Page 82 of Cursed

I look at Arden, and he grunts. “I’m good.”

Flying with four other faeries, Tavi zips down the hall toward us. Her eyes are on the door. She points. “Sparkle Mage is in there.”

“We know.” Arden clenches his jaw. He glances at his mother, and I see his worry and indecision. He doesn’t want to leave his long-lost mom behind, but he doesn’t want to pull her into this deadly fight. “Mom, how many prisoners are in the asylum?”

“I’d say hundreds.”

“All of us can help,” Tavi offers, understanding the new mission instantly.

“Good.” Arden hugs his mother and says, “Go help them. Get the prisoners out of here. Get somewhere safe.”

“Save your dyad, my sweet son.” She kisses his cheek. “I’ll be waiting to meet her.”

Fuck, I wish I had a mother like her. It makes me rage that my father took that from Arden. But alas, all the rest of us have evil fathers in common.

If we make it out of here, I will give this poor woman anything she wants. And I will make reparations for any other souls illegally held, which is likely all of them. If I kill my father, I will have control over his billions. Finally, dragon law will work to my advantage. My mother won’t get his estate since she didn’t bring the wealth to our lair—only her ability to make dragon heirs.

Arden’s mom rushes off, delegating orders for the faeries to carry out and telling them all the places to find the prisoners.

The druid’s eyes linger on his mother as she disappears down the hallway.

“She’ll be safer away from here—from us,” I say.

“I know, but…”

“I know.” I pat him on the shoulder, and we all turn toward the doors.

“I got it.” Landis throws his hands up in victory as the ward around the door collapses.

We hear a war cry from inside—Shayla.

Branden and Arden throw the double doors open.

The dimly lit room is large enough to fit a couple of dragons, roughly fifteen long strides long and deep. Its vast size surprises me.

Straight ahead, someone, who I assume is Shayla’s father, blocks our view of a surgical table.

My father and Branden’s adopted father are on either side of the scene.

Both are untrusting of each other to stand so close while being distracted.

I draw power around my body to sling my mage-fire.

Landis’ shadowtentacles come alive at this back, as he assesses the room with me.

Hollis races in and shifts midair during his leap. I’ll admire how cool that is another time. He comes down on top of Shayla’s father, knocking him to the floor.

The shaper-shifter has his arms up to protect his throat.

Hollis bites down on his forearm and shakes him so hard that I wonder if he’s snapped the male’s bones.

My father and Branden’s look irritated by our presence and take a few cautious steps backward, readying for a fight.

Shayla is strapped to a table.

Landis’ father, Shade, has his dark shadows shoved into Shayla’s head. She lets out another wail. With the strained expression he wears, I suspect my incredible mate is resisting him.

But I can also see that it’s taking all her strength and focus to fight him off. I don’t even know if she has registered what’s happening in the room. She might not know we are here.

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