“Prepare to defend the dam.”
All the guards drop into a fighting stance, wings spread, claws ready.
“Wait!” I step forward, holding up my hands. “I did not come here for violence. I have nothing to hide. I am within my rights to be here. This is Vathiran territory.”
“This is Vathiran trickery,” mutters one guard.
“She’s likely a spy.”
“Where are the others?” The guards twist and turn, but Jah’ruud and Kaelun have vanished.
There’s a roar from the lead guard. Just then a blast of wind sweeps me off my feet. Aurelion catches me, hunching forward and tucking his wings in tight to his body. He pulls me close and shelters me as sand whips through the air and guards are blown away with an outraged shout.
The lead guard and one of his younger-looking followers hunker down as we are, withstanding the wind. I hope Jah’ruud knows what he is doing here. We are perilously close to the edge of the precipice.
There’s another shout, and the second dragon goes tumbling out over the valley. I turn away, horrified to look. Just as I do, a force like a rough boulder tears me from Aurelion’s grasp and flattens me on the ground, knocking all the air from my lungs.
There’s a ferocious growl, and the next moment sharp teeth close around the back of my neck. I know instinctively these are not Aurelion’s teeth. The breath on my neck is foul, stinking of garlic and pungent herbs. I shiver as they close tighter, prickingthe skin. The venom in his bite could kill me. I remember what Aurelion said.
“Harm her and I’ll kill you myself.” Aurelion’s voice is cold and steady.
I close my eyes and pray he has this situation under control.
There’s a hiss from the guard who is pinning me to the ground and a growl from my dragon prince.
Rough rope is tied around my wrists, and finally he removes his teeth from my neck.
I can breathe again.
I’m pulled to my feet. Held close to the burly guard. “You’ll both come with me until I know exactly what is going on here. I do not like any of this.” He drags me forward, and Aurelion follows warily.
“Where are the others?” he says.
I do not answer.
Aurelion narrows his eyes. “I do not know. Perhaps they are killing your soldiers even now.”
Another cry from the valley below seems to confirm this.
If anything, this makes the guard more skittish. His hold on me tightens until tears spring to my eyes.
Hauling me unceremoniously over his shoulder, he spreads his wings and leaps over the precipice. My heart is in my mouth, but for now the air is still and we drift toward the ground and a camp set up in a clearing where the scrub and dry bush of the desert has been cleared to make a site for an outpost. There is a post fixed into the sand, and the guard ties me to it. He glares at Aurelion, who is watching him like a viper waiting for an opportunity to strike. “How do I know you can be trusted?”
“I would not trust me if I were you,” he sneers. “I am your death. You sealed your fate when you put your teeth on my mate.”
The guard sniffs. “Needs must.”
“Fight me if you have the courage.”
My heart clenches, but the guard only inches closer to me. “Perhaps I should just kill her now, then.”
“Do not touch her!” Aurelion leaps forward, but the guard is too quick, snapping at me with a vicious movement.
I suck in a breath, but his teeth close around nothing.
Aurelion freezes. His expression is tortured.
The guard pulls another length of rope from his belt. “As far as I’m concerned, you’ve turned traitor and can’t be trusted. Give me your hands.”
