Chapter 17
Those burning, crimson eyes manifested raw hate and rage—and they were directed right at Aihi. Ekiken roared again and swiped at her with his claws, and she fell flat on her back, scrambling toward the temple entrance to avoid being eviscerated.
Two bushi close to her weren’t so lucky. Sharp, branch-like talons gouged through their uniforms as if they were piles of meat, not people. Their screams silenced the instant they thudded to the ground.
“Ekiken,” Aihi choked out, “don’t let them do this to you.”
He opened his mouth to release a hissing roar, not words. He’d lost his innate intelligence, becoming an instrument of wrath. The magicians would use him to slaughter everyone before destroying him.
The other restraints snapped one by one as he strained against them. Aihi gl
