Page 172 of The Bond That Burns

The dragon inhaled, her chest expanding. I knew what was coming next.

“Kage! Move!” I bellowed, diving to lay flat on the ground just in front of the dragon’s paws.

The wolf sprang to the side just as a column of golden flame erupted from Molindra’s jaws.

Marcus had rolled away, barely avoiding the flames himself. Now he staggered to his feet and made a mad dash towards the dragon.

“Shit,” I hissed as I watched Marcus begin to scramble up onto the Luminthar’s back. Catherine was already perched above me, feeding the massive beast her commands. I saw Lunaya reach down to help Marcus climb, her movements slow, almost mechanical. What the hell had they done to that girl? Was there anything left of the real Lunaya Orphos even in there?

I glanced around, realizing what they must have planned. This was bad. Very bad.

“Tanaka,” I yelled. “We can’t let them take off.”

Kage, still in the wolf form, gave his fur a shake and growled, his eyes locking on Marcus and Catherine. The flames had singed him, but he seemed more furious than hurt.

I turned and sprinted towards Rodriguez who had crawled over to a column and sat slumped against it, clutching his wounded shoulder and looking as if he was about to pass out.

“We need to move,” I said, grabbing him beneath the arms.

His head lolled slightly. “Molindra,” he rasped. “She’s...”

“She’s still fucking dead. That’s what she is,” I said grimly. “But somehow she’s back. And I doubt we can take her down now.”

I glanced over at Nyxaris. I knew Rodriguez had shot the black dragon with some kind of a toxin so he couldn’t fly away. But it wouldn’t last forever. Surely it must be wearing off by now.

“Theo!” I yelled across the courtyard, to where he stood beside Pendragon, who sat on the ground, cradling Florence Shen’s head in her arms. I knew Pendragon wouldn’t want to leave Nyxaris. But she had to. “Get them out of here! Get them somewhere safe!”

I watched as he said something to Pendragon and bent down as if to lift up Florence. But even as they started to pull back, the courtyard erupted into chaos again.

Molindra roared, the sound sending the cloister pillars trembling. The corrupted Luminthar spread her wings wide, blowing aside fragments of stone. She turned her head towards Nyxaris, who was still crouched on the other side near Pendragon.

His massive body still seemed sluggish as he tried to rise and lift his wings.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

Nyxaris was helpless and we were responsible.

We’d done this. Rodriguez, Tanaka, and I. We’d sabotaged our only chance of stopping Molindra. I glanced at Pendragon, wondering if she’d figured out the part I’d played in all of this yet.

I’d let Rodriguez convince me I was helping her, protecting her. But the truth was, I knew she would never have wanted me to make the choice that I had. Because keeping her life wasn’t worth it. Not if it meant harming Nyxaris. And deep down, I guess I’d known that all along. Now Florence was wounded and that was my fault, too. The girl would never have been here if she hadn’t been following Pendragon.

I’d been stupid, selfish, and I’d made the worst mistake of my life.

Again.

CHAPTER 44 - MEDRA

Florence’s breathing was too slow. Too shallow. Each rise and fall of her chest was fainter than the last.

“No, no, no,” I whispered, keeping my hands pressed against the wound in her chest. Blood slicked my palms, hot and persistent. “Stay with me, Florence. Please. Just keep breathing. You’re all right. You’re going to be all right.”

But even as I repeated the words, doubt clawed at me. Her face was pale, her eyes closed.

Panic surged, sharp and cruel. I was losing her.

How is the fledgling?Nyxaris’s resonant voice was laced with something uncharacteristic.

Not doing so well,I said shortly. I tried to keep the tears from my voice.

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