“Are you okay?” I asked, softening my voice. I’d never dealt with a dragon before and had no idea how temperamental they were. Especially a powerful queen.
As I got even closer, I caught a glimpse of two prone figures over her back, and I was just opening my mouth again when the dragon swung one of those giant wings in my direction, clipping me across the face.
As it hit me, a strong burst of energy followed, and I had one thought before everything went dark.
I thought she was our friend…
Chapter 19
It was Asher’s voice shouting in my head that woke me.
Maddison! Baby, come on, wake up so I can figure out what’s happening!
He was angry, a red raging power following his words. I got the quick sense that he was covered in gold right now, and probably rampaging around the school.
Ash?I shot back, wincing as I tried to gather my bearings.Where are you? What … the golden dragon attacked me.
His reply was fast and brutal.Following, but she’s using her power to throw us off the trail. It’s original energy, and it’s tricky. I need you to help me, love. I won’t let you go again.
I blinked again, and as more of my senses fired I realized that we were flying still. I was clutched in the huge taloned feet of the dragon. She had me tightly encased and I could see nothing at all.
Not even slivers of light … but then again…
I pressed my face closer, and I was almost certain that wherever we were right now, it was not daytime. There was no visible light. I’d learned in class that dragons could move between the realms, so we could technically be anywhere in this world or in Faerie, or even the demon realm.
Fuck.
Are we still on Earth?I asked Asher.
There was no reply, and I shook my head, searching frantically for his energy. It had been there, so strongly, and now … gone.
Sorry, little one.
The voice in my head was not Asher’s. It was strong, powerful, sounding like it was filled with a thousand other voices, ringing like magical instruments.
I need to cut your communication off. I left it long enough so that he would know you were alive, but now it’s time for us to move along the only path left to save the worlds. I just hope we’re not too late.
Terror welled in me, and with it, confusion.
Why are you doing this? I thought you were on our side?
I used the same method of communication, following her magical energy.
I’m on your side. I had no choice but to take you by surprise. Jessa, Mischa, and you are all the same … powerful females. You’re the ones who need to follow the path.
So why knock us out? Why not just talk to us?
A brief pause, and I didn’t bother to move, knowing there was no point fighting her. Even if I were strong enough to take her on, I’d only drop out into some unknown situation that might be worse than where I was now. She said she was on our side, now she had to prove it.
I have seen,she started slowly,that you would not come without your mates. And this is a journey that no man can take.
I spluttered, before biting back.I’m sure if you explained it, we could have figured out a way. None of us need our mates at our sides all the time. We can function without them.
Fuck. I hadn’t lost that much independence, right?
I have seen,she repeated, in her calm bell-like voice.It’s not you that was unreasonable, it was the other three. Braxton, Maximus, and Asher. They would not let you go, and the time wasted arguing was the time needed to save the world.
My reply died in a loud exhale of annoyance. I wanted to argue further with her, but I really couldn’t. She had a point.
