“Obey me, and it will stop. Now, Serafina.”
With a sharp curse, I scrambled to my feet. At once, the inferno ebbed, sparks dimming to embers before snuffing out. In the aftermath, I panted, bracing my hands on my thighs.
During our time together, I’d grown complacent around the dragon. A foolish mistake. After a lifetime spent as a beast, Alaric was more animal than man.
Black scales flashed in my vision. This time, I managed to duck. Alaric’s tail sailed over the top of me. Dirty bastard, striking a girl when she was down.
Teeth gritted, I took off at a sprint. He wouldn’t knock me down again.
Behind a pile of rubble, on the opposite side of the arena, Ispotted a second door. One too small for the dragon to use. It was past time I escaped this nightmare.
Thighs burning, I pumped my arms, eager to make my escape.
“Going somewhere?”Alaric purred.
Fire blasted over my head, painting the walls bright orange. Flames exploded ahead of me, and I belted out a scream. Arms shielding my face, I skid to an abrupt stop.
Once the blast of heat faded, I whirled to face the dragon, screeching, “Have you lost your mind?”
“I did not give you permission to leave.”
“Permission?” I shouted as that damn tail of his cracked my backside.
Again, I went flying. Ass over appetite, I tumbled across the unforgiving stone. This time, nothing was spared—knees, elbows, hands. As the pain blazed, something inside of me detonated.
Red filled my vision.
I rolled onto my knees and flung out my hands. Energy punched from my palms, powered by my emotions. Anger, frustration, and pain fueled my magic. All of it aimed at one infuriating dragon.
“Ahh!”Belting out a primal scream, I unleashed my magic.
The blast struck Alaric dead center. Even through the blinding rage, I saw he hadn’t bothered to dodge. He didn’t even try. Instead, he bowed his chest, facing the threat with a gleam of eager anticipation in his green eyes.
Light detonated in a blinding explosion. The percussion of the explosion hit me in a wave. It hammered me backward, knocking me on my ass, yet again. Hard stone cracked my tailbone, pain blooming sharp.
Once the dust settled, I glanced at the dragon. This time,hewas the one on the ground. He lay on his side, a starburst pattern of soot marking his chest.
“Alaric?”
He grunted, and I exhaled a breath. Not dead. Holy bula dung. I’d actually managed to knock a dragon down.
What had I done?
“Are you okay?” I staggered upright, ignoring my own aches and pains. Pain I’d suffered because of the dragon, a voice at the back of my mind tried to remind me. My guilt wouldn’t let me listen, though. I rushed to his side.
“Alaric?”
He tucked his wings in, groaning, and rolled up on his forearms. His head twisted, his green eyes darkening as they swept over his body. “Still a beast.”
I frowned. Why wasn’t he furious that I’d struck him? I narrowed my eyes. “You did that on purpose.”
His dark head swiveled, and I flinched back, unsure of his reaction.
“Do you think I enjoy smacking women?”
“Well…” I trailed off. He didn’t seem to hate it. “You did it to see if I could break your curse.”
“Yes,”he stated. No further explanation. No apology for knocking me around.
