My husband’s sword dropped from his hand, tumbling into the waterfall.
His cry pushed me into action, and I searched for anything that could bring me back to him, but the river pushed me farther away.
The dragon sat on the cliff, its claws crushing the ground as he searched the water for me. Kane’s massive head swung back and forth, holding Crispin in one clawed hand. The dragon roared and every bird in the area flew out of the trees, fleeing from the dangerous creature tormenting their home.
The current began pulling me downstream in the opposite direction. Away from where I needed to be.
No, no, no!
Frantically, I swam in the opposite direction. “Crispin!” I screamed, water going in my mouth, the cold, sharp current dragging me to safety.
What was the point of escaping if Crispin died in the process? He would never abandon me. I couldn’t do that to him.
A nearby fallen tree wedged between a set of rocks. Reaching out to that wood, I commanded the dead limb to come for me. Slowly, it stretched out just far enough for me to grab it and pull myself out of the water.
Crawling across the broken tree, I quickly made my way to the grass. The forest loomed over me, and I had no idea how I would make my way back up that rocky cliff.
Stumbling to stand, I tried to steady my breathing and think.
Kane landed on the ground in front of me. I fell backward from the impact and landed on my backside hard, hitting the edge of the tree limb. Sharp pain shot into my lower back.
Crispin yelled, a red haze surrounding him in a cloud of rage.
Kane held him up, tilting his head, suddenly seeming curious, but I knew what Crispin was about to unleash.
“Wait!” I screamed, more afraid for Crispin than myself. “Please, stop! I’ll go.”
Stepping closer, I held out my hands in an attempt to seem non-threatening.
Black smoke puffed out of Kane’s nostrils, but he made no further move against Crispin.
Praying that the Deathless One would show mercy, I took another cautious step.
“No, Deirdre!” Crispin groaned, pushing against the taloned claw that gripped him.
“It’s okay,” I said as tears formed. “Our dream was wonderful while it lasted.”
I didn’t dare look at Crispin for fear I couldn’t do what was necessary to keep him safe.
“Release him, and I will go with you.” My entire body trembled with that statement.
My future didn’t matter as long as Crispin lived.
When Kane didn’t respond, I dropped to my knees. “Mercy,please.”
With a huff, Kane began lowering Crispin to the ground.
I stilled, not wanting to risk the chance that Kane would change his mind.
The fear for Crispin’s life should have dissipated in that moment. Yet, a sense of wrongness hung in the air like a silent whisper, the hairs on my neck rising in warning.
I glanced at Crispin, his eyes blazing red.
“Don’t!” I shouted at my husband to stop, to let me go so he could live, but I should have known his stubbornness sometimes rivaled my own.
With glowing red hands, Crispin dug into Kane’s scales and began ripping the flesh apart. Blood dripped from the wound, and Kane roared out in pain.
Thrashing back and forth, Kane slammed his front hand down, attempting to dislodge Crispin’s magical grip. Crispin screamed, a blood-curdling noise that made my heart shatter.Red haze blocked out his face, his elemental rage manifesting into a dangerous volcano of force.
