Total pages in book: 182
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 171176 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 856(@200wpm)___ 685(@250wpm)___ 571(@300wpm)
“That’s not even remotely how,” I spat, the ache in my chest growing. “The dragon queen has nothing but passion in her projects. Those passions make more gold than you can imagine. They make a stronger community. Let my true mate out. It’s time I parted ways with you for good.”
She laughed and gestured beyond me. “Scatter the dragons and let’s get underway. Our reunion is done. Alexander, take them to their room and lock them in. Then come back up here. You can punish her later. Come on, everyone, knock those dragons out of the sky.”
Chapter 43
Aurelia
Fear welled up inside me as people grabbed strange-looking devices—they looked like they were made of silver orbs, but flat on one side. The people walked further out onto the deck, eyes on the sky.
“No!” I said as Alexander grabbed me, yanking me around. Weston yelled, calling my name, but my world reduced down to the fear I felt overwhelming me. The magic devices were turned on, the flat sides aimed at the dragons, the intent to drop them from the sky. Killing them? I had no idea.
My magic rose, and I recognized it now. I knew what it did. This was the fairy magic. The Emoting magic, latching on to my two single needs.
Save the dragons.
Kill Alexander.
I pushed that desire out with the magic, knowing it would reach the people on the deck. Knowing it would encourage them to do as I bade.
“What is—” Alexander jerked, yanking me, half dragging me toward the people with the devices. Granny pushed ahead, clearing out of the way of those on the deck.
The devices clunked down onto the deck, the operators’ eyes on him. Almost as one, they rushed him, faces screwed up in anger, hands out like claws. Some shifted, and the fur barreled down on us.
I wrenched my arm, spinning Alexander around though he still held on to me. With my other hand I punched him in the throat.
He gasped, finally loosening his grip on me. I yanked my arm again and broke his hold.
Not a moment too soon.
A body of fur jumped at me, trying to go through me to get to Alexander. I hit the deck and rolled, and claws just barely scraped my shoulder as the wolf passed over me. Another jumped into the fray, ripping and tearing. Alexander screamed, fighting for all he was worth as the entire deck of his people now tried to get to him.
Snapping teeth clamped down on his neck. Another person grabbed his head and twisted. Someone with a knife slashed across Alexander’s stomach, letting his insides fall out.
Alexander gargled a scream. A wolf snarled, and then it cut off altogether.
I scurried to my feet, running at Weston before Alexander’s body could even hit the deck.
Fire streaked through the sky overhead. Hannon dove toward the deck and then through the throng of fighting people, letting loose an explosion of flame as he did so. He pulled out of the dive and climbed into the sky as wolves bayed and people screamed, their hair and clothes and fur on fire.
A dragon roared above us as I reached Weston’s cage.
“How do I open this?” I asked in a panicked voice, running my fingers over the metal, looking for the clasp.
“In the middle, to the side there.”
Nyfain swept down over the ship as Granny came running. Her face lit up in alarm and she skidded to a stop, watching the golden dragon bearing down on her. Nyfain’s dragon opened his maw, and I turned away, quickly unlatching the clasp and throwing open the door to the cage.
Weston grabbed me and spun me toward the side of the ship.
“You can swim, right?” he asked as heat washed over us from the dragon’s fire.
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?” He swore softly. “We’re going to jump. Don’t panic. I will grab you, okay? Here we go.”
He tossed me over without ceremony.
“Oh shit—”
I windmilled my arms, suddenly weightless before gravity sucked me down. Another dragon swooped over us, followed by the phoenix again, and fire rolled across the ship in a gush. The water rushed up, and I held my breath as cold suddenly enveloped me. I plunged deep, letting myself naturally stop before I—almost calmly—swam my hardest for the surface.
“I can swim. Shift and I’ll do it,” my wolf said.
“You only learned how to walk a few months ago!”
A hand grabbed my arm and tugged, dragging me to the surface. I crested the water and sucked in a breath as another dragon dove, spraying the burning ship. Calia waited in that sling held by Vemar, off to the side, her hands out and at the ready.
Weston tucked his arm around my chest.
“Just float. I got this.” He started swimming us quickly toward the docks.
“I can swim enough to get to the— Well, okay, you’re going faster.” I watched the orchestrated loop of dragons taking turns blowing fire along the ship, not just across the top but getting near the water and aiming for the sides.