Wardbreaker: An Urban Fantasy Novel (The Lillim Callina Chronicles) by J.A. Cipriano

sound of cracking wood and rustling leaves filled my ears as I threw myself backward, thankful I’d been a few steps behind Luc. A branch flew through the spot I’d just occupied as I landed hard on my shoulders, rolling across the pavement in a way that let me know I’d have bruises in the morning.
    I came to my feet and drew my weapons. The pure white blades of Shirajirashii glinted in the sunlight as the tree pulled itself free of the ground and began moving toward me. Its bark was as black as soot and yellow orbs glowed inside its green pine needles. The orbs focused on me, and the giant tree monster took a lumbering step forward, spraying soil across the concrete.
    “Why the hell are you here?” I screamed at the ent because they almost never left the forest. Its appearance here was odd to say the least. Instead of replying, the tree monster whipped its body around in a way that made me think of a willow being hit by a heavy gale. Pinecones exploded from its branches, their razor sharp edges more than enough to cut me into twain, you know, provided the poison didn’t kill me first.
    I darted to the side, but there was no way I’d get free of the deluge in time. Muttering, I held Isis out in front of me. Blue light filled the space around the katana as a wall of force slammed down in front of me and solidified into an invisible shield. The pinecones hit it with so much strength, I was forced backward along the parking lot, my shoes skidding along the surface.
    Sweat trickled down my face as I reached out toward Set, willing it to lend its sister some power. Then the pinecones exploded. The blast threw me backward, shattering my shield as my feet left the ground. I crashed to the ground, but kept a grip on my weapons as the ent shambled forward. It wasn’t fast, thank God, but it was still a living tree. It’d hurt like hell if it hit me.
    I crawled to my feet as something exploded behind the creature, throwing bark and other debris into the air and distilling my hearing into an angry whine. The ent coming toward me, turned, shuffling its immense bulk as I ran at the creature. It didn’t even notice me until I landed amid its branches and drove my wakazashi deep into its trunk. Black sap that sort of smelled like fresh maple syrup exploded from the wound, coating me in a sheen of sticky liquid.
    A howl tore through the air as it tried to shake me off. I ducked an oncoming branch and focused my will. The smell of pine was overwhelming as I reached out and called upon my magic. Lightning shot from the sky and slammed straight down on the spot where Set was embedded into the creature. The blast tore the living tree asunder in a flash that threw me backward.
    Air whooshed out of my lungs as I smacked into the shrubbery. I threw my arms up to cover myself as sticks and other debris pelted me in the face and body. The ent leaned to the side, half blackened. Flames crawled up out of its center as it whirled, evidently not knowing it should stop, drop, and roll.
    I ignored the thrashing creature and got to my feet, glad the lightning thing had worked. Set was a storm god after all, but I’d never really been good at storm magic even though both of my parents were masters of the art. It was a little weird since things like that were normally hereditary, but someone had told me Dirge had sucked at it too. Either way, I was more than happy to blame it on her.
    “Timber!” Luc called, and as I glanced around for him, I saw the other ent toppling over like someone had sliced it in half. It fell, branches snapping against the pavement as a howl of anguish tore through the air. Black fluid spewed from its bottom in a wave that left the ground covered in sticky sap. Luc stood behind it, brandishing some kind of whirring chain weapon. He gestured at the creature with it and smirked. “That’s why I always carry a chainsaw,” he said, before raising it over his head in triumph.
    “Remind me to get one of those things,” I