Page 74 of Red Dragon’s Flame

This place wasn’t safe, she thought suddenly. The phoenix was churning inside her, the fire revving up and yet also somehow muffled by the magic of the portal.

But the firebird was frightened—Devon felt a wordless warning that might as well have been a scream: DANGER! DANGER!

Michelangela and Devon stopped at the same time, Michelangela looking at Devon with concern. Mikah walked on a pace or two and then turned back.

His mouth formed the words, “What’s wro—”

Before he could even finish, a hole ripped into the side of the portal. A lasso of glittering magic was flung through it and headed for Devon, quick as a striking snake.

“No!” Michelangela cried, lunging for her. The loop of magic settled around both of them, pulling tight like a noose and yanking them off their feet. Devon’s dragon fell from her hand and she screamed, reaching out for Mikah, but his fingers missed hers and she was dragged away.

The mists closed behind them and they were somewhere else, somewhere that dark figures hovered, light glittering on midnight-black wings.

Allohim.

It had all happened in seconds. Mikah lunged at the wall of the portal, clawing at it, but there was nothing there but mist.

They were gone.

His brothers crowded around him, magic ready in their hands, everyone too late. There was nothing to show where Devon and Michelangela had vanished to.

The only thing left was Devon’s dragon night light, half-obscured by the mist at their feet.

Everyone looked stunned.

Cazbek said, “What the hell happened?”

Mikah snarled, “They hacked the portal.”

Zak said, “How the hell do you even do that?”

“I don’t know, but they fucking did it.” Mikah wanted to smash something, but there was nothing to smash.

The others, realizing they hadn’t come out of the portal, returned out of the far mists. Cazbek, seeing that Mikah was in no state to talk to anyone, quickly explained what had happened.

“She trusted me,” Mikah said numbly. “I told her I’d take care of her.”

“And fucking Mikey got herself taken too,” Brock snarled. “She’s no use to them. What if they just kill her?”

“Don’t go there,” Emon said to him. “If anyone is a survivor, it’s Mikey. Devon too. We’ll find them, and they’ll still be alive when we do.”

Kira had been examining the wall where the Allohim had breached the portal. “I can find them,” she said unexpectedly. “I can sense where they went—at least, where they were waiting outside the portal. With any luck, once I’m there I’ll be able to trail those suckers right back to their homeworld.” She bared her teeth. “I think those flying monkeys may have just fucked themselves.”

Brock immediately asked, “Do you need help? I have a bond with Michelangela—it might help us find where in the Allohims’ world they’re keeping her.”

“Yes. I need you. And Mikah.” Kira looked sternly at him. “Your bond with Devon will help too. If you can keep your head on straight.”

“I have more than our bond. I have this.” Mikah held up the dragon. “I keyed it to her, and to me. If I say her name, it will lead me to her.”

“Between worlds?” Kira asked.

“I guess we’ll find out.”

“Be careful,” Tyr said. “I’ve been lost in the place between portals, and I do not recommend it.”

“Maybe,” Kira said. “But you didn’t have me.”

Or me, Mikah thought. I’m going to find her. I’m going to get her back from the Allohim.