Total pages in book: 362
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 347293 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1736(@200wpm)___ 1389(@250wpm)___ 1158(@300wpm)
I didn’t have to wait long.
The middle head rose, coiling back in a fluid, serpentine manner that sent a chill of revulsion coursing through me. A heartbeat passed—
Striking as fast as the pit vipers found near the Cliffs of Sorrow, the left head shot toward me, its mouth stretching open to reveal fangs as long as my finger. I lurched to the side and then jumped back, expecting the right head to make a move. It did. The second head snapped toward me, leaving me only seconds to spin out of its reach.
Holding the sword level, I gritted my teeth and darted forward, my bare feet quick on the stone. I dipped under the sweep of the creature’s claws and lunged, driving the sword into its chest. Or trying. The blade hit scales, and the impact jarred my arms.
Shock rippled through me, and I danced back. The scales were like some sort of armor.
Inching back farther, I caught sight of the shrouded riders and indicated with the sword. “You couldn’t have given me something that actually works?”
“Prove—”
“Yeah,” I cut Loimus off, focusing on the beast’s scales. There were slivers of flesh between them, each maybe an inch or two long. “Prove yourself. You don’t have to keep repeating it.”
Like a mountain of muscle and scales, the beast charged, its claws digging into the stone. I spun to the right and dipped as it rose, thrusting up with the sword with more precision than before. I hit a spot between the scales, and there was little resistance this time. Flesh gave way. Cold, rancid blood spurted into the air, spraying my chest and face.
Gods.
The creature howled, rearing back as its tail scratched against stone and whipped toward me. Cursing, I jerked the blade free and jumped out of the way. I whirled, just as its right head struck. Lifting the heavy sword with a grunt, I spun and sliced down with the blade, aiming for the vulnerable spots between its armored neck scales.
My stomach churned as the blade sank through muscles and tendons. The creature shrieked, and the right head hit the floor, shattering into a puddle of foul blood.
Smirking, I leveled the sword once more and lifted my gaze. “So, which head—?” My mouth dropped open.
Before my eyes, red light streaked out from the stump as the beast thumped its tail. A brand-new head sprouted, mirroring the other two.
“What in the actual fuck?” I growled, frustration crashing into fury.
Anger pounded through me, and I lunged at the beast. It turned quickly, moving faster than I would’ve thought possible, and something Sir Holland had once said when he’d only been a mortal knight training me to fight registered.
“Never let anger best you in battle. It is an act of a fool to use death’s most favored weapon.”
Gods, I was a fool.
Lurching back from at least two pairs of snapping jaws, I realized I’d taken my eyes off the rest of it.
An arm or leg—whatever—shot through the air. The beast seized me in a crushing grip. Bones ground together as it lifted me off my feet. Pain erupted, momentarily stunning me. My hands spasmed reflexively. The sword fell from my grip, clanging off the floor. With a ruthless jerk of its arm, it sent me hurtling through the air.
I slammed into the cavern wall, the contact knocking the air from my lungs. Agony shot down my spine. I hit the floor, rendered prone as a wave of torment crested.
A rider sighed. “Disappointing.”
Sucking in a ragged breath, I rolled onto my side. “Comments are…unnecessary,” I groaned, so done with this.
Shifting onto my knees, I rocked back. I caught sight of the sword lying a few feet in front of the beast. I needed to figure out how to take this thing down and do it quickly. Obviously, the space between the scales was vulnerable, but I’d pierced its chest. That had done nothing. And severing its head? It had simply grown another.
I lifted my gaze and peered through the strands of my hair. The two heads were swaying once more. The middle was still. Our gazes locked. Its eyes glimmered with more than just eather. There was hunger there, but also intelligence.
My gaze shifted to the other two heads. The glow of their eyes wasn’t nearly as brilliant. Was it possible that those heads were more like limbs? If I took the middle one out, would it kill the beast?
I had no idea, but it was a plan—one that didn’t involve getting thrown into walls again.
Rising to my feet, I was surprised to find that most of the pain had already subsided. The beast’s gaze met mine once more.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
I rushed forward, dipping to grab the sword. The beast struck with the two side heads. My blade glanced off the scales of the left neck. Seeking to distract it, I spun and brought the blade down on that area. The stench of putrid blood increased. Sweat dotted my brow. Stone clashed against scales as I dodged the creature’s relentless strikes and snapping jaws, dancing closer and closer until I saw spittle dripping from the middle head’s fangs. Breathe in. Two of the heads drew back. Hold.