Page 75 of The Cursed Queen

Unfolding my wings from around us, I gave Andriel one last peck on the lips before intending to follow Drayce. I would've gone had I not frozen at the uneasy feeling in the atmosphere.

"Sera? Is something wrong?" Andriel asked with a quirked brow.

I stayed perfectly still, feeling the energy of the wind, the grass, and the surrounding trees, the sudden shift alerting me of danger.

"Something doesn't feel right," I said.

Andriel looked around, his guard raising. "What is it?"

"I don't know."

Neither I nor Andriel could spot anything amiss, but realized everything had gone perfectly fine until now. For a moment, Iforgot Baxus was the one who sent us out here, and nothing had happened.

As if he was waiting for us to drop our guard.

Andriel looked from me to the forest where Drayce had disappeared. "We should find Drayce and get back befo—" his words were cut off by a cry of pain as an arrow pierced through his right pectoral.

I gasped, rushing toward him as he dropped to his knees, his shaking hands gripping the arrow and pulling it out of him. Blood pooled from the gaping hole in his body. His dragon healing kicked in, but was moving too slow for my liking. Thinking fast, I pressed my hand to the wound and recited a healing enchantment I learned from my studies.

"Are you okay?" I asked frantically, my magic working to heal him.

"F-Fine," Andriel said through gritted teeth. "I... think that arrow was coated in Dragonsbane."

I thought so too, which was why his healing was so slow.

Sensing danger toward my left, I looked in time to see another arrow coming toward us. Reacting fast, I used my wing to swipe it away before it could penetrate us.

"We need to hide in the forest. We're sitting ducks in the open," I ordered, helping Andriel to his feet and running toward the trees.

Before we could conceal ourselves behind the wall of trees, the ground shook as thick vines sprouted out of the dirt and blocked our path. I cursed under my breath as we skidded to a halt. Druid magic. The dragon riders found us.

"Not so fast, traitor." I whipped my head around and spotted one flying above us, his hands outstretched and coated in the translucent fog of magic. More dragon riders made themselves visible, canceling out what I now knew was their cloaking enchantment. No wonder we couldn't spot them, and sincedragons hunted these lands, they were able to camouflage their scents to remain undetected.

But how did they know where I'd be?

I did a mental count, finding five dragon riders in total. The odds weren't good, but it wasn't impossible.

"Are you able to shift?" I muttered softly to Andriel.

Grunting, he nodded. "I think so. The wound is closed, but my magic took a hit from that dose of Dragonsbane."

Which didn't bode well for us.

"The odds are stacked against you, princess. I'm sure even you are smart enough to realize that," the squadron leader declared. "Why don't you make it easier on yourself and surrender? Maybe then we'll spare your beloveds."

My worry for Drayce grew, knowing he was alone and likely in danger, too. We had to get to him.

"Andriel." I sent a telepathic message to him. "I'll lure them as far from here as possible. You break through the vines and get to Drayce."

Andriel's eyes widened. "No, that's a suicide mission. You can't take them all by yourself."

"I don't plan to. Just help Drayce, then find me. I'd say get back to the den for reinforcements, but I don't want to risk them following you."

"Sera I—"

"We don't have a choice," I mentally growled. "As your princess and future queen, do as I say."

I hated being authoritative with him, but we needed to act fast. He needed to help Drayce. Reluctantly, he obliged.

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