Scared of what she might have just unleashed, Tanis turned her attention back to their allies below. There were bodies everywhere. So much for joking with Keegan. That sight made her sick to her stomach.
How she hated war.
And her heart remained lodged in her throat until she finally saw the one person she was looking for.
Dash. Still in human form, he was standing beside Dove, Tora and Viggo.
Relief poured through her as she headed for them.
Landing as close to them as she could, she used her tail to knock a centaur flying. “Would you care for a ride out of here, Sire?”
He actually laughed. “There’s no saddle or bridle on you, Dragon.”
She sighed at something she’d forgotten. “True. That does make it rather hard to ride, doesn’t it?”
Turning around, she belched fire into another group of centaurs. “Is it wrong of me that I’ve missed being able to do this?”
Viggo pointed to another group. “Care to aim your fire that way?”
“Sure.” She quickly took care of them.
“Over here!” Tora directed.
Dove rested his axe over his shoulder. “I’m feeling a little useless now that you have a dragon.”
“Two of them, actually.” Tanis jerked her chin toward Keegan who was on the ground, chasing after an entire group of fleeing centaurs.
Dash wiped at the sweat on his forehead. “Have to admit I’m in agreement. But I like being useless in this case.”
In his unicorn form, Ryper came running and skidded to a halt beside them. “When did we get dragons?”
"Long story, but the important thing is we have them now."
Returning to his human body, Ryper winked at Tanis. "Finally, something went our way." No sooner had those words left his lips, then he cringed. “Did I just jinx us?”
“Yes,” Dove and Dash said simultaneously.
As if summoned by Ryper or some spell his spoken words had woven, they heard a resonant cry over the clash of battle.
"Deciel Coeur de Noir! You bastard son of a whore! Come out from hiding behind my inferiors and face me." Ferox fought his way past a group of elves who’d found themselves in the way between the twisted centaur prince and what he foolishly thought was his prey.
Without his contingency of dragons to do his dirty work, Ferox had become desperate. The low life knew it was only a matter of time before his hired mercs turned tail and ran. That was the problem with such soldiers. They were never loyal to the cause.
Only to the coin.
And having winged, fire-breathing soldiers on your side
tended to make even the most craven of creatures brave. But watching that advantage fly off in the middle of battle and abandon you to your enemies would shake the confidence of a loyal army. One that was made up of hired coin?
They weren’t keen on sticking around for a bloodbath. A prince couldn’t pay them if he was dead.
If Ferox didn’t finish this soon, they’d abandon him even faster than the dragons had, and the prince knew it.
It was time to end this.
Dash changed forms and rode out to meet the centaur in the middle of the bailey.
Recognition caused Ferox to snarl as he locked gazes with Dash. The gleam in those dark eyes was one Dash knew intimately.
