“Izzy contacted me!” I could barely hear him over the rushing wind. “Someone at the prison must have calledSaldrea. She knows something happened, and she’s moved up Izzy’s trial. They’re going into the arena now!”
Fucking hell!
Of course our attack would get reported back to the princess. Why hadn’t anyone thought of that?
There was no way we’d get back in time to help.
Unless…
I used the telepathic communication I had in dragon form to reach out to Rook. Curiously… his mind was blocked to me. I tried Olinara and reached her.
Contact Bayn, let him know we have his sister. Now’s the time to act!
I had to hope that damned titan lived up to his word. Right now, he was our only chance to free Izzy.
And tell everyone back there to hold on!
I put on speed as my soul cried out in pain, a twisting anguish which had nothing to do with failing in my duty and everything to do with losing someone I cared for.
If Izzy survived this, I swore I wouldn’t hold myself back from her affections any longer. I’d been a fool, a complete idiot, ignoring my feelings for that perfect woman. I’d been so intent on protecting her that I hadn’t understoodwhyI’d needed her to live. It wasn’t to uphold my duty, not anymore. No, I needed her to live, because I loved her.
BAYN
“Wake up!”As frustrated as I was, I restrained myself from slapping the unconscious angel too hard. Hana had knocked the man out when Saldrea had come for Izzy that morning, so he wouldn’t put up a fuss. But she must have stunned him well, since I was having trouble rousing him.
And we didn’t have time for me to linger here.
I’d received the call that my sister was safe as Saldrea had dragged Izzy — by the hair — into the arena. It was too early, even with a campus wide announcement, barely any crowd had gathered to watch. But Saldrea had been spooked when the prison called, telling her someone had escaped. She didn’t know who, not yet, there had been too much chaos at the prison for them to be certain who’d been liberated. Still, it had infuriated Saldrea, who’d pulled Izzy into the arena to start her deathmatch.
The little shifter the others had wanted me to rescue from Saldrea’s dungeons had been brought to the arena as well, unconscious and well-guarded. I couldn’t get to him, nor Izzy, not without help.
So, I’d slipped away to get this angel. Even with my titanfriends we wouldn’t be able to overpower Saldrea’s minions and the guards at the arena. Though how much one little angel would help, I didn’t know. I’d hoped he still had a few friends here on campus to join us.
I slapped him again, harder.
The man roused and groaned. I shook him till his eyes focused on me.
“They’ve taken Izzy. Can you fight?”
Instantly his eyes snapped open. He looked around, frantic, then returned his gaze to me.
“Yes, where is she?”
“In the arena. We need to take out the guards and Saldrea’s cronies. I have four other titans who will aid me. Your friends, the incubi, the dragon, and the nymph are all off campus. Is there anyone else you know who can fight?”
The man blinked as I set him on his feet. I could see him assimilating what I told him.
“A shifter… maybe.”
One shifter?
That was it?
“Call him,” I said as we began to run across campus. As soon as we were out of the admin buildings the angel brought out his wings and flew, calling his shifter friend. I sprinted, enhancing my speed and the two of us reached the arena at about the same time.
An old man met us.
“I know what’s happened, how do you need me to help?” the man asked.
