Page 73 of Stone Heart
Rina pushed the woman off the dragon. Her body fell, her screams cut by the wind. Rina’s gaze followed the demon’s body as it plummeted to Earth.
Rina didn’t feel any remorse for her. The body slammed into the ground. A dirt cloud filled the air, masking the corpse from Rina’s view.
She guided the dragon back toward the ground, determined to end this battle now. As she grew closer, a band of demons surrounded Vikuth and some of the gargoyles.
“Burn them,” she said in her native tongue.
A line of fire shot out of the dragon’s mouth, landing on the demons that threatened Vikuth and his men.
Their screams echoed through the air, and their bodies writhed, covered in flames. She took in the battlefield, finding no sign of her father. She caught sight of Rhodack as the last demon fell at his feet. She focused on him and flashed off the dragon and appeared a few feet away from Rhodack.
“Rina,” he exclaimed, opening his arms to her.
She didn’t hesitate in running into his embrace. He squeezed her tight to his chest, and she welcomed it.
He pulled back slightly, careful to use his talons to tip her face up to his. “Don’t ever disappear like that again.”
“I can protect myself,” she murmured. Her lips curved up into a slight smile. “Don’t tell me you were scared.”
“Scared? Of losing you? Fuck, yeah, I was,” he admitted.
She widened her eyes at his admission. She laid a hand over his heart, knowing she was in love with the fierce guardian protector.
“You will not lose me,” she promised.
Their eyes connected, and her heart melted at the fierce love pouring out of his eyes. She turned in his embrace, sensing a presence behind her. She found Vikuth and other gargoyles standing by.
Again, her gaze swept the grounds, and she failed to find her father. He had ridden in on the same dragon she had, and she hadn’t seen him since they’d both flashed off the flying beast.
“Where is my father?”
“He and a few of his men ran into the demons’ lair after the necromancers,” Vikuth reported.
Her muscles tensed as her imagination ran wild with what could have happened to her father.
“Vikuth, round up the demons who may still be alive—”
“I will handle out here. Go after the king.” Vikuth nodded to them. “Be careful.”
“Always. Let’s go.” Rhodack grabbed her arm. He pulled her behind him toward the mouth of the lair. Once inside, there was no telling what they’d find.
