Page 93 of Catastrophe

The dragon licked its bloody teeth, and then its head turned to the crate. “Well, fucking hurry, because I think the dragon is still hungry.”

CHAPTER 23

CHARLIE

When it charged toward a door, I knew they’d made it into the corridor and thankfully the green reptile couldn’t fit its stupid shoulders and wings through to follow them. But when it blew fire, I felt a bit smug to see the hunters get flambéed and Fafnir fume from the stage.

I don’t know who the dragon is, but they have completely fucked his plan. I don’t think he’s going to forgive this one.

But it helped us. I changed the view from the courtyard to the camera’s outside. Arabella stood, her purple hair making her stand out against the crowd of filthy and shivering witches cuddled on the floor. My heart lurched the moment the portal formed and then I sighed as the hunter sacrifice and his friend came stumbling through, looking a little green.

I feel that. But you aren’t who I need to see.

The next moment, Baelen, Clawdia, and Zaide appeared, and I jumped from my seat and punched the air. Clawdia covered Zaide’s naked body, but the dried blood on his leg and his drawn expression dampened my spirits.

But we fucking did it. “Now, get everyone back here.”

Baelen nodded and as the other portal flashed closed, another blue swirl formed in the air. Wind tickled at my neck as the corresponding portal formed behind me.

Arabella began picking up witches and helping them hobble into the portal and they arrived in the room behind me, bringing some awful smells and lots of tears.

I waved awkwardly and said, “There are rooms, showers, and food in that direction. Chill out for a bit while I finish this.”

Savida and Daithi stepped in to help while I jumped back onto the computer and began deleting all the records on the cameras. I wanted to make it look like they’d had a system shutdown across the whole compound, which is why the cameras died and the doors locked. It would be obvious that it wasn’t when they noticed the witches and the council missing, but I didn’t care. It might give us valuable time to change outcomes.

On the other screen, I saw Clawdia speaking to Michael and his friend while gripping Zaide’s hand tightly and keeping him close to her back. But the hunters were shaking their heads, disagreeing with her, and Baelen yelled something at them.

Fuck the hunters, Clawdia. Get back here.

As the last of the prisoners appeared in the room behind me, I turned around, my heart beating like a drum in my chest as I waited for my family.

They came through the swirling blue portal, looking worse for wear, but I didn’t care about that. My bond with Clawdia snapped back into place like an elastic band, and I could feel her. She felt scared and tired and was running on adrenaline and so relieved. It was like the cheesy rom-coms where all the other people fade as the main characters look at each other. I couldn’t see anyone else but her, and I wanted nothing more in my life than to get her back in my arms.

Dreams are nothing compared to reality.

She ran straight to me almost doing hurdles over the people in the way, and knocked the breath from my lungs as she collided into my chest, her arms and legs wrapping around me, holding me so tightly against her I could feel her heartbeat knocking at mine.

“I missed you. I thought you were dead.” She whispered into my neck and my arms tightened around her.

“I almost had heart failure watching you all try to escape that fucking place. We’re not doing that again.”

“Agreed.” Baelen said as he and Zaide, still naked, approached, crowding close to us.

I eyed Zaide, knowing that only moments ago he had a break in his leg that must have been horrific. “Good to see you, mate. And walking.”

“Clawdia healed me,” he said and ran a hand down her back. She unwrapped her legs from my back and slid down my chest to the ground to grip both Zaide’s hand and mine. Zaide nodded his head. “Thank you for your part in my rescue.”

“You’re welcome. I missed the excitement of hacking, actually. I might have to continue,” I said as a flash of heat overcame me and a bead of sweat dripped from my forehead.

“You feel really warm, Charlie. Are you all right?” Clawdia asked, and her eyes unfocused on me.

“Are you checking my threads?” I asked.

“No.”

“I’m fine.” I pulled my hand from hers and wiped my forehead. It shook. “Maybe I’m coming down from the adrenaline rush.”

“Ah, Baelen, I think we need to leave,” Zaide whispered. But his voice felt loud and booming and echoed in my ears like a gong.

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