Page 77 of Enchanted Crown
“Not fast enough,” I groaned. “Esta is panicked. And also heading this way.”
I looked at Dex and he at me. I spun toward Nyx. “She isn’t listening to me. She isn’t using our bond to speak to me. Tell me she isn’t so panicked and blinded by her dragon urge to protect me that she’ll fly right into harm’s way.”
Nyx huffed smoke at me and responded,New bonds can take a while to get used to. Particularly strong ones. We had better get in the air. As soon as you feel her close.
I began trying to reason with Esta down the bond.Es. Please don’t fly straight into danger. I am safe with Dex and Nyx. We are waiting on the team.
I didn’t feel her slow down. I didn’t feel anything but her panic. It was so thick and consuming I didn’t know if she could even hear me around it.
Esta,I tried yet again.I am fine. Please wait for Malachi and the others. We will find whatever the threat is.
Again no response, but that wasn’t truly all that surprising.
She is coming with Zaire at least, not alone,Nyx sent me.But he says she’s furious. And not listening to him either.
I was feeling more panic than fury. And I guessed the secret of Zaire’s healing was out, but I was also just grateful she wasn’t flying alone.
Esta,I tried one last time as Dex got ready to mount Nyx.You are going to force us to get back into the air if you don’t slow down andwait for the others. Breathe. Think about this. With you and Zaire and the others, whatever threat is lurking doesn’t stand a chance.
I heard a roar in the distance I recognized as hers. My words somehow motivated her further rather than convinced her to wait.
“Let’s get back in the air, Keir,” Dex urged.
With a whoosh of Nyx’s wings, we circled away from where I had felt my magic flare. We weren’t in the air to find the threat first. We were in the air for back up.
Please fly further south,I asked of Esta as soon as she and Zaire became two dots in my line of vision.
But she did not veer from her flight. She was flying directly toward us, the area I felt the threat between us.
Esta,I snapped down the bond as she barreled closer. I feel your panic and fear. We will make them pay but do not put yourself at unnecessary risk.
Her answer was another roar as she swooped lower and flew faster than I had ever seen her fly before.
I took it to mean she did not care one bit about the risk to herself.
A glint of something airborne drew my attention off her momentarily. It was a spear, but this one was not like the other. It was flying far faster, far higher than the other had.
I immediately sent my power to stop it, but knew it’d be too late. It was flying too damn fast.
Her roar split the air as the spear struck her side.
It doubled me over in pain and blackened my vision. Her pain clogged my throat and thoughts simultaneously, blocking off even my airway with its acute sharpness. Because of all of those things combined, my wings were immediately out. Without thinking about it, I launched myself off Nyx and was moving as Esta tumbled toward the ground.
I flew like I had never flown before. Like I had grown up knowing exactly how to, instinct and fear took over.
Esta hurtled toward the ground, still alive, but in too much pain to use her wings. Instead, she reached around and grabbed at the spear with her teeth, pulling it out of her own body with a roar.
I saw Zaire move in to try to catch her at the same time I sent my magic out to save her. I had already used so much today, and she was so large in this form, would I truly have enough to save her? Would my Enchantment be enough?
And if it wasn’t, could I use hers? I could possibly catch her by flying to her, but only if she shifted.
“Get her to shift,” I yelled to Zaire as I pleaded down the bond,Shift!
I raced towards her, but she was falling so fast. Too fast.
Dammit you can ignore the bond later all you want, just shift!
I heard Nyx’s angry roar as I assumed he and Dex took off after whomever had done this.
