Page 109 of Memories Like Fangs
“I… I don’t…” She rasped, her whisper a crackle and barely audible. Quinn swallowed heavily, struggling to speak.
Talk to me, Starlight. What’s wrong?I said in our thoughts to help her find some reprieve.
I don’t have… any strength. I feel so weak. It’s like… a pressure? Like, gravity is pulling me down. I can barely even… breathe…She struggled to even speak through our connection.
“It must be the enchantment’s magic,” Talli said from next to Cody and Maisie. “It must be affecting the hunters somehow.”
“So, it’s rejecting them?” Maisie questioned.
“Not quite rejecting. Even though they have good intentions being here, the enchantment’s barrier likely still perceives them as a threat because of their nature. It’s weighing on them. The magic here is heavy, old, and defensive. They’re outsiders, so it’s pressing down on their energy to pin them in place.”
“Are they going to be okay?” Simone cried out, her hands shaking. “Is this hurting them? Is there anything we can?—?”
Before I heard anyone respond to Simone, a strange shiver licked down the back of my neck, making the hairs stand straight up. My scales threatened to break through my very skin. Itwasn’t anything like the enchantment’s magic. This wasn’t heavy or crushing like how Quinn and her cousins were describing. No, Iknewthis was something else entirely.
Something is coming.
My dragon growled, low and feral, loud and mighty through every nerve ending, every breath in my chest, and every beat of my heart. It was enough to make my four fangs descend through my gritted teeth as I copied the noise.
Look up, she snarled urgently.
My head snapped up, eyes scanning the jagged teeth of the city horizon half-devoured by the slate-colored clouds. The silvery gloom over the streets had thickened while we were distracted, threatening rainfall at any moment. At first, there was nothing. My vision sharpened like a blade, my pupils slitting. It was then that I saw them, moving low through the gray cloud cover.
Small silhouettes on the horizon.
No. Not small.
Justfar.
But they were getting bigger.
They were dark and winged. Broad and fast. Their bodies sliced through the clouds. Flying with a precision and size that couldn’t possibly belong to birds.
Dragons.At least four. Furious, protective, and threatening.My dragon noted, coiling tighter.Must protect our mate. Must keep her safe.
“Shit,” I hissed under a shaky breath. My pulse roared in my ears. I tightened my grip around Quinn, trying to be mindful of my lengthening talons.
How long do you think we have?
Close and fast,my dragon snarled.Less than two minutes.
“Everyone! We have dragons incoming!Fucking fast!” I roared, my voice cutting through the air like a knife.
“What?!” Talli shouted, already halfway to her feet. “How many?!”
“Enough to be aproblem, that’s for sure!” I answered, gently hoisting Quinn to her feet using my supernatural strength. She still released a pained groan.
Everett looked where I was staring. His eyes flared brilliant gold. “Shit, I can see them, too! We need to move?—”
“Yeah,that’snot happening, Mr. Gil,” Cody grumbled. Maisie had taken off his helmet at some point and lifted him off the ground to lean on her.
“Looks like we are going to make our stand here!” Everett growled. “Maisie and Talli, get Cody over to the SUV. Byrdie, do the same with Quinn. Simone and Teddy, get Cole inside of it and help the others get the rest of the hunters in. Let’s move!”
We all sprang into motion. Teddy opened the back of the SUV, using his magic to move our luggage to the side and make things easier to bring everyone in. Simone was already pulling Cole back toward the car, her fear morphing into something sharper, protective, and focused. Maisie and Talli lifted Cody together using their magic to help them toward the SUV. Quinn leaned heavily on me as we walked. Her whole body was way too warm, she struggled to lift her head, and she depended on me too much for my liking. She was usuallymypillar of strength. Seeing her like this made my stomach twist. I rushed to the SUV, holding Quinn tightly to me.
I hate being a burden like this. I’m so sorry,mi vida,Quinn thought to me.
Shut your gorgeous mouth, babe,I thought.I would carry you every day and night if I needed to. This is nothing compared to what I know you would do for me and have done in the past.
