Page 112 of Queen of Legends and Lies
He’s gone before I can respond.
“Be careful.” Sterling cups my chin, then tilts it toward him for a quick but passionate kiss. “I love you.”
Damn if this man can’t make me melt, even in the bleakest of times. “And I love you.”
I take his hand, and as one, we leap from the window. For a breathless instant, we’re suspended in the open air, with nothing but the wind beneath our feet and our hold on each other.
And then, we unfurl our wings and dive.
The ground rushes up to meet us with dizzying speed. Wind whips my hair into a frenzy and tears at my clothes. Beside me, Sterling’s expression hardens, his sword already drawn.
We hit the sand in the paddock hard, rolling to absorb the impact. In a heartbeat, we’re up again, charging toward the traitors.
I stop mere feet away from the three angry dragons. “Stand down!”
Celeste’s mocking laughter rings out. “You have no power here, little bird. These dragons answer to a new master.”
Kaida, the black dragon my sister rode to the Lost City, steps around the others, quivering with barely restrained violence.
And slung over his back like a sack of grain is a limp human figure.
With a tight throat, I take in the strong, weathered features, the dark hair streaked with gray around the temples, and the warm beige skin turning a grayish pallor. The grandfather I’ve only started to bond with.
Horror ices my blood. “What have you done to Eldor?”
Moise smiles, cold and cruel. “Insurance. The old man has knowledge we require. And should you attempt to stop us…well, I’m sure you can use your imagination.”
My grandfather stirs, blinking blearily. Our eyes meet, and I see pain and fear there.
But beneath that, I glimpse a steely glint of defiance. “Lark, don’t let them?—”
From her perch on Dame’s back, Celeste reaches over and smacks Kaida’s neck and yells. The dragon roars, lashing his tail, and the others follow suit. As one, they gather themselves and leap, claws gouging the earth.
I lunge forward, and Sterling matches me stride for stride. But it’s too late. The dragons are already airborne.
Taking my grandfather with them.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
“No!” I reach for my magic but stop. I don’t want to burn the dragons or Eldor to death. As for the others…
Sterling’s already in motion, his hands outstretched as he summons his power. Gleaming spikes shoot up from the ground, encircling the dragons flailing legs and thrashing tails. The ice twists and climbs, pulling the beasts back down to the earth.
Furious roars rend the air as the dragons rage. They buck and writhe, scales glinting in the afternoon sunlight.
Wings slam the air as they attempt to gain altitude. The traitorous riders scramble to stay mounted as their steeds fight against Sterling’s icy shackles.
With all four legs bound in the air, the dragons have to focus on staying upright so as not to hurt themselves. Their utterly helpless riders are tossed about in the struggle.
My stomach twists as I watch Dame and Chirean, the soon-to-be parents, controlled against their will. If Xenon’s minions enslave them and take them to Aclaris, what will happen to their precious unhatched eggs?
Xenon will imprison, torture, drug, and bleed my dragons to feed his plants, and I shudder to think about the fate of their unborn babies.
I can’t let any of them fall into his evil hands.
I won’t.
Chirean bellows a plume of flame, nearly unseating Serle with his vigorous attack.
