”

The butterflies his worry summoned burn to ash instantly, scorched by anger.

“Excuse me?! I had to pivot to save the kid! What do you mean I missed the shot?!”

“You missed! It still had half a brain to attack you.”

“They don’t have functioning anatomy like us, dumbass.”

His jaw flexes. “You could’ve been hurt because you were distracted.”

My mouth falls open. “You’ve got to be kidding me! How dare you! I was⁠—”

“Is he bothering you?”

A new voice slices straight through our argument, just as a silver pistol presses to the side of Kayn’s neck.

My heart stops.

I whip my attention to the newcomer. Deep blue eyes lock onto mine with sharp, assessing focus. He runs his free hand through his chopped black hair, brushing it away from a pale, angular face.