Page 21 of The Dragon Sacrifice

The beasts rose as if what they were clamoring over was growing. Beneath the scrum, a scaly tail appeared, then a large blue leg. A dragon grew up before them, his body soaring until his back nearly scraped the ceiling.

He was beautiful, a shimmering blue with scales the size of dinner plates that rippled in the cave’s dim gem light. His eyes were round globes, glowing like she’d seen Jerrard’s do in the cavern, only this time, the pupil was slitted vertically like a reptile’s. His snout was long and elegant with trailing ridges up the center that continued over his head, down his neck and back. Giant, bat-like wings spread wide, scraping against stone and sending bits of it showering to the floor.

The creatures fell off Langdon’s back, retreating a bit, but not surrendering. They regrouped, huddling as if they were discussing their strategy. Then they renewed their attack, surging toward the giant dragon.

Langdon’s neck rippled, his chest heaving as if he were taking a deep breath. His mouth opened wide, fire spewing between curved fangs. A fireball blasted into the swarm, crackling as it rolled over the beasts. They screamed, their bodies shriveling, but Seela couldn’t watch. The heat was enough to make her cringe and turn away. She would roast alive.

Arms wrapped around her, drawing her back. When she was able to look up, Stenton had her in his embrace, shielding her with his strong body. She folded into him, reveling in the feeling of safety. It might be false, but it was all she had.

The heat died away. Stenton stepped back, allowing her to lift her head.

The beasts were decimated. Hunks of smoldering hair and flesh lay in clusters at the dragon’s feet. Lumps that looked like mangled hunks of wood crackled and smoked. Blackened legs twitched. One jaw opened and closed. The smell was horrible.

Any who’d survived were gone, probably fleeing back down the tunnels from which they’d came. Langdon, as a massive blue dragon, surveyed the scene, scanning for stragglers and finding none. Then he glanced back at Seela and Stenton, nodding his large head.

“He did it,” Seela said.

“Now to find Jerrard.” Stenton let her go, running into the darkness and disappearing around a corner.

Seela stared up at Langdon in his dragon form. If there’d ever been a more beautiful creature on the planet, she didn’t know how that could be possible. He shimmered in the dying firelight like a jewel. His bright eye fixed on her as she slowly stepped his way, seeming to smile behind scaly jowls, if that were possible.

Seela reached out, touching his large foreleg. It was smooth as a polished stone.

A deep hum rumbled in his chest. Langdon lowered his head until his giant orb of an eye was near Seela’s head.

“You’re magnificent,” she said.

But suddenly, he was shrinking. Limbs were shortening, scales retracting. In the blink of an eye, Langdon was standing before her, shaken and naked.

He slumped to the side, catching himself with a hand to the wall to keep from falling. Seela ran to his side, wedging herself under him to prop him up. His body was hot to the touch and trembling. She tried not to glimpse anything she should not, but how could she keep her mind off the fact that his naked body was pressed against hers with all that had transpired between them just a little while ago?

With a couple of deep breaths, he was able to stand again, taking his weight off her. “Thank you. The transformation can be a bit… rough.”

“You saved us.” She stared up at him to keep her eyes from roving.

“For now.” His voice was bleak as he focused on where the beasts had retreated.

“There were so many,” Seela said.

“And more born every day. This is the most we’ve ever seen.”

Stenton’s worried voice called from down one of the tunnels. “Langdon, come quick!”

They ran toward his echo, skidding to a stop when they saw the form lying on the stone floor.

It was Jerrard, but so very changed. His skin was pale, almost white. His clothes were torn nearly to shreds, and the skin they revealed was covered with puncture marks.

“Lords, they’ve drained him,” Langdon cried out in despair.

“Not drained,” Stenton said, a hand on his injured brother’s neck. “But nearly. We have little time.” He picked up his brother in one move, carrying him in his arms like it was nothing. Jerrard’s head lolled to the side.

“Those things. They did this to him?” Seela asked, the horror of what had happened crashing over her. “Will he live?”

Stenton’s face was a solemn mask. “Only time will tell. We need to hurry.”

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