Page 69 of Dragon Unleashed

Clawing my way under the fence, the pocket on my stupidly thin jacket catches and I have to jiggle blindly until I get free. Standing slowly, I pull my hood down low over my face. I’m in.

I run, hunched over, toward the hulking warehouse. Pressing my back to the wall I creep to the corner of the building. Peeking around it, I find heavily armed guards in full paramilitary kit standing, casually chatting with each other, arms resting on the guns slung across their chests. Shit. The area is bathed in floodlight bright enough to turn a troll to stone.

I chew my lip and eye up the distance. Twitching my fingers, I send fireballs at each of the lights in quick succession. Sparks explode into the night sky, raining down onto the concrete just as everything goes dark.

The guards shout and start running. They search the ground with large, measured sweeps of their flashlights. Not ideal. I duck around the corner and into the closest doorway. Tucking myself behind the doorpost, I stop. Nothing. No shouts, no footsteps sprinting toward me. Letting out a shaky breath, I look around the dim interior.

In front of me is a jeep, and behind it, deeper in the shed, a truck. I sneak forward, desperately trying to make out the decalon the side. That’s it! That’s the logo from the mine. Shaking with adrenaline, I whip out my phone, taking photos of the vehicle and its registration plate. The back door sits propped slightly open.We’re getting somewhere.I creep toward it, deeper into the shed, glancing over my shoulder.

A low snarl emanates from the darkness, and I freeze. A muscular black dog with unnaturally red eyes prowls toward me, teeth bared. My heart hammers. It takes a full half second to persuade my muscles to move, then I bolt for the exit, the dog snapping at my heels.

My foot slips and I fly, arms outstretched, landing on the concrete with a sickening crack. Air rushes out of my lungs. The dog’s feet pound toward me. Rolling over, I throw my arms in front of my face. The snap of teeth is mere inches away when the dog yelps. It jerks to a stop so close I feel its hot breath on my ankle.

It’s on a chain. Thank the goddesses.I scramble to my feet, boots sliding on the oily floor.

“Oi! You there, stop!”

I’m already moving, pounding down the outside of the warehouse, toward the gap in the fence. Toward freedom. A metallic crack echoes off the building closest, and a shock wave booms across the yard.

Gunshot. Magic-laced gunshot. Keep freaking running.

Throwing myself down in the dirt, I scramble under the fence, digging at the ground with the tips of my fingers, easing myself forward. The yelling closes in, and I scrabble frantically. My clothing catches, dragging me to a stop. I strain wildly against the resistance and my jacket rips. For a second, I’m free. One wiggle forward and it jams again. Hell. The footsteps get louder, and flashlights flicker back and forth in my peripheral vision.Not much time.I wriggle my arms out of my coat and squirm forward.

Free.

I bolt toward the nearest alleyway as another shot rings out. Too close. I weave side to side, then, hitting a junction, sprint toward the sound of chatter and vehicles.

By the time I get to the busier streets I’m sure I’ve lost them.

Someone grabs my arm, and I’m spun around.

“You okay, doll?” A hooker in six-inch platforms studies my face.

My hair is falling out of my ponytail, billowing in the wind, and I’m streaked with mud. Worse, I’ve torn my top trying to escape and half my bra is on show to the world.

I give her a shaky nod and keep moving. This is not somewhere to stop half-dressed. Not unless you’re doing her job. I clutch my shirt together and start to jog, pushing my tired muscles to keep moving.

A pair of boots bar my way and I jerk my gaze up from the pavement. A man leers at me. A security guard. I sidestep the guy, praying he doesn’t recognize me, but he matches my movements.

“Hold up now, little girl. Let’s get a look at you,” he croons, swinging his gun to the side.

I turn but two more military assholes are behind me. These two are younger, leaner, with a mean glint in their eyes. One smiles, revealing a missing front tooth.

“You got a ways away from the compound, lovely. Best behave now. Boss isn’t here to make sure you don’t get damaged before we drag you back.”

Hell. They know exactly who I am, where I’ve been. He reaches for me, but I duck under his arm. The second guy lunges, grabbing my wrist. I panic. Pulling my knife out, I thrust it into his chest, up under the rib cage, and twist. Just like Silas taught me. He gives a burbled shout, releasing his grip.One down.

Pain explodes in my head, my ears ring, and my vision fades. I struggle to hold on to my thoughts, only vaguely aware I’ve hit the ground.

I fight my eyes open as I’m yanked upright. Blinking, the street floats into a grainy focus. My back rests against cold, gritty concrete and stale breath wafts against my ear.Someoneis holding me up. I wriggle, trying to free myself, but my hands are immobilized, tied. A gruff chuckle, far too close, makes me strain away. I screw my eyes tight shut for a moment. This time when I open them an ugly face floats into view.

A fat, sweaty hand pats my face. I can’t move, I can’t breathe. In desperation I reach deep inside, and tug on my allegiance bond.

Nothing.

A hollow empty space sits in my chest where their power should be.

The man releases my chin, and my head drops forward onto my chest, my ears ringing. It’s as if I’m very far away, watching what’s about to happen.

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