Page 154 of Hunt Me

Uziah pushes his way to the front, glaring at me from the other side.

“You wanted me locked in,” I said. “And now I am.”

He curses at me, but I ignore him and turn back to where Legion’s dragon is wedged into the hall that’s nearly too small to hold his large form. Vampires claw against his scales, some of them attempting to stab weapons into wherever they can reach. Others climb the spikes on his back, looking for a vulnerable spot.

I glance around at the stone walls, sure that what I’m about to do will likely kill us all. If I hadn’t accidentally done it up on that mountaintop, I wouldn’t even know to try it now.

All I can do is hope that it’s enough.

On a deep breath, I call out to the earth pulsing with plant life beyond these stone walls. The symbol carved into my skin is nearly healed, leaving my magic finally within reach again. It takes a few strained moments, but then my power slams into me, leaving me breathless.

The surge is overwhelming after being cut off for so many hours, but I don’t hold back. Beside me, the wall cracks. Stone falls to the floor in large boulders, raining down along with smaller pebbles and sand.

At my feet, the floor opens, and the ground rumbles as a fissure appears and begins to expand. From the depths of the opening, thick, black vines creep up and out of the earth.

Poison.

I can feel it pulsing inside them.

Even without cursed skin, I still wield poisoned vines as easily as if they’re a part of me. Their life force thrums inside me, offering their service willingly, and I urge them onward.

They climb swiftly down the hall, wrapping themselves around the vampires they find along the way. The vamps’ legs are yanked out from under them as the vines coil around ankles and wrists.

The mate bond thrums alongside my magic, and I can practically hear Legion yelling in my head, telling me to get the hell out of here.

Not a fucking chance, death dragon.

At my direction, the vines pull taut around the necks of the Crimson Roses in their path. They struggle against the pressure, but I only squeeze harder—not stopping until the vines begin to cut through flesh.

From somewhere in the center of her pack of soldiers, Maricha screams for someone to get me. Most are too caught up in avoiding the dragon clawing through their ranks, but a few of them break away and run straight for me.

I don’t move.

A step backward would put me within reach of Uziah and his men reaching through the bars of the door behind me.

Instead, I hold my ground, concentrating on the fissure I’ve opened. More vines pour out of it, creating a wall of vegetation that snags the vamps as they come up against it. Their blood coats my vines, dripping from the black leaves and filling the air with the scent of death.

Legion’s dragon snarls, the sound sending a ripple of unease through me. I part the vines enough to see him writhing against the bars of the cell we spent the night in. A small, carved blade protrudes from his scales.

I stare in disbelief and horror as the bond between us fills with pain.

“Legion,” I scream.

Maricha whirls, the hatred in her gaze unhinged. “I will kill you slowly,” she declares. “But he won’t be so lucky.”

Legion’s dragon roars. Hellfire drips from his throat, evidence of his suffering.

“If you won’t serve me, then you’ve outlived your use,” Maricha tells him.

Legion snarls at her, and the mate bond snaps closed. For a horrifying second, I think he’s gone, but then I realize he’s only shut himself off from me. So I can’t feel his death.

Idiot.

Hurrying toward them, I direct my vines toward Maricha, watching as they wind their way up her legs and around her wrists and throat. She utters another incantation, and the vines break, crumbling and dying at her feet. I send more in their place, but it won’t be enough. I know it immediately. And I won’t be there in time to save him.

Behind me, there’s a loud clang.

I look back in time to see the door break open, and Uziah’s crimson eyes blazing with fury as he steps into the cavern. Around him, Crimson Roses pour through, racing toward me.

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