Page 66 of Fae Exile

But Elowyn?—

In the end, those instincts, honed from a lifetime of training, won out, my body moving as if it had a will of its own, demanding self-preservation. I hit the floor hard and at an awkward angle, landing atop a high-heeled shoe, no doubt abandoned during the earthquake. The spiky heel wedged between two tiles and pointed upward to dig into my abdomen.

The dragon unleashed its fiery breath.

Dipping my head, I grunted, the fire hot enough to make sweat prickle along my skin. I dislodged the hazardous stiletto and crawled along my belly, my only goal to reach my mate.

The flame singed my back as I dragged myself over and across a fallen piece of ceiling.

“What are you doing, man?” West shouted at me. “Just wait.”

But an irrational desperation urged me onward. It wouldn’t allow me to stop until I held her in my arms.

The last time I’d gazed upon her beautiful face, she’d appeared dead by my hand.

I needed to feel her alive and well like I needed my next breath.

“It’s too dangerous, Drake,” Azariah cautioned as I slunk past his hiding place. “Come hide with me.”

“Rush,” Hiro called out. “The other dragons are on the move. I think they’re hunting you.”

That warning spurred me to go faster, but my destination didn’t change.

My tattoos were glowing brightly, lighting up all the way into my hands as I used them to claw my way across the many blockages. I was probably a freaking beacon to the dragons.

“No, Rush!” Elowyn screamed before she did the very worst thing she could have ever done.

She ran toward me and the stream of blazing fire that swiveled across the room in a wide arc.

My heart halted mid-beat, not daring to so much as unclench, as Elowyn drew to a stop beside the torrent of flames, so close the dragon could simply angle its head and engulf her in fire.

“El, no,” I wheezed, but she didn’t hear me over the loud crackling, hissing, and popping of the flames and whatever they had already set on fire. Sweat dripped down my forehead and along my nose to slide onto the floor.

As Saffron gripped her chest, she flung out her arms to either side, stared the blue dragon in the eyes, and did the one thing no sane person would ever, ever,everdo.

She bowed her head to the beast.

I sprang to my feet and ran at her, preparing to tackle her, flames crackling as I barreled through them. I had no idea whether or not I caught fire as I holstered my sword while I went.

I flicked a glance at her, the dragon, her again, and dashed for her.

She was within arm’s reach when the fire abruptly halted.

I skidded into her, sliding onto my knees, my legs dragging across sharp rocks as I pulled her down onto me, swiveling to shield her and the dragonling with my body.

But she slapped at my hold, and jumped from my arms, taking Saffron with her.

“Elowyn, nooooo,” I was in the process of bellowing when the words sputtered in my throat.

She was back to bowing to the beasts, exposing the vulnerable crown of her head to them.

My heart bolted up into my throat as I scrambled to regain my feet.

But as I reached out to her, the most unexpected thing happened.

From all the way across the room atop the throne, the blue dragon bowed its head to her.

23.I KNOW WHAT MUST BE DONE, SO I WILL DO IT

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