Shield of Fire (A Bringer and the Bane Novel) Read Online Free

gate.
    “You can’t run!” Powell rattled the metal bars. He braced his foot against the gate and kicked, but the lock held. He shook the bars again. “He wants you, Lady Ravyn. You’ll never escape.”
    She ignored his taunt and scooped up her belongings. With a quick tug, she secured the ties, tucked the bag under her arm, and limped toward the rutted road.
    “Get back here!” Powell raged.
    Thunder sounded above her, and the black sky and rain obscured her vision. Heat prickled along her arms, telling her more than her eyes ever could. The irritation intensified and spread up her shoulders. She stopped in the center of the path and glanced at the monk, but his attention was not on her.
    As he stared at the night sky, his mouth thinned in a cruel smile. “You’re no longer on holy ground, my lady.” His taunt rolled toward her, turning her already chilled blood to ice. “All the worse for you.”
    A strange presence pushed at her mind. The pressure hummed on a different vibration from what she’d experienced in the chapel—not malevolent, but still dark.
    She pushed back. Pressure thrummed against the inside of her skull. “Get out.”
    The force retreated.
    The thunder roared above her, drawing her attention to a physical danger. Her fire flared, speeding heat the length of her body. She swiveled and blasted the air, but struck nothing. She shuddered and wrestled to control the energy.
    Night masked all that wanted to be hidden. She turned in a circle and scanned the sky, dread tightening in the pit of her stomach. Someone besides Powell hid in the dark. Better to flee than fight the unknown.
    She spun and ran, but only made it two steps before something large hit her from behind and knocked her to her knees. Her bag flew from her grasp. Heavy wings knocked her sideways.
    Powell’s laugh billowed from behind her. “Yes, yes. Oh, this is too perfect.” He shook the bars violently. “You’ve merely escaped the cat to be caught by the hawk, Lady Ravyn.”
    She struggled to her feet and shot another ball of energy blindly into the night. Her mind searched for a sliver of reality within the unfolding nightmare. Throbbing fire nullified some of her panic. With hands held ready, she stood. Her heat burned from the inside out. She clenched and unclenched her fists as it coiled through her body.
    The blackness of the night thickened. Thudding wings echoed from all directions. Her attacker was everywhere and nowhere. She turned to follow the sound. Without warning, the creature dropped from the sky.
    Large talons drove deep into her flesh and latched onto her shoulders. She stumbled forward, screams ripping from her throat. The creature held tight, dragging her through the mud. With each powerful stroke of the monster’s wings she slowly ascended.
    Skin and muscle tore. Warm blood flowed down her chest as she swung helplessly, pinned by the talons. The edges of her senses dimmed. She battled unconsciousness, though she didn’t know why. Unconsciousness would free her.
    New thunder penetrated her torment. The noise pounded out a different rhythm than that of the large, black wings above her. The thumping grew louder and she squinted into the darkness. Her eyes fluttered closed, certain the dark form racing toward her was the Angel of Death coming to carry her away.
    Something collided with the demon, knocking them all toward the ground. The creature’s talons gouged deeper into her flesh as it attempted to keep its hold. It screeched above her, twisting to find the new attacker.
    Screams peeled from her throat, the torture unending and inescapable. Her vision blurred and refocused. The monster ascended again, lifting her with it. Like a rag doll, she hung from its grasp, unable to move; sure her body was ripping in two. She closed her eyes and prayed for death.
    A flash of orange flared behind her closed lids, the crackle of fire erupting around her. Heat singed her cheeks. She dragged her eyes open as her