Page 46 of Dragon Awakened

And then I fling my arms out to my sides.

I don't use it often, but as a soldier of the Air Dragon Kingdom, I keep my magic honed.

The windows at both ends of the hall shatter, and a gust of wind rushes in. I shape it as it flies through the empty hall, creating blades. Before anyone can react, I slash through the two Shadow Dragons' necks. They drop to the floor in twin pools of blood.

The remaining Air Dragon guard opens his eyes wide, taking a step back.

"Your highness--" He lifts his hand to defend himself--but not to attack.

And maybe that's why I take mercy.

In a single, swift motion, I direct another gust of air, but instead of slicing him open, I wrap it around his head, sucking all of the oxygen out of his lungs. His eyes bulge out, and he grabs at his throat. I wait, counting carefully. His eyes flutter, and he sags.

The instant he hits the floor, I pull my magic back. His chest expands, but his body is limp. He'll recover, but for the moment, he's been neutralized.

I don't have time to hide the bodies.

I've been biding my time for so long, simmering in regret and useless anger. Now I'm a spring, unleashed, and I launch into action.

In my rooms, I refuse to waste a second. I throw my tablet and a sheaf full of paperwork into a bag with a handful of weapons and a single change of clothes. I glance around the quarters that have been my home for my entire life, and my breath goes tight. If everything goes well--or even if it goes to absolute shit--chances are, I'll never be back here again. At the last moment, I tug open my nightstand drawer and grab the box inside.

Zipping up the bag and slinging it over my shoulder, I nod to myself. The fire I've been banking in my chest for so long roars to an inferno.

As I stride toward the balcony, my dragon rises in a cloud of smoke and rage, ready to finally take flight. But I keep him at bay for a moment more.

I pull out my phone and dial a number I've never dialed before.

When the other end of the line picks up, I say simply, "She's here. It's time."

Chapter

Thirteen

EMBER

Ican't breathe.

My mates and I are still standing around Storm's empty garage. Fury's tied up in a pile on the floor. He's not my mate, which means that Storm has to be.

The man who loved me--the first man I ever made love to. The man who humiliated me and broke my heart and told me I was nothing--who discarded me and sat by while I was ripped away from everything I ever knew or loved.

And yeah--that all worked out for the best.

But it doesn't matter.

I have to face him again.

Only...

"How are we going to find him?" I ask, pacing back and forth and pulling at my hair.

"Leave it to us," Rafe insists.

I shake my head. "Someone has to have noticed that Fury's gone by now. The mansion will be crawling with guards." A shudder runs up my arms, and my already tight chest squeezes any remaining air out of my lungs. "They're probably tearing apart the kingdom looking for him."

We wasted our chance at a surprise attack, and it's all my fault. I insisted on facing Fury first.

"Beloved." Malik reaches for me, and even the brush of his hands against my arms sends tingling warmth blooming through me, but I don't want to be comforted right now.

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