Page 86 of Sworn to Revenge
“Well, I’ll admit, I didn’t see that coming,” the man in front of us chuckles as his gaze meets Pedro’s arm. “The capo’s brother is a freak too? Looks like the bastard didn’t tell us everything after all...” He sneers at Miguel, delivering a sharp kick to his thigh, causing him to collapse onto his knees in the sand.
“What do you want?” Alin repeats, her voice louder, more forceful.“If you think that’s going to save you, you’re wrong. I hope you’ve got a better bargaining chip,” she taunts. Does she have a plan? Or is she trying to draw information from him?
Within seconds, all the men behind him are gasping for air, collapsing to the ground as their guns fall into the sand. They clutch their throats, struggling to breathe. I can’t help but smirk with pride.
Told you, you could trust Alin.
The burning in my chest eases slightly, the dragon’s rage subsiding for now. But the reprieve is short-lived.
“You think I didn’t come prepared? I may not be a freak like you, but I’m not letting you have the last laugh. I’m here to get Mariana back. Where is she?” he demands impatiently, unfazed by Alin’s display of power.
Alin’s laughter rings out, sharp and mocking.“Seems like she’s got something magical between her legs, with all these men chasing after her lately.”
Pedro chuckles at her. “Looks like our family’s really rubbed off on you with that mouth of yours.”
“No, she’s always been like that,” I chime in with a laugh, and Alin waves us off dismissively, her free hand still holding the men at the brink of unconsciousness.
Something’s wrong.The dragon’s voice returns, burning through me.
“Something’s wrong,” I repeat,my heart races now. Maybe they really did come with a plan?
My heart pounds in my ears. My skin feels too tight. The air grows heavy, oppressive, as though it knows what’s coming.
“Where’s Mariana?” The man’s voice rises, snapping like a whip. “I won’t ask again!”
Alin doesn’t flinch. Her triumphant smirk only deepens as she reaches out, yanking Miguel’s limp body toward us with a flick of her wrist. The force sends the men holding him crashing face-first into the sand.
“Bay, take care of him,” she commands, placing Miguel’s body gently next to me on the sand.
My hands tremble as I tug the black cloth from his mouth, my breath catching when I see the extent of his injuries. Blood seeps into the sand beneath him, stark against the pale grains.
“I have to get you into the water,” I tell him. He won’t survive much longer if I don’t.
Miguel’s eyes, dull with pain, meet mine. Tears glisten on his cheeks. “I don’t deserve it,” he whispers hoarsely. “I told them everything, Bay. They—they got it out of me. I’m sorry.”
A lump rises in my throat. The memories flood in—us as young merlings, getting into trouble, laughing until we couldn’t hold our tails. How did it come to this?
“Shut up,” I choke out, my voice shaking. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, you need to—”
The familiar burn flares in my chest, searing and relentless. I gasp, clutching at the mark as the dragon’s growl reverberates through me.
There are more people. A lot more people. We’re surrounded.The dragon’s growl warns me, and I immediately raise my gaze to scan the area around us. I can’t see anything between the rocks from this position.How many people? Are they advancing toward us?
“Alin, be careful. He really does have a plan,” I tell her, and she raises an eyebrow at me in question. The men who had their weapons aimed at us are already unconscious on the sand.
“Listen to your precious cousin. At least one of you has a brain,” the man sneers at Alin. “Don’t test me. Where’s Mariana?”
“She’s long gone, but I’ll make sure you join her. Oh, wait…” Alin tilts her head, a mocking grin playing on her lips. “My dear cousin here made sure her soul wouldn’t even make it to the afterlife. Sorry—looks like you’ll have to go alone.”
Alin, this isn’t the time!I feel the pressure of the dragon in my chest, and I know something is very wrong.
She reaches out toward the four men still standing in front of us, and within moments, they’re gasping for air just like the others were.
“N... now!” The man manages to command through his labored breaths, and before I can understand what’s happening, Miguel’s body collapses on top of me, knocking me flat on my back in the sand.
“They have some kind of a disabling drug. That’s how they caught me,” Miguel rasps, “Are you okay?” he asks, and I manage to turn my head to the side, noticing the metal dart embedded in his shoulder. I struggle a bit to move his body, which pins me to the ground, but stop when I see the man in front of us advancing on Alin with a victorious grin.
“If you killed Mariana, you’re the one who’s going to join her.”
