Page 51 of Samuel
“No, we can’t!” I shouted back, my breath ragged. “The bullets aren’t working! It’s after me. I can lead it away, buy you some time. Samuel will come for me.”
It was a lie. I wasn’t sure if Samuel could sense my fear, my distress.
I wasn’t even sure how the mating bond really worked.
I knew distance affected it—Samuel had told me that much—but what if he was too far?
What if he couldn’t feel my terror as I faced down a dragon that wanted me dead?
But Finn didn’t need to know that.
Finn’s expression wavered, but I could see he was starting to believe me.
Another roar shook the ground, and we both stumbled as the dragon smashed its tail into a nearby tree, sending splinters flying.
We couldn’t keep this up. I had to convince him.
“I’ll be fine,” I insisted, meeting Finn’s gaze with as much calm as I could muster. “Samuel will sense what’s happening. He’ll come for me. But you need to go now.Please.”
Finn clenched his jaw, glancing between me and the dragon.
Finally, he gave a sharp nod, though I could see the reluctance in his eyes.
“You better be right about this, Blake,” he muttered.
“I will be,” I lied again. “Now go!”
With one last look, Finn took off into the trees, his figure vanishing into the shadows.
My heart clenched, knowing I’d just sent my cousin running for his life. I had to trust that he would make it.
But now, it was just me and the dragon.
The beast’s eyes snapped back to me, and I felt a cold dread settle in my gut.
My legs were already moving before I could think, sprinting through the trees, weaving between branches and trunks as the dragon thundered after me.
The ground trembled beneath its massive weight, and I could feel the heat of its breath at my back.
It was so fast—too fast for something so enormous.
I barely dodged as another blast of fire scorched the earth beside me.
The heat was unbearable, singeing my skin even though I wasn’t hit directly.
My lungs burned as I forced myself to run faster, pushing through the fear that threatened to consume me.
Samuel, please.Please feel this. Please come.
But the bond felt distant, stretched thin across the miles. I wasn’t even sure if Samuel could sense me anymore.
The thought of being truly alone out here, hunted by this beast, sent a fresh wave of panic through me.
I couldn’t rely on anyone but myself now.
I dove behind a large boulder just as the dragon’s claws raked the ground where I’d been moments before.
My chest heaved, and I pressed myself against the stone, trying to catch my breath.
