Page 76 of The Soul of the Dragon

“I hope you’re right,” Sprite said as she jumped from the low hanging tree-branch she sat on, and set her wings to flapping. “Follow me.”

When she didn’t take the path back to the falls, we both stopped and looked at each other. “Where the hell are you taking us, Sprite?”

“You? To hell if I have anything to say about it.”

Kitra sighed.“Can’t you just call her by name? A little kindness goes a long way.”

I snorted. “She’s a demon. What do they know about kindness? And you don’t seem to mind my using your nickname.”

“What the hell, Isaac? What has gotten into you this morning? She not only helped us get this far, but she provided us comfortable shelter for the last several days. How can you say that’s not kindness?”

“You’re too naive. I’m sure there’s a reason and it has nothing to do with her good heart.”

“Okaaaay,” Kitra sniffed. “The grump is officially back. Great.”

“Stop talking and get moving. We have to get there before the tide comes in,” Ensley interrupted.

“Tide? What nonsense are you spouting now? I thought we had to go back through the portal.”

When Kitra sent me another harsh glare, I sighed and relented. “Ensley,” I said through gritted teeth.

The imp didn’t stop or slow, she just kept moving in and out of the trees, following no path as she made her way to some unknown destination.

“I’m going to follow her.” Kitra took off after the little demon, and on an exasperated breath I did as well. I wasn’t going to let my mate walk into demon led danger without me to keep her safe. Wherever she needed to go I would follow.

“Let’s hope this way doesn’t lead to more of her kind and their poison darts. We need to stay alert,” I whispered to Kitra when I caught up with her.

“Are all dragons as paranoid as you?” Sprite suddenly stopped and turned back to us. “I think if I wanted either of you dead, it would have been done by now, don’t you think?”

She had a point, but I had no intention of admitting that. Instead, I let the dragon flash through my eyes and forced her back.

Kitra stepped between us, her back bravely to me. “Appease the dragon and tell us where we’re going? I trust you, but knowledge is as important as trust.”

The silence around us stretched and I was about to break it with a mind-bending roar. “Why bother helping us if you’re going to throw it all away now?”

Kitra whirled on me. “Shut up, Isaac. Seriously. Enough.”

Under the guidance of the end justifies the means, I held my tongue. But I began a tally for my little beast and all the punishment she had just earned. Later when I had her draped across my lap, my hand burning her ass, we’d see who would be the one giving out the orders and making demands.

Sprite laughed and I gritted my teeth and planned her demise when this was all over.

“There is another way back to the realm. It will drop you deeper into the dark forest, but it will at least give you a chance at making it back to the castle. Magnus and his King’s guard have set up a perimeter around the falls.”

“I thought they would have lost interest by now,” Kitra mused, her heart beginning to race.

“I guess the King is pretty determined to have his Princess.” She disliked when I called her that, but if her annoyance with me took away some of her fear, it was well worth it. Not to mention I liked her when she got feisty.

“I am not worth all of that.”

I didn’t agree and judging by the look on the imp’s face, it was safe to say she didn’t believe it either.

“You are worth everything and more. But I guess Ensley is correct. We need to get moving and finish this before it gets worse.”

A sly smile crossed the little demon’s face as she turned and continued her erratic path.

“I shudder to think of what would be worse,” Kitra murmured as she followed.

I didn’t want to voice my concerns, but there was no doubt in my mind our situation would get a lot worse. I only hoped that Kitra would one day forgive me for what I had to do.

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