Part 19 (1/2)

I forced as much magical strength into my arms as I could when her claws peeled into my flesh. I pushed her arms out to the side then thrust my palms into her chest to send her skidding back nearly where she had started her rush.

Clearly the energy I picked up from Nera the faerie was giving me a little more strength boost than I had expected.

Gabbi turned her head to the side. ”Gnidori? That was quite the strength you have.”

She had no idea that my body had been amplified in power when my magic was sealed. So of course she was still going to think I was using magic.

I almost used one of those ridiculous legendary lines like *the better to kick your a.s.s with.' But realized just how stupid it sounded in my head I settled for, ”Gabbi? Would you like to take back that statement about me not being good enough?”

She laughed. I smiled, even though they couldn't see it.

”You usually make such better entrances.” She replied, stepping gently forward, which was at least better than running at me.

”I used my good one the last time I was here. But you got to see that one up close; didn't you?”

”Ah, you caught that? That's what you get for offing your magical nose though. No more Gabbi tracker.” Her grin was still full of sharp teeth, despite the rest of her body settling back into a more human shape like before.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling the wild magic that made up Gabbi's particular magical gift. One part me, and two parts her. It wasn't strong, always subtle yet just enough.

”You still smell the same though Gabbi. The color red and honeysuckle.”

She stopped in her tracks, her eyes trying to judge whether or not I could actually smell her magical scent.

”You have immense strength still. And you can smell me enough to track me when close?” She glanced to Charming then made a sour expression toward me. ”Did you spread the rumor of your loss of magic just so people would only think it and expect you to be an easier target then?”

”You know it couldn't have worked like that, Gabbi. The faeries would be on me with every small spell I cast. And they would have spread my possession of magic faster than any magical fire.”

”Then how?” She growled.

I grinned and raised my eyebrows. ”Magic.”

Her growl grew to the point that her whole spine seemed to s.h.i.+ver like the stiff hairs on a wolf's back before she charged right at me again.

Her claws grew once more as she swiped at me with a large horizontal arc. I ducked under it, but she had been ready and caught my chin with her knee, smas.h.i.+ng me upwards before swiping her other paw at my side.

I shook the jolt of pain that was rattling my head to bring my arm up to catch her paw and push it away. From there I spun my whole body in mid-air to land a kick across her cheek. She spat a splat of blood to the side as I landed back down on the ground, mere feet from her.

Her feral smile grew on her lips once more before she dropped low then pounced right for me. I pulled an arm back and slung it right into her chest as she landed on me. That released the energy contained in the muscles of my arm, which rippled through the skin of her stomach before she was launched into a tapestry on the far end of the throne room.

Crunching sounds were made as Gabbi landed with the decoration falling over her like a curtain.

I stood stiff with the magical energy still crackling around my fist from the discharge. Blood from the initial tearing into my skin Gabbi had caused, dripped all around my gloved fingers and plopped to the floor next to where her blood was.

She ripped through the tapestry with ease and stared across the room at me. Her eyes were raging in the kind of fury I had come to know she had reserved for those who betrayed her. ”You liar!”

My voice boomed with an echo through the chambers. ”I just got it back. What does it matter to you? Oh right, with my magic back I could technically take away the very power I gave you in the first place!”

Her features softened, but not by much.

It was then the clapping from Charming came in, as he stood somewhere in the middle of us.

”Well isn't this an interesting turn of events? Two women fighting for me; I love it.”

Both Gabbi and I looked at the prince. We might have had our issues with each other. But in that moment I knew what we were both thinking.

That b.a.s.t.a.r.d of a Tsar.

Everything was always about him.

Nineteen.

Girls Can Be Wolves Too ”I came for Ashe.” My voice bellowed, after Gabbi and I both decided to ignore Charming. ”Just give me the circlet, Gabbi. And I won't resort to taking your powers away.”

The wolf-woman smiled, way too wickedly for my tastes. ”Ah, you overheard that?”

”Not just overheard.” I reached my hand out. ”Hand it over, Gabbi. I just want Ashe safe.”

”If that were true you would be taking her with you, not keeping her locked away like she is that long-haired tower t.w.a.t.”

How did Gabbi always know where to wound me most? I coiled my blood-ridden fingers into a fist. ”I know that! Just give me the fey-d.a.m.ned circlet, Gabbi! I don't have time to deal with your non-sense!”

”You want this?” She pulled the crown from her head and held it out. ”What do I get in return?”

”You get to live...” I ground my teeth, ”...again.”

”Not good enough. You threaten me and I'll just break it. Then she is gone forever, right?” Gabbi shrugged and put the metal circlet between both her hands and pulled on it.

She wouldn't dare...

What am I saying? She beheads people as she pleases and she's never been fond of Ashe. Of course she would break it.

Midnight Magic...

I sighed, ”What do you want, Gabbi?”

”Now things are moving where I like.” The despicable wolf laughed as she stepped from the tapestry at her feet and twirled the crown around her arm. ”What do I want...”

”You could at least push things along. I told you I have things to do.”

”Like?”

Was she really going to play this game? I could just feel my eyes roll naturally. ”Like... killing Charming for being too much of a coward to kill me himself.”

That had been the whole reason I came here. It wasn't like I had been expecting Gabbi to be here. But that is my rotten luck.

”You're doing what?” Came Goldie's shriek. She plopped down, from the sky, next to me with such simple grace then threw Reynard at me.