Page 106 of Dragon’s Rebel

Chapter 46

The hellhound let out a bone-chilling howl, clutched at his burned face and stumbled back. The guard Rebel had disabled was beginning to stir.

Rebel grabbed a key off the guard’s belt and undid Thorne’s last shackle.

“Come on,” Thorne said, grabbing her hand. “The secret passage.”

They ran through the connecting rooms to the place where they’d come in. He felt no pain, and when he looked down he was shocked to see that his arm was completely healed. He could also feel his dragon returning.

What the hell had Rebel done while he was passed out?

He tried calling to his dragon, but he wasn’t at full strength, and he couldn’t shift. Not yet. He could hear pounding feet and the yelps of hellhounds in the hall.

They ran to the fireplace, and Rebel found the catch and opened the passage. They slipped through the opening and let the bookcase close behind them. Through the wall, they heard the muffled sounds of boots and questioning voices.

“Where the hell did they go?”

“Check the window!”

“Did the damn dragon fly away?”

“I don’t see anything!”

Thorne grabbed Rebel’s arm. “What did you do?”

“Long story. Short version: went to the spirit world, talked to some Ki-rin, brought your dragon home. And, um. We’re mates now. For real. Sorry. ”

Sorry? It was the best news he’d ever gotten.

“Let’s get out of here,” Rebel said. “And fast, before they figure out there has to be another way out of that room and find the passage.”

“Okay,” Thorne said. “But this first.” He bent and gave her quick, hard kiss.

He saw her smile before starting down the stairs at a half-run. “Nice flames, by the way,” she added over her shoulder. “I take it the lizard is back?”

“He’s on his way,” Thorne said, resting his hand on her shoulder to keep them connected. He never wanted to let her go. “We need to buy him some time before I can Change and fly us out of here, though. Do you remember seeing any side passages we can defend, if we need more time?”

Rebel shook her head. “Not sure. But anyway, we need to get to the fish pond.”

“Why?”

“Because I think I know where the Seal is.”

For a second Thorne was stunned, but then it all made sense. The fish pond. The one place in this whole mausoleum the child Rebel had been drawn to, over and over.

The one place she’d remembered best.

And she’d realized it right after they’d bonded for real.

He snorted. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

They’d reached the bottom of the stairs and were making their way through the part of the tunnel that ran under the house.

“What?”

“Tyr and his damn fairy tale were right after all. The only way to find the Seal was for us to fall in love.”

There was a short silence, and his heart dropped, just for a second. Then Rebel said, “I’m good with that.” She reached up and squeezed his hand, making his heart rise again and fill with warmth.