A part of her was disgruntled over the betrayal, even as the rest of her admired Tate’s presumptuousness. After all this time, her Savior could still surprise her.
If true, her tactics needed to change. More than anyone, Ilith was familiar with how underhanded Tate could be. She was very dragon-like in that respect.
It was one of the reasons Ilith chose her.
You’ll see,Tate sang.
Ilith slowed, approaching the group with a caution that hadn’t been there before. If they really were acting under Tate’s orders, the other side couldn’t be underestimated.
The children split, each one shooting in a different direction as Dewdrop pursed his lips.
Sound ripped from his throat, a wave of force rushing at Ilith. It buffeted her, threatening to knock her out of the air.
Ilith whistled, the low-pitched noise canceling out the sound waves Dewdrop had directed at her.
Heh. Such insignificant tricks.
Dewdrop looked disgruntled. “How did she do that?”
Ilith preened. She was dragon.
Some of Ilith’s arrogance drained away as she caught sight of Willa perched at Dewdrop’s feet. The Veles tilted her whiskers at Ilith in her version of a grin.
There was no sign of the bag anywhere to be seen.
Ilith’s gaze darted to the rest of the children, understanding following a second later. They’d used Dewdrop as a distraction, moving the gems from Willa to one of the children while Ilith was preoccupied.
They knew that in a race, Ilith would win every time. But give her half a dozen moving targets to track and they significantly increased their odds of reaching the finish line with their prize intact.
Smart little dragonlettes. They were worthy of her Savior’s attention.
It was just too bad Ilith wasn’t so easily fooled.
She sniffed, picking up the scent of the treasure coming from the figure of a girl wearing a bright yellow shirt the color of sunshine.
The smug expressions dropped from Dewdrop and Willa’s faces as Ilith changed direction.
“Shit.” Dewdrop, Willa at his heels, raced in the girl’s direction. “Daisy, you have incoming.”
Another boy jerked, his head spinning toward Ilith and Dewdrop. “You said this would work.”
“I said itmightwork,” Dewdrop corrected.
Alarm spread across the boy’s face as he took off toward the girl. “That winged lizard better not throw her over another cliff!”
Ilith easily left the three behind. Her shadow cast the girl in shade seconds before she back winged, careful to land without crushing the dragonlette. The surrounding shrubs and hedges weren’t as lucky. Her majestic weight flattened them into twigs.
Daisy squeaked and toppled over. She scooted backwards, keeping her wide eyes on Ilith.
Ilith paid her no attention as her gaze darted from the girl’s face to the bag clutched in her fist. Still, Ilith didn’t move immediately to take it.
This couldn’t be the extent of their plan. Her Savior was much trickier than this. There had to be a second, more diabolical, part.
There came a series of yodeling cries as Ilith was attacked from several directions. She stood still, the insignificant weight of her assailants barely registering.
Confused, she peered over her shoulder. A gem-like gaze met hers; the dragonlette screeching a challenge.
Tate snickered.Didn’t expect that, did you?
