Squeezing my fists shut, nails biting into my palms, I pray the pressure will be enough to hold the magic down while I force myself to think.
The robed figure in white is heading straight for the tents. If I stay here, he’ll pass close enough to see us. He’ll see Talen unconscious at my feet.
Scanning the campsite, I catch sight of another tree about twenty metres away to my left. If I can reach it, I can maybe try and distract him somehow, maybe I can buy myself enough timeto double back to the tent and wake Lucien and he can get JC to help.
But if his dragon sees me?—
Magic starts to burn, spilling from my fingers, pulsing with the frantic beat of my heart. Glancing down, my eyes widen when I see my Threads spreading out, gripping at the air around me, snapping through the leaves and branches overhead. What is this?! Every fiber in my body wants to stay, to not leave Talen, but I can’t stand here and wait to explode. They’ll hear me. They’ll see us.
Quickly, I make sure he’s still propped against the tree and covered, the black of his uniform and leather jacket helping to hide him in the darkness, then I bolt.
Freezing air trapped tight in my chest, my legs pumping beneath me, I race toward the other tree, scrambling to form a plan with every step.
I just need to get there, make some kind of distraction, then?—
CRACK.
I hear the branch under my foot break before I see it, followed by the bone-shaking roar of the dragon as his head whips in my direction.
Gut churning, feet still moving, I don't even think, I throw my hands out, muscles straining under the force and I release my magic in its direction. I mean to hit the dragon, but it explodes in all directions.
Air smashes into the tree where Talen lies, then rebounds straight back at me.
Oh fuck.
Ducking just in time, I avoid the blast as it tears over my head, pulling my hair free and ripping a branch from the tree behind me with a vicious crackle.
What the hell is going on? It’s like old Lyra again, completely out of control, but way more fucking powerful. Way more fucking dangerous.
Twisting back, I look toward the dragon, but another bolt of air comes hurtling straight for me, and I throw myself to the ground before it can hit. The impact thunders against my ribs, knocking the wind from me as dirt and stones scrape my palms.
Okay,thatone wasn’t mine.
Lifting my head, the ground drops out from under me as I see the tall figure in white standing across the campsite, one hand outstretched in my direction. His hood hides most of his face, but not the eerie smirk beneath it.
Before I can shove myself up, he throws another blast and the ground beneath me starts to shake.
Gritting my teeth, I roll and hurl out my Threads, pulling moisture from the air until a shield forms around me. It catches his attack, but I can’t hold it. My magic won’t listen, and the force detonates against the shield, blasting me backwards and straight into the tree behind me.
Pain explodes through my arm as I smash into it.
But I can’t stop moving. Wincing, I try to push myself up as the ground shakes again.
Earthquake?
No.
Footsteps. Dragon footsteps.
Spinning fast, everything tilts as I whip my head toward the approaching scaled creature.
Heat rolls off it in suffocating waves and its massive jaws part, revealing a molten red glow building beyond, bright enough to make my eyes sting.
I don't even need to dig deep, my power is there, writhing beneath my skin, desperate to be released, but it’s wild. Crazed.And the dragon is too close, if I throw now, there’s no guarantee it won't take me out.
With a shuddering roar, the beast lowers its head, the fiery glow in its throat swelling brighter and brighter.
Fuck.
