Page 36 of The Throne's Undoing

When he was only three yards away, Graeson put out a hand.

The dragon-wolf recoiled and snarled, its hot breath smacking Graeson's face.

Holding his ground, he pointed to the dagger. "I can help," he whispered gently.

With flared nostrils, the creature flexed its paws, and sharp, ivory claws dug into the dirt.

Most would have retreated then, but the creature couldn't heal if the dagger remained lodged in its wing. It couldn't fly or enjoy the freedom it only recently obtained access to.

As Graeson stood there, waiting for the animal to relax, unease washed over him. Despite his determination to provide aid, he wondered if some things could not be helped. Just as he was about to give up, the creature shifted, spreading out its injured wing for him to inspect it.

With a quick nod, Graeson slowly approached. His hand gently ran over the membranes of the wing. Outside of the wound, the beast looked healthy--or at least better than it hadthe first time Graeson had seen it a couple of weeks ago when he freed it.

The recent freedom had transformed it quickly, though, as if the mere taste of it was power enough. No longer captive and under the Frenzians' hold, the dragon-wolf looked like it could finally breathe, live, and flourish.

And yet, if today had gone differently or if there had been more soldiers, what would have happened? Would any of them have survived?

Humans will do anything to get what they want,the god inside whispered.

Or was it Graeson's voice,hiswords?

Because despite fighting it at every turn, Graeson was slowly realizing that the two were not so different. Both were monsters in their own right. The corpses across the field proved that.

Clearing his throat, he wrapped his fingers around the hilt of the dagger and pulled the blade out.

The animal screeched, loud enough to send any birds that remained in the nearby trees scurrying deeper into the forest. Even he had to wince, the sound piercing his ears.

Graeson stepped back, tossing the weapon onto the ground as he gave the animal a wide berth.

"How did it even find us?" Dani asked quietly as if afraid to disturb the animal.

"I have no idea," Graeson whispered.

The beast stretched its legs first, then spread its wings, testing them. A pained expression immediately crossed its face as the wounded wing twitched. With a frustrated huff, the animal crouched down, the muscles in its hind legs flexing as it prepared to take flight.

Graeson's stomach churned as he watched the animal struggle. The moment the dragon-wolf jumped and tried to move the wounded wing, compensating by flapping the otherwing more furiously, it crashed. A thick cloud of dirt flew into the air.

Graeson coughed and waved the cloud away, clearing his vision. The creature whined, curling its wings against its sides as it stared at the sky with agonized longing.

"What's wrong?" Medenia asked quietly, approaching.

Dani hissed at her, but Medenia waved her off.

"Its wing is too damaged," Graeson said. "I don't think it can fly."

The creature snapped its head in Graeson's direction, growling as it peeled its lip back over its teeth. Medenia hummed in acknowledgment and kneeled in front of the creature's head.

Graeson quickly stepped closer. "What are you doing?" he asked warily.

Medenia waved him off as she reached out her other hand.

Graeson glanced at Ellie, but she shook her head, holding up a finger for him to wait.

When the creature extended its head, Medenia caressed its cheek. With a soft smile, Medenia crooned, "You will fly again, little one."

"Little one?" Dani whispered.

Medenia ignored Dani and continued petting the dragon-wolf. "Would you like to travel with us?" she murmured.

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