Page 35 of The Throne's Undoing

Graeson sprang to his feet, and from the corner of his eye, he spotted Medenia aim another blade. She threw the knife, but it was a second too late.

The soldier drove his dagger through the creature's large wing, piercing its membranes, right before Medenia's knife found its mark.

The dragon-wolf screeched, loud and ear-shattering, as it retracted its wing with the blade still lodged in its flesh.

Knowing the beast was now wounded, the third soldier ran harder as the dragon-wolf retreated several steps, hissing its displeasure.

Graeson ran, sliding past the dragon-wolf and cutting off the man. The color drained from the soldier's face, and Graeson didn't feel an ounce of guilt as he drove his blade through his stomach with a sickening squelch.

When Graeson turned around, he halted, a shout lodged in his throat as another soldier charged.

But this time, the creature was faster, and the man soon met the God of Death as his body was chomped in half by the beast's harrowing array of sharp teeth.

Struggling to catch his breath, Graeson quickly scanned the area. All around him was destruction.

The ground was littered with bodies and blood. But thankfully, and by the blessings of the gods, none of the corpses belonged to any of their entourage. He breathed a sigh of relief.

With the battle over, Ellie hurried to Medenia, checking for any wounds as the princess shoved her away. Sylvia knelt beside Terin, who was still knocked out, checking his head. Even Emmett had managed to stay alive, his dagger stained red.

He heard someone retching as Emmett asked, face drained of color, "What--what is that?"

The creature snarled, exposing fanged yellow teeth as it turned toward Emmett. It spread its wings, and the muscles in its legs flexed as it crouched as if readying to pounce.

"That," Dani said, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and pressing her stomach with the other, "would be the infamous dragon-puppy."

A sad smile twitched at the corner of Graeson's lip at the mention of the name Moris had given the wild creature.

"Fucking balls." Emmett gasped in horror and took a step back. "You all did not mention how terrifying it is."

Graeson observed the animal. Although its lip curled into a snarl, the creature did not move toward Emmett as everyone seemed to hold their breath.

The dragons of old,the god within said,were born with strong instincts.

Graeson wasn't sure if he trusted the god's assessment, but perhaps the dragon-wolf could tell friend from foe. Many animals could sniff out a human's intentions.

"As long as you don't piss it off, you'll be fine, Emmett," Graeson said warily.

He took a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped each blade clean before returning them to their sheaths on his back.

"I'm not too sure about that," Emmett remarked, his legs trembling. "It's staring at me like it wants to eat me." He swallowed, and his knuckles turned white around the hilt of the dagger as he glanced from the creature to Graeson.

The dragon-wolf's lip curled higher as it sniffed, its nostrils flaring. Even from yards away, Graeson could smell the scent of iron and decay on the creature's breath as it snarled. As Graeson cocked his head to the side, the animal flicked its blazing eyes toward him. He swallowed hard.

Perhaps he was wrong. Maybe the creature would kill them all.

But as he looked more closely, he noticed something else within the animal's expression:pain.

The animal shifted, and that's when Graeson saw it. Its right wing was curved closely to its body as if shielding it. A glint of metal flashed in the sunlight, and Graeson's eyes widened.

He cursed under his breath. The dagger was still stuck in its wing.

Tentatively, Graeson took a step forward, slowly but not as hesitantly as he had the first time when he freed the beast from its chains.

He heard Emmett gasp and whisper, "Are you insane? We just saw it slaughter those guys."

Graeson ignored him, though. He could sense the god watching from its cage, too. Not with fear but curiosity.

I told you,the god said,the dragons know when they are in danger.

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