Page 91 of Chained

And I finally understand why he had no option but to fight.

And why Maxym had to do what he has just done. Leave me behind to finish this.

But it doesn’t make it hurt any less.

MAXYM

The last thing I want to do is shut down the thoughtbond. I love hearing my Cleo’s thoughts. Her softness blunts my edges and makes me a better Gryn.

But I’m doing this for her, I tell myself over and over as I put on the helmet and I rise into the clouds of smoke billowing over Tatatunga. I’m protecting her.

I am not abandoning her.

A huge body slides through the air next to me, a ball of flame bursting from it as I twist and dance to avoid being fried.

“What is this?” a voice booms. “A Gryn? I thought you were all dead.”

“I am very much alive, and if you don’t stop attempting to cook me, you will not be.”

A deep chuckle resonates as a head pokes out into the small patch of clear air around me. Deep green, his eyes glitter like the fire he produces. In a flash, it’s gone again, and I feel the down draft of powerful wings.

But the Sarkarnii, as fast as they may be in the air—their size works against them. I am nimble, and I am much quicker, so when he attempts to grab me, I easily avoid his grasping claws.

“Vrex it! I’m on your side, you vrexer!” I grind out. “Prince Baronn is trying to get hold of your leader, Draco. We have the info cubes.”

“Draco is busy killing some Bogarok.” A new voice joins in, and a second shadow flows through the clouds, and I see a flash of blue scales. “Who is this Prince Baronn?”

“A Remek prince. He called you here.”

I beat my wings hard to get higher, to get above the Sarkarnii and out of their reach until I can be sure they are here to assist and not take the info cubes for themselves.

“I need to speak to Draco,” I insist.

I know Sylas had some contact with the Sarkarnii, but I mostly left it to him. Given my status within the dome, it wasn’t always wise for me to be seen around species which can devastate a planet…and have a reputation for doing so.

A richly deserved reputation given how much of Tatatunga seems to be in flames.

“What do you say, brother?” The green Sarkarnii comes up behind me while the blue one comes from the front. “I’d hate to be the Sarkarnii who ate the last Gryn.”

His jaws snap at me, and I spin away, folding up my wings and dropping fast towards the ground. There’s no way I can beat the huge scaly vrexers, but I can use my size compared to theirs as an advantage. Jinking around a building I slam into something even bigger.

And gold.

My sword is already in my hand, ready to deal with the Sarkarnii, if he is also going to be hostile. Only I am presented with a biped stalking out of the gloom towards me.

“A Gryn.” He looks me up and down with interest. “A species which has gone from being a myth to being seemingly everywhere I look.”

“I’m looking for Draco, so unless you know where he is, get out of my way,” I snarl, my patience with the creatures at an end.

Behind me, there is the sound of masonry falling and two thumps which shake the ground.

“You’ve found him, Gryn.” The green Sarkarnii walks past me.

If I thought I was a large gladiator, he is even bigger. But I’ve fought all sizes and shapes in the arena. He is no contest.

“This is our brother Draco.” The second blue Sarkarnii ambles past, picking at his teeth.

The gold Sarkarnii folds his arms. “Where is Prince Baronn?”

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