Page 112 of Centaur Bolt

Then a swirling liquid vortex sucked us in, and flung us against jagged rocks. Marcus slammed into it shoulder first—it drove the air right out of his big equine body, and would have jarred me loose if it weren’t for Havoc’s arms of steel gripping the saddle horn.

I wanted to know where the cliff was, but I was too busy choking on water to ask. And then we crested a rapid, and I caught a glimpse of what lay ahead.

Bloody tricky Dragon. The riverwasthe cliff.

I wound my fists deep into Marcus’s mane. The Dragon put both his arms around me, gripping the saddle horn as the river dropped from beneath us.

I couldn’t suppress a scream as we went over. Red wings spread above us, thrashing madly against both air and water. The arms around me thickened, the fingers sprouting talons that curled beneath the front of the saddle and held on.

For a moment, I didn’t think it was going to work. That the water would suck us all in, and smash us against the rocks far below.

But then, with a sharp “crack”, the Dragon’s wings grabbed the air, and hauled us clear.

Clear of the river. Safe from the Dires and any Bellatis. But now, the Dragons swooped down on us. And a net stretched between them.

Havoc banked abruptly and then dove, heading for the forest along the rushing river far below. The ground rushed up at us, and at the last second, he braked. Just enough to keep us from dying as he released us onto the stony shore.

I lost my grip and was sent flying as we rolled and bounced along it. With the breath driven from me, I lay on the stones and looked up to see the giant red Dragon crash into a foe. And shred him. Bits and pieces flew everywhere.

I wanted to help, but I shook all over. I couldn’t even help myself, not like this.

“Rileey!” Marcus limped over to me. Blood ran down one equine shoulder.

“You’re hurt!”

“Neveer mind.” He butted me with his head and dropped to his knees. “Geet on!”

I couldn’t help Havoc. And his sacrifice meant nothing if we didn’t keep moving.

I climbed into the saddle.

36

Havoc

My Deranger and my Dragon were both screaming for blood. But not for the usual fucking reasons.

They wanted to protecther. The bitch that had started all this by leading the pinions straight to us. It enraged my human. That they would want to sacrifice it all to protect her. But there it was.

No time to debate it. I fed all my rage into my teeth and talons, and let the Deranger loose.

It was keen to comply. Five of Brock’s pinions came at me, shooting me with darts. The blasted things were designed to penetrate Dragon scales, and they did. But my inner monster shrugged them off as though they didn’t exist.

And then it went for ‘em.

They tried to tangle me in their fool net. Almost managed it when one of them came at me from above while I battled with another that I knew personally. Had fought alongside him.

I buried my teeth in his throat, and ripped it out. And then flew straight into the net to attack the pinion wielding it. Shredded his wing, but he wouldn’t have to worry about falling. I wrapped talons around his muzzle, and broke his neck. The Bellati riding him shoved his horn sword into my chest up to the hilt. I tore it free and beheaded him with a single swipe.

Time became a blur of random images and flying blood. Each death coursed pure energy into me, pouring into the emptiness within, filling me with an exhilaration that spurred me onward.

Until, finally, I flew alone. Brock would send more after me. But for now, I had time.

I banked toward a mountain and found a ledge to sit upon. Pulled my raw and bleeding form back into the lengthening shadows, and made a grab for control.

Because they would come. As powerful as I was, I couldn’t fight them all.

My monster wanted to. The deaths of five Dragons and their Bellati riders were not enough. It wanted to feed until it was engorged.

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