Page 94 of Damien’s Mate

“I couldn’t,” he said. “But Brandon went to the Lord High Commander’s office and got the master key to the wards.”

“That’s what those lights were,” Damien said. “Brandon bringing the wards down.”

Dragon Boy didn’t answer. He was waving his hand through the air like he was scrolling through a computer screen, and the view through the window was changing.

“Are the others okay?” Damien asked.

“I can’t see them. They must already be in the portal. We better get back.”

Dragon Boy transported them through the spirit world at a dizzying speed, spilling them out on top of the hill where the portal was anchored. It was already activated, and Damien stood ready with his Draken artifacts, in case it was enemies coming through and not friends.

Moments later, the Wild Bloods poured out of the portal. Damien counted as they came out, then breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was bloodied, but they were all there, and all on their feet.

“They’re right behind us,” called Titan, the last one out. “Shut it down!”

“No!” Brandon held up his hand. “Let them come. We need to finish this.”

“Are you crazy?” Damien asked. “We got lucky in there. They’ll burn us to a crisp!”

“Trust me,” Brandon said. “I called in backup.”

Damien didn’t see anyone, but the others seemed ready to trust him. They fanned out, weapons ready. Muttering to himself, Damien took his place in line.

Kitty gave Lila a spare gun, and Damien had the Draken armband. Lila also gave him her Guard uniform pants, which she’d put on over her own. Damien took them gratefully.

He’d barely scrambled into them when Lion Guard troops burst through the portal. At the same time, four portals opened in the air above them, and the Makek-Dur Draken flew through.

The prince landed and Changed to human, while the others hovered, blowing tiny flames threateningly into the air.

Brandon walked forward, his grenade launcher held loosely in his arms. “Get out of my territory,” he said to the Draken. “You’re not welcome here.”

Prince Herrick sneered, arrogance in every line of his body. “Do you think I’m interested in your welcome? Give me the artifacts, or we will burn this forest to the ground, as well as every stick and stone in your territory.”

The three Draken blew great gouts of fire into the air. Damien made sure he still had the Draken fire-protection bracelet on.

Prince Herrick said, “You have broken the treaty between your Shifter Council and the Council of Draken. You attacked us and stole our artifacts. You will return them, and you will be punished.”

Brandon gave a short laugh. “Yeah, no.” He rested the grenade launcher on the ground and leaned on it. “Let me give you my legal interpretation. You invited the mate of one of my crew to your homeland, and then beat her, threatened to torture her, and forcibly prevented her from leaving.”

His tone grew quiet and deadly. “No one messes with my crew. So I’m telling you one more time to get the fuck off my land, before I get really pissed off and make you.”

Prince Herrick laughed. “You have the arrogance to think you can defend your territory with these paltry creatures? You cannot begin to stand against us.”

“You think?” Brandon said. He put his fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle.

From below the drop-off at the end of the field, great figures rose into the air.

Dragons.

Black and red and cobalt blue, their scales glistened in the sun. Damien felt a sudden downdraft, and more dragons uncloaked themselves, hovering over Brandon and the crew.

Damien stared around him. There were nine dragons in the air, some with people on their backs.

Above them flew two horses with iridescent black wings and serpent heads. Just like the ones on the bracelet.

Then he heard the sound of ripping fabric, and people began stepping out of the air behind the Wild Bloods.

He could sense they were shifters—two dozen or more. All dressed in combat gear and dripping with weapons.