Page 83 of The Soul of the Dragon

An imp arrow.

“No!” My dragon roared inside my head and magic whipped through me. My bones broke, my skin burned, and the heat of fire consumed me.

Rage, so intense it overwhelmed all of my control. Fire shot from my entire body, ravaging the magic that protected all the dark creatures of this forest. The pressure on my throat released, but it was too late. With pure anguish driving him, the dragon took complete control.

Trees fell, creatures screamed, fire erupted everywhere, consuming everything in its path.

Now that we were free from that demonic hold, I fought against the dragon to give me control, but he would not relent. The pain we shared made it difficult to do anything but rage.

Mate. I practically screamed the word in my head hoping to get through.

I projected images of her beautiful face in my hands, her smile when she shot the first arrow from her bow, or the sultry expression on her face when she took my knot for the first time.

I wasn’t sure what did the trick, but when his body turned in search of Kitra, I knew I had him.

I have to be in control. We have to save her.

The dragon growled his displeasure, but the whimper behind it told me all I needed to know. A moment later magic washed over me, banking the fire from inside and allowing my body to return to my human form.

The second it was done, I ran to Kitra, falling in the dirt at her side. I tried to assess the damage, but it was impossible to tell.

“Did you just destroy the dark forest?” Her words gurgled from the blood seeping out of her mouth.

“I don’t know. Maybe.” I was going to have to get that arrow out of her to stop the leech of poison traveling through her body. “This is going to hurt,” I said as I grabbed the end and as gently and quickly as possible I pulled it free.

Her agonized cry ripped through my heart, and I knew it would forever more star in all of my nightmares.

“Isaac,” she mumbled almost unintelligibly.

“Stop trying to talk. You can say whatever you have to say later. Just shut up and let me try to heal you.” I was worried. My healing magic had only worked partially on me, and I knew next to nothing about her fae physiology. I only knew I had to do something.

Without her own magic, she would die.

A warm rumble sounded in my chest as I placed my hand over the wound and directed my magic into her. My need to help and protect my mate overwhelmed me. I would do anything to save her.Anything.

When the familiar tingle traveled through my fingertips, I thanked the Goddess for my mother and the gift of healing she’d passed on to her children. I’d taken it for granted more times than I could count, and I’d do anything to make it work one more time.

Please. There was no one in this world who’d made me feel this way. It didn’t matter that I’d only known her for a short time. It was enough. She wore her heart and her strength in a way that anyone could see them. It was no wonder the King had tried to break her. To have that love and power in your favor made your heart and magic soar, but to lose it…

I shook my head forcing my attention back to what needed to be done. Putting everything I had into healing my mate, I pushed images into her of the poison leaching from the wound. I then focused on her tiny body and the damage the arrow might have caused.

Her heartbeat slowed and I realized her most vital organ had been nicked by the blade. Anguish tore through me as I pushed everything I had into her, including my soul. Without her it was worthless. Fate had brought her into my life and quickly woven her into every aspect of my being.

For her to die now might be fitting punishment for my self absorbed behavior over the years, but it wasn’t remotely what she deserved.

The magic wound its way through her while I held my breath. I had every confidence this would work because there was no other choice. It. Would. Work.

By the time I was done, I slumped over her, pressing my ear to her chest. I didn’t need to be this close to hear the soft, steady beat of her heart, but it was what I wanted. However steady her breath, and the blood pulsing through her, she didn’t open her eyes.

“Wake up, little beast. I need to know you’re all right.” Her pulse quickened, but her eyes remained firmly closed. Despite the magic, her body needed more time.

Something I wasn’t sure we had. I glanced around, checking our surroundings for demons and other creatures. I didn’t see anything, but I didn’t trust that meant we were in the clear.

Imps hid everywhere and only made their presence known when it was to their liking.

Except at the palace.

We had to move. Being in the open like this left both of us vulnerable. I stood, scooping Kitra into my arms and started the rest of the trek to the castle. She had said we were close and I trusted her knowledge implicitly.

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