Page 93 of Marked Dragon

I smiled. Several days had passed, and he hadn’t changed his stance about becoming a dragon, so maybe when we got back, Thorn could change him.

Soon, all eight of us were flying toward the thunder. We were lucky we’d gone there earlier, or we wouldn’t have known the way.

Even flying couldn’t calm my frazzled nerves.

Keep an eye out,Thorn connected as he flew close to me. Each time we flapped our wings, they brushed together.

Vlad led the way, and Thorn and I stayed at the back so the dragons wouldn’t see us first.

As we approached, I became aware of a group of people down where we’d landed earlier. None were in their dragon form, so we weren’t at risk yet.

“If you don’t tell us who the abomination was meeting with, I’ll cut the throat of a thunder member of our choosing. The person who informed us of Thorn’s presence here and the leader of the thunder know what’s going on.” Drake’s cold voice echoed up from the spot. “Maybe I should kill someone now so you can see I mean it.”

My heart raced, and I flapped my wings harder.

There was a scuffling sound, and Theron cried out, “No, not my son!”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

Everly,Thorn connected as he easily caught up to me. I remained focused on the area where Drake and the others were below.We can’t rush in. We need to be smart.

Maybe that was true, but someone important to the man who’d helped us so much was in danger. There were only ten others there, besides Theron, Wyvern, Sol, and Drake. We wouldn’t be grossly outnumbered. I suspected Sol and Theron wouldn’t attack us, especially if we handled Drake. It wasn’t like we were rushing into a fight with fifty warriors.

Vlad flew faster, which was good, seeing as he was in front of the group. If anyone was going to reach them first, it would be him. And Thorn couldn’t connect with him like he could with me.

We are being smart. We agreed to come here and help if this thunder was in danger, and there are only ten warriors down there.I kept up my quick pace as our group plunged toward the thunder.They’re under threat. I promise, if I get in harm’s way, I’ll let you know, and you do the same for me.

The clearing we’d landed in earlier came into view just as a warrior grabbed Sol by the neck. The sound of our wings must have finally registered because Drake’s beady eyes turned upward and focused on Thorn.

A cruel smirk spread across the ugly prince’s face, and I was ashamed I’d ever found him physically attractive. His onyx eyes seemed even darker, and his dark brown hair was still styled perfectly in spikes. “Here they come, proving how stupid the abomination and his disciples are. They willingly enter the dragon’s lair.”

Please, whatever you do, don’t let them capture you,Thorn begged as his trepidation weighed down my wings.

Then it clicked. Thorn was terrified of losing me because he was petrified of the royal family. He wanted only to keep those he loved safe, but not because he didn’t care about his people. It was because, since he was six, he’d been hiding from the king. The fear he’d felt as a little boy had grown as he’d gotten older, and he was merely trying to survive.

My heart ripped in two. I hated that I hadn’t seen it before.

I pushed the warmth of my love and confidence toward him.You don’t need to fear them. You’re a force to be reckoned with. They should cower before your strength and determination. Only you can end Drake’s plans. You’re the firstborn heir to the throne, and you can take his dragon. Do that. Reverse the roles. Make him quake at the sight of you.

The warriors raised their weapons, and my heart constricted. They had tranq guns, which meant they planned on capturing us instead of killing us.

Drake wanted to put on a show.

“Shoot!” Falkor commanded from his position next to Drake. “Remember, we don’t kill them…yet.”

Ladon rushed to flank the ugly prince’s other side to protect him, and the other eight guards fired.

I stopped moving my wings, ending my forward progression, and Vlad, Cassidy, and Thorn did the same.

Saphira, Errol, Brenton, and Tyson didn’t. The four of them changed their trajectory, but they weren’t in danger, since all eight guards had been aiming for Thorn and Vlad.

Of course, the guards recognized the four of us in dragon form. Not only that, but they knew Thorn was the plum dragon, and six of the darts had been aimed at him.

As they reloaded their weapons, Thorn flew forward. His strength shone through as he sped past everyone and darted downward.

My heart clenched. Okay, I’d wanted to inspire him, but I hadn’t meant for him to dothat. I couldn’t take it back now, or I might distract him and cause him harm. But that didn’t mean I would leave him alone to take on all the warriors. He was strong, but he needed help.

The seven of us charged forward as Thorn swooped down. The warriors aimed their rifles at him, not focused on the rest of us. They viewed Thorn as the real threat.

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