The shadow is accompanied by a shriek of sound so piercing that it cuts through my hearing and for a terrible moment, everything goes black as I pass out from the pain. It’s only for a second, but it’s long enough for my legs to buckle.
I sense Anarchy’s fingertips brush my arm before a male body collides with me and I’m whisked into the air.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Anarchy’s scream is snatched away in the wind.
The speed of the attack knocks the air from my lungs and crushes my ribs. Oh, wait, no, that’s the guy’s arms, wrapped around me like bands of iron from which I can’t escape.
Unlike the first group of dragons, this assailant doesn’t come to a quick stop.
Within heartbeats, we’ve left the beach far behind and ocean waves crash beneath me.Enormouswaves that would drag me down and drown me within moments if I were to fall into them.
My attacker finally pulls to a halt, but it’s so abrupt that he nearly flings me wide. Suddenly, I’m holding on to him as hard as I can, my legs wrapped around his hips and my hands gripping his sides for dear life.
On instinct, I’ve retracted my claws, because hell, if I cut him to shreds, I’ll only fall, and I’m not ready to deal with that yet.
“Wolf,” he snarls. “You don’t belong here.”
I don’t waste time screaming. My goals right now are simple: stay airborne while snatching enough air that I can breathe again.
“Who says I don’t?” I gasp.
“Me.” He growls.
I risk a look at his face. So far, I’ve ascertained that he’s solidly built, a slender body with a lot of muscle, but by fuck, his face should belong to an angel. Certainly not to a man threatening to kill me.
Jagged, black hair whips around his head. It’s hard to tell in the wind, but it’s probably shoulder length. His eyes are dark brown and fierce-looking beneath black eyebrows. In contrast, his skin is dusted with silver scales and his wings reflect the sunlight so brightly that I’m struggling to keep my eyes open. The gauze in the blindfold isn’t helping.
I’m lucky he’s once again busy pinning my arms to my sides or he’d be able to rip off the material and then I’d be in even more trouble.
“Well, who areyou?” I ask.
“My name is Ryuji. I’m the alpha of the Kaito Dragon Family. It’s my sworn duty to destroy any dark creature who dares to step into my territory.”
I guess I didn’t really need to ask. I thought the teal-haired woman was in charge, but this guy, well, there’s no doubt in my mind he’s telling the truth about being the alpha.
“Oh, dear,” I say. “Your family started the party without you. That must be annoying.”
His response is a snarl. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t snap your spine right now, dark one.”
I have no doubt he really could break me that easily. His biceps are pressing so tightly against my arms, I’m surprised my bones haven’t shattered under the pressure already. My spine would simply be another twig for him to crack in two.
He may be fucking strong, but I’ve experienced enough broken bones in recent days to last me a lifetime. Not to mention I’d like to avoid the death that would follow. The keeper may have managed to bring Anarchy back from the dead, but I’m not sure he could do the same for me.
I fight to remain calm, an increasingly difficult task, as I try a different approach.
“Why be enemies when we can be allies?” I ask hopefully.
Ryuji’s glower deepens. “There is no alliance to be made between the light and the dark.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I narrow my eyes at him, even though he won’t be able to see it through the blindfold. “Have I insulted you? Maybe you expected me to beg for my life.” My anger is quickly rising now and the sarcastic plea on my lips tastes like poison. “Please, please, dragon alpha, won’t you spare my pitiful life?”
His lips twist. “You joke about your own death.”
“No,” I say, my lips twisting. “I’m making fun of your arrogance. What are you going to do about it?”
He doesn’t immediately respond, his brow furrowing, but his hesitation givesmetime to think.
