Dorothy Must Die Novella #7 by Danielle Paige Read Free Book Online

backward and brought her fists up again, but it was too late. Holly swept her feet out from under her with a low kick and she toppled to the mats so hard she saw stars.
    â€œWhat is this?” Mombi barked. Where had the witch even come from? Did she have eyes in the back of her head? Probably, Lanadel thought, rubbing her ringing temples. Holly had danced away from her, a martyred expression on her face as she tenderly dabbed at her nose. “What were you thinking?” Behind Mombi, she saw Nox with his arms folded across his chest. Melindra looked like she was trying not to crack a smile. Holly and Larkin had identical expressions of smug satisfaction.
    â€œLet her sit up,” Melindra urged. Mombi grumbled something under her breath that sounded a lot like “idiot girl,” but offered Lanadel her hand and pulled her to her feet. Lanadel winced as awhite-hot flare of pain lanced through her head. Mombi nodded grimly.
    â€œServes you right,” she said, but her voice was a little more sympathetic. “A trip to the healing pool would fix you right up, but maybe a headache will serve to remind you that we do not fight each other outside the ring.” She whirled around, pointing at Larkin and Holly. “And that goes for the two of you, too. Don’t think I don’t know who started this one. Try that again, and you’ll be the ones getting whacked upside the head. Is that clear?” Holly and Larkin quickly rearranged their faces into expressions of contrite humility.
    â€œYes, Mombi,” Holly said sweetly in a high-pitched singsong. Mombi rolled her eyes.
    â€œNow get out, the lot of you,” she said crossly. Nox looked startled. “Sparring practice is moved to cavern two. Lanadel and I will need the main cave. If you think our girl’s ready for magic, it’s time she got some real lessons. None of this aggravating-people-in-corridors nonsense.” She gave Nox a dirty look.
    â€œI thought—” he said, flushing, and Mombi wagged a finger at him.
    â€œYour job isn’t to do any thinking!” she interrupted. She turned toward Lanadel, and behind her back Nox gave her a look that was murderous. Lanadel wondered what was going on there. It didn’t just feel like Mombi reprimanding him for stepping out of line. It was like there was some whole long, complicated history between them. Something she couldn’t even begin to guess at.
    â€œYou’re dismissed,” Mombi added, waving a hand at Holly, Larkin, Melindra, and Nox. Melindra, slipping out of fighting mode as easily as she’d gotten into it, rolled her eyes and gave Lanadel a sympathetic look, mouthing the words “Good luck” when the old witch’s back was turned.
    Holly smiled evilly. “You’re going to need it,” she added with a hiss. Mombi’s mouth twitched into an almost-smile, and Lanadel knew she’d heard.
    â€œWell, what are you waiting for?” Melindra said in a normal tone of voice, prodding Holly and Larkin out of the cave. “Get a move on, you little Wogglebugs. I’ll put you through your paces next door. And if you try to hit me on the head, I’ll make you regret the day you were born.”
    But Nox didn’t budge as the others filed out of the cavern. “I should stay,” he said stiffly. “You put me in charge of training new recruits, even if you’re the one teaching her magic.”
    Another strange, electric charge passed between them, and something about Mombi’s demeanor softened. “Oh, all right,” she grumbled, but her usual hostile fierceness was suddenly gone. Lanadel made a note to ask Melindra later what Nox’s history was with the witch. She’d mentioned Mombi had raised him but there didn’t seem much love lost between the two. Nox sat in a corner, stretching out his long, muscular legs and leaning back against the wall. He crossed his arms over his chest, his