Page 66 of Killian
“Use your rock,” Killian shouted at Kaedan above the dragon roars and screams.
“Go,” Kaedan ordered, ripping his own copper container from his cloak.
Killian raced to the cottage opposite Filbert’s. Pulling the door open, he motioned toward it with his hands.
“Get inside,” Killian coaxed a trio of children trembling and clutching each other. His heart pounding with fear, Killian forced himself to ignore the fight above his head. The air was growing heavier with smoke and, with it, the surrounding chaos.
On the other side of the town, Killian could barely see Chander and his sentinels. They were doing what they could to help the folks of Renata. The Grand Warlock had his feet planted and was cutting through the smoldering sky with gold beams of light.
Thankful Renata was not a large encampment, Killian shut off his mind. He could deal with the danger Dravyn was putting himself in later. It was imperative he remain in control and do his duty as Killian the Dwyer. Unwilling to be slowed by his heavy cloak, Killian tore it off. It fluttered to the ground behind him as he raced barefoot to the next group of terrified people.
It did not matter which cottage belonged to whom. Killian wanted everyone indoors. The screams died down. With no thought to the magick he was using, Killian covered cottage aftercottage with a protective spell while Kaedan tried to aid Dravyn in subduing the beast above their heads. The trees swayed in his direction, and he pleaded with his leafy friends to safeguard the horrified people.
If he’d had the time, he would have commanded a tree to grow large enough to shield his mate too. Out of breath thanks to his exertions, Killian dared not stop to think. But once he ran out of villagers, his eyes betrayed him and lifted to the sky. The dragons were swiping each other with tails, wings, and claws as they battled.
They were too far off for Killian to know what injuries they had both suffered, but his heart ached for Dravyn anyway. With panic in his soul, Killian ran to Kaedan’s side.
“My magick is doing nothing to slow this damn beast,” Kaedan complained with a snarl as Chander and his sentinels skidded to a halt on the Grand Warlock’s other side.
“That is all the villagers,” Killian said.
“Can you beg your mate to land?” Kaedan asked. “Perhaps we can scare the dragon off?”
“How could I even get him to hear me?” Killian demanded as a dragon above them roared so loudly the ground trembled.
“If they fly lower, we could jump up there and kill the dragon,” Baxter said, his cloak vanishing. He grabbed his daggers from where they floated at his sides.
Benton mirrored his mate’s actions. “Or we meld into the shadows and teleport to the beast’s back to slit its throat.”
Dravyn and the ugly brown beast collided in midair and rolled together as they fought furiously.
“That may not be possible,” Killian muttered. He swallowed thickly and wondered how to get everyone out of their current predicament. With no casualties except for the uninvited beast who’d shown up to harm the residents of Renata.
“Enough of this,” Chander snapped, ripping his cloak off and hurling it to the ground. Snatching his daggers from their holster, he shook his wings out. Nothing Chander wore inhibited him from displaying the gorgeous appendages—he had slits cut in every tunic.
“Chand, what are you doing?” Baxter demanded.
Ignoring the sentinel, Chander flapped his wings and, with a gigantic leap upward, barreled through the sky like a thick black arrow.
“I will kill him,” Kaedan roared, switching from aiming magical streaks at the marauding dragon to swirls of healing in Chander’s direction.
They watched in horror as Chander flew high. As quick as a whip, he dove toward the dragon. Dravyn reared back to blow fire into the dragon’s face. Chander took advantage of the distance and twirled through the air. His black daggers moved so fast Killian lost sight of them.
But his aim was deadly. The dragon slammed into the dirt and morphed into his human form as death claimed him just past the village. Dust kicked into the air, and Killian coughed.
“Kaedan,” Chander yelled as he followed the dragon to the ground at a much more sedate pace. “I am unhurt. Stop trying to heal me, it stings.”
“You may not be hurt yet, but you will be heavily wounded in a moment,” Kaedan shouted. “Have you lost your wits? You could have died.”
“No, it was Killian’s mate I worried about. I can care for myself.”
Uninterested in a fiery argument between the two strong-willed men, Killian ran to Dravyn as he landed softly some feet away. Relieved, Killian leaned his forehead against the smooth scales beneath one of Dravyn’s large green eyes.
“You scared me,” Killian whispered.
“I will deal with you later, Chand,” Kaedan yelled behind him as he rushed to Killian and Dravyn. “Is your mate hurt?”
Killian’s magick was already searching every inch of Dravyn’s big beast and finding nothing but minor scrapes, which he quickly mended. Knowing Dravyn was fine did nothing to stop the mighty pounding of Killian’s poor heart.
