Page 141 of Kingdom of Chaos
The careful control. The restraint. The secrets and misdirection.
He’s been hiding this his whole life. Not just from me, but from everyone.
Because being an ice dragon, a creature of legend, of power so rare it was hunted to extinction, means he’s always been a target. A threat.
A secret that could cost him everything.
And now he’s here. Not running from it, but becoming it.
For me.
I should be doing . . . something, I know I should, but all I can do is breathe, tremble, and stare as he lowers his massive head, those familiar blue-gray eyes locked on mine with a silent promise.
A slow, strangled sound escapes me, a half-sob, half-laugh, as my fingers twitch against the frost-dusted grass.
It’s really Talon, and he just saved my life.
I struggle to my feet shakily, but still able to stand. Before I can say anything, movement explodes from the tree line.
Becks, bloodied and out of breath, bursts into the clearing, his voice hoarse and raw with desperation. “We found her! They have Ensley. We need help. Now!”
He catches sight of Talon, and for a second he falters. Even from a distance I see his breath hitch; a wild, stunned look flashes across his face as he stares up at the enormous dragon towering over me.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” he mutters under his breath when he reaches us, disbelief warring with awe, but it’s gone as quickly as it came, swallowed by urgency. “No time. They demolished the Order forces in minutes. Titus is holding them off, but he won’t last much longer!” He wipes at blood streaking down his temple.
I hear more shouts and we snap our heads to the side to catch Imogen, Kade, Ares, and the others running at us from the direction Talon burst into the clearing, weapons drawn, their faces a mix of determination and awe.
Kerrim, I realize, is gone, having vanished into the trees to regroup. But there’s no time to dwell on that now.
Before the others reach us, Talon’s massive form stiffens, and with a low, guttural rumble that rattles the air, frost explodes outward in a shimmering burst, and in the blink of an eye he’s standing in front of me, back in his usual form, chest heaving, dark hair tousled and damp with sweat. His eyes glint with residual power. Steam curls off his skin where the frost lingers.
It’s as impressive as it is intimidating, but I’ve run out of time awing over Talon’s creature magic.
Talon’s gaze sweeps over me with a sharpness that steals my breath, checking for wounds and mentally cataloging each one he finds. He reaches out, his fingers brushing lightly over my shoulder, like he’s assuring himself that I’m still standing.
“You okay?” he murmurs, voice low and rough, and it’s not a question so much as a desperate need for confirmation.
A faint shimmer of cold trails wherever his hand touches me, but his touch is careful, like he’s afraid of breaking me.
I nod, chest tight. “Yeah. I’m okay.” But we both know there’s no time to worry about me. Not when I’m still standing and Ensley’s life, and so much more, is hanging in the balance.
“Where is she?” I ask Becks just as the others rush up behind him.
Kade glances between Talon and the frost-slicked ground, his expression sharpening with cold calculation. “Would have been nice to know about this before the attack.”
“You’re telling me,” Imogen says, staring at her cousin like she’s never seen him before.
“Doesn’t matter right now,” Becks snaps, voice tight with urgency. “We have to get to Ensley.”
In short, clipped bursts, Becks relays what he knows. Titus is holding the line, fighting to keep Kerrim’s forces at bay while they hold Ensley hostage. There are too many of them. Powerful creatures who strike down anyone who gets too close. And the Order? They’re barely holding on. All over the park, our forces are being overwhelmed.
Kade doesn’t waste a second. He turns, voice sharp and commanding as he barks orders, sending Ares and the bulk of the Order to reinforce their outmatched fighters. Then, without hesitation, he faces us, his expression grim. “I’m coming with you. Let’s move.”
With a grateful nod, Becks starts back toward where he entered the clearing. When I go to follow, Talon grabs my hand, stopping me.
His gaze cuts to mine, sharp and urgent. “Do you have enough left to do this?” he asks, knowing that I’m waning but letting me make the decision.
I nod once, breath catching, my body aching but my resolve steel-strong.
