A gleam of milky white eyes flashed, a moment before it opened its mouth and roared, spewing a jet of purple flame, drowning out the screams and bellows of alarm as students rushed for the exit. But the rush of bodies created a bottleneck, trapping us all.
Steam streamed from the beast’s nostrils, its slanted apertures flaring and snapping shut in rapid succession.
The beast sniffed, head swivelling as if hunting.
Searching.
My stomach grew rock hard with dark foreboding.
“The kitchens!” Clary grabbed my arm, and the creature’s head whipped our way. The milky film over its eyes snapped back, revealing bright emerald irises. It drew one deep, intentional inhalation—then froze, horizontal pupils dilating and locking onto me.
Seriously? Again? What the Fel was wrong with this place?
“Oh shit,” Dori’s voice trembled. “Run!”
We bolted across the room in the direction of the kitchens, but a wave of other students had the same idea. They cut across the chamber, inadvertently blocking us off.
They were so young. Terrified children bound to be here by an ancient covenant, and now facing a fucking dragon. There was no option but to attempt escape, their powers would be no match for this creature. Where were the Hunters?
“This way!” Benedict veered left, toward the now-clearing main exit.
The air thinned then crackled, as if whispering a warning. Instinct had me turning back toward the beast, just in time to see its throat light up, flames churning their way upward, moments from eruption.
It was about to spew.
I should have ground to a halt, should have turned and run the other way, but instead, I bolted toward Benedict. “Watch out!” I grabbed him, yanking him back toward the rest of the group, as a terrifying roar rocked the room.
Clary screamed, high-pitched and horrible, as purple flame enveloped us. But there was no smell of burned flesh. The flames raged around us, battering at the invisible force that held it at bay.
Was this me? WasIholding the flames back?
The fire dissipated with a hiss, unsated and unsatisfied.
The dragon roared and charged at us.
Instinct took over. I slammed into Benedict, using all my body weight to fling us to one side, narrowly escaping the snap of lethal teeth.
A gust of air hit us as the beast swung our way again, determination blazing in its emerald eyes, smoke billowing around it like an epic backdrop of doom.
“Ana! Benedict!” Dori shouted from the now-empty kitchen doorway.
We scrambled up and broke into a sprint toward them.
The air crackled in warning of another blast of fire.
Benedict shoved me aside, diving in the opposite direction. Heat seared my face, hot air tearing at my hair, whipping it over my shoulders as flames devoured the spot where we’d been a moment ago.
I pulled myself up, each breath a battle, and hurled myself toward the kitchen exit where Dori and Clary jumped up and down with urgency. Benedict ran parallel to me on the other side of the room.
We were almost there, but the dragon couldn’t be far behind. Like hell would I break stride to check though.
“Ana, look out!” Dori yelled.
Something hit my legs, sweeping me off my feet. I hit the ground on my back, head slamming against tile. Darkness edged my vision, but I gritted my teeth and fought against unconsciousness, forcing my unsteady limbs to sit me up.
Someone screamed my name, but the ringing in my ears overshadowed the sound.
“Ana, move! You have to?—”
