Page 87 of Don't Fae With Dragons

Then he sets me down, kisses my forehead, and sprints out the front door. I cry out to stop him, but he doesn’t so much as turn around to acknowledge me.

Port and Max hold me tightly as I watch Cory shift into his full dragon form through the windows, and I scream for them to let me go. Port’s hands fall off me in shock, but Max holds me tighter.

“He’s going to take care of it, Mili,” he says softly.

“No!” I scream. “I can’t –what’s he going to do to him?”

Port and Max glance at each other, and I elbow Max as hard as I can to get him to let me go. He doesn’t completely release me, but he loosens his grip enough in his shock that I’m able to leap away from him.

“Stop!” I shout. Max and Port exchange a wary look, debating whether I’ll take off without warning. I huff to get my breath back before trying to explain. “I can’t forgive Kar, and I never will, but it’s possible he can be changed. At least we could exile him, forbid him from returning to Ethelinda.”

Port walks to me, and I barely stop myself from pulling back from him. “We can’t guarantee that you’d be safe, Mili.”

I shake my head and say, voice firm, “We must show mercy. That’s what I’ve always been taught, and it’s all I believe. I can’t let that go. I can’t.”

Max puts a hand on Port’s arm, and Port sighs as he steps back from me. Max’s gaze is searching, perhaps looking in vain for some way to understand my words. I stand firm, though, eyes flicking between Port and him.

“Please,” I plead. “We have to stop Cory. I won’t have anyone’s blood on my hands–Kar or otherwise.”

“You might not have that luxury, Mili,” Max mutters. “The White Warlock is too dangerous. He’s left Cory no choice.”

His words cut deep, but I force myself not to believe them. “Please, you must see the value in what I believe. I can’t allow violence to rule Ethelinda.”

After an uncertain glance at each other, Max and Port nod. The two of them step to embrace me briefly, and I sigh shakily and let their arms envelop me. A moment later, we take off flying through the woods to find Cory and the White Warlock.

–––

Cory has the wind to guide him, which I’m sure he’s already called upon, but I already know exactly where to go. With the two shifters following close behind me, I fly slowly through the trees and clearings, avoiding the patches of moonlight as best as I can.

When we arrive at the place Kar first fell from the sky, I see Cory and Kar are already there. Their voices filter over tome as I fly, and my breathing becomes ragged with panic at the sound of their heated conversation.

“Silly dragon, you’re just a glorified giant lizard, not a real man” the White Warlock hisses. “You haven’t the power to subdue the faery in the way she needs, the way she craves.”

I hear Cory snarl and lunge, but Kar simply laughs. Cory roars, “Do not even speak her name you pasty-white troll. You don’t deserve to have her name upon your lips.”

Kar snarls. “Oh? Well, Milica, Milica, Milica. Divine, isn’t she?” A flash of orange light blooms in the trees before me, and I hear Kar gasp with delight as Cory tries to set him aflame. “Can’t even hit me with a pillar of fire. Weak lizard boyboy. You’re no man, Cory. You play pretend, but you can’t fool me. I harness illusion –I see your lies.”

As he speaks, I hear Cory howling and lunging. The White Warlock’s voice comes from different angles with every sentence, as if he’s flickering in and out of his physical form.

Finally, I come upon the path where Cory and Kar are. Kar is dressed in a simple white robe with silver trim. His eyes are dark and hollow as ever, and the sight of him in his faux-royal garments sends a chill down my spine.

I look handsome, don’t I?His voice says inside my mind. I land on the ground, ignoring him entirely, and fold my wings up hastily as he grins at me. Max and Port immediately spread out, trying to gain some leverage over the fighting grounds.

Kar’s body disappears entirely as Cory sends a pillar of flame in his direction, and it reappears directly behind me. Iscream as his hands clamp down on my shoulders, and Cory whirls to face me.

“Careful, Corinthian,” Kar murmurs. “You wouldn’t want to hurt your precious one.”

Cory’s eyes widen with fury and agony at the sight of me in Kar’s clutches, and I try to sweep under Kar’s arms to escape his grasp. He vanishes from behind me and appears in front of me where I end up, and I’m suddenly struck with a vicious anger.

Turns out I’m not such a perfect pacifist, because I lash out, fingers outstretched like claws, and drag three horrible gashes down his face. Apparently, he anticipated an attack from Cory, but not from me, because his façade splinters into shock and disgust as he stumbles back.

“Wicked harlot!” he snarls.

I pant and grin viciously, determined to keep him focused on me as the three shifters move into a position to attack. “You look best when you’re bleeding,” I hiss.

At that, Kar barks out an evil laugh. “We all have our preferences, don’t we?” Then a flicker of excitement passes over his eyes, and he whirls to face Cory. “Did you know I made her come?”

Overcome with hatred, I scream and lunge for him again. He sidesteps my attack expertly, not even needing his illusion powers to evade me.

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