Page 89 of Mostly Shattered

His grip tightens on my arm as he pulls me with him. “Move!”

The air itself seems to pulse, trembling with each heartbeat. The deep, thrumming growl becomes louder. It’s low and drawn-out, almost like a breath that’s been held for centuries. It rattles my teeth.

We run into the darkness, driven by terror. Anthony blasts magic into the tunnel, lighting the way. We don’t make it far before the ground beneath us explodes. I feel my body tossed into the air. My limbs flail, and I scream.

Costin catches me against his chest. My stomach lurches as he speeds me into the darkness. I want to protest but no words come out. He sets me down.

“Keep running,” he orders.

I see the outline of his form heading back for Anthony. Suddenly, a geyser of molten fire shoots up from the platform, and for a moment, all I can see is blinding, searing light erasing the image of the men. Heat slams into me like a physical force, knocking me back, and I slide across the hard ground. The breath knocked from my lungs. My ears ring.

The ground shakes violently now, cracks splintering across the stone floor like a web. The temperature becomes unbearable, as if the very core of the earth has been ripped open. Lava oozes toward me like a river, glowing with the promise of orange death. I fight to get to my feet, stumbling backwardas I search for Costin and my brother. Stones shatter as the lava continues to push forth. And, beneath it all, the same low growl.

“Costin! Anthony!” I scream, unable to see them. “Where are you?”

They can’t be dead. Not now. Not after everything.

And then I see it. A looming shadow within the flames, massive and shifting, undulating as it glides with a slow, deliberate grace. My stomach drops, and terror claws its way up my spine, coiling tight around my throat.

Draakmar. The ancient dragon of fire.

At first, it’s just a silhouette—a hulking shape wreathed in flames. Then the fire recedes, pulled inward, drawn into the massive, black-scaled body that emerges from the molten depths. Lava peeks out from behind its scales as it moves, while huge, leathery wings unfold amongst the crackle of flames, sending sparks flying through the air. I watch in horrified awe as it ascends higher and higher, almost scraping the ceiling of the tunnels with its head.

“Anthony! Costin!” I yell, not knowing what to do. I have to find them.

Draakmar’s eyes open at the sound—two smoldering, molten embers that lock onto me. It’s like staring into the heart of a volcano, into something that doesn’t just breathe fire, butis fire. Every instinct in me screams to run. But I can’t move. I can’t breathe. I can only watch as the dragon’s lips curl back, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, each one glowing white hot. A thick, heavy smoke rolls from its nostrils. The ground beneath the dragon glows, molten lava spreading in rivers from his claws, burning everything in its path.

I can’t see Anthony or Costin.

I shake my head, not wanting to believe they’re gone.

“Tamara!” Costin grabs hold of me from behind. I scream in fright, startled by his sudden appearance. Blood stains his face and hands.

Before I can ask, Draakmar roars. The sound so deafening, so powerful, it’s like the very air is being ripped apart. The force of it slams into me, sending me staggering against Costin. I hear a pop and then nothing but the white noise of my ears buzzing. Dazed, I taste the blood flowing from my nose into my mouth. My head spins.

“Costin,” I say his name, but I can’t hear my voice. The heat of the fire follows us, licking at my back, searing the ends of my hair.

The vampire pushes himself up from the ground and takes hold of me. I feel myself tugged into action before he pulls me away from the dragon, breaking the spell that’s held me paralyzed.

Costin’s grip is ironclad, dragging me throughthe tunnels. The walls blur as we transport forward in small bursts. Each time we slow, I find my legs stumbling over the shaking ground as the dragon roars.

As we put distance between us and the dragon, I try to make him stop. I’m dizzy and nauseous. I try to say, “Anthony,” but I don’t know if my voice is working past the buzzing.

Costin pulls me again and I finally see my brother up ahead, running as fast as he can. Anthony’s arm is bloody, but he’s alive. My feet slip on the uneven ground as we slow.

“I got her!” Costin’s voice is distant and muffled as if I’m underwater.

We come to an opening in the wall where light shines into the tunnel. The sounds of the city come through from the other side.

Behind us, Draakmar moves slowly, like he’s testing the weight of his massive body after eternities of stillness. Falling debris in the tunnel slows our progress. The sound of crumbling stone fills the air, and the entire place trembles as if it’s going to collapse in on itself.

Anthony shoots magical fireballs at the creature. The defense only seems to anger the beast. Draakmar beats his wings as he surges forward.

“We can’t fight it,” Anthony shouts. My hearingis returning.

Heart pounding, I turn to Costin. “What do we do?”

“We get you to the troll,” Costin growls, lifting me off the ground and pushing me into the city. “Now.”

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