Page 69 of Happily Ever Bitten (Underworld Royals 2)

“Oh, shit…,” I breathed.

They flapped their wings and dove for us, their beady eyes intent.

“Run!” Grigory shouted.

His command was lost to the wind as the dragons ascended, the one closest snapping dangerous jaws in my direction.

I didn’t think.

I acted.

Blades falling into my hands, I prepared to fight.

Right.

Napia had a spell for everything.

Which was probably how she’d found us in London, too.

Fuck.

Yeah, fuck, Zaya thought back at me, her tone sarcastic as she hopped onto the back of a dragon and stabbed it in the head without flinching.

Nice, I told her.

Stop praising me and start killing, she snarled back at me.

“Is there anything else I need to know about the magic guarding you in this tower?” I asked Narissa as Zaya took down another sea beast.

“Every creature in this realm has been spelled against me and will fight like hell to keep me here,” the Neptune princess replied, sounding nervous. “You’d be better off leaving me here right about now.”

“Not a fucking chance.” We needed her alive. Not only did her existence prove foul play, but her knowledge of the army would be incredibly useful with my mother.

Zay. Head for the stairs and take Narissa with you.

Sure. I’ll get right on that, she thought at me, her knife gliding across the throat of a third creature. Green blood painted her clothes, causing her to scowl in annoyance.

“Watch out!” she called as another dragon swooped toward us. It tried to capture me but only succeeded in ripping the realm-jumping gem from the chain around my neck. The jewel smashed with a loud sound on the floor.

Fuck!

Zaya pulled hers out of her pocket. I still have—

A beast snapped the trinket between its jaws, causing Zaya to curse.

Shit.

I didn’t have time to react to that, as the beast that shattered my own portal charm came for me again. I tried to duck a second time, but the beast’s sharp claws hooked into my jacket, lifting me into the sky. Guess we’re not taking the stairs, I thought at Zay.

Always making light of situations, she muttered and jumped up to grab my foot. Then she climbed me like a tree while another dragon snatched Narissa.

We flew upward over the castle, into the starry night sky, leaving the city behind.

“What’s happening?” I shouted across to Narissa.

“They’re taking us out to the barren lands,” she called back with distinct terror lacing every syllable of her reply.

“What are the barren lands?” Zaya asked as she wrapped herself around me, holding me tightly. I returned the embrace, my arms circling her lower back. No way would I allow her to fall.

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