Page 63 of Surge of Storms

How very kind of you,I grit out.But you know you won’t keep me for long. My dragons will find you, and despite all your talk, they’re bigger, stronger, and better than you in every way.

Your dragons,he hisses out,are not nearly as powerful as they think they are. We have found the best place possible to hide you, and they will spend all their time searching for you, without a chance of ever seeing you again. It’ll be oh so sad.

You’re forgetting about satellite imaging, people who will report seeing us, government technology, and everything else. They’re going to find you, and when they do, you’ll be dead meat.

I can hear the smile in his voice.We’re not worried. But you should be. You’re about to lose your wings, and then you’ll belong to us. Forever.

No, I say.

The dragons fly closer. My heart moves into my throat and fear, true fear, races through my veins like ice.This time, I’m not going to be able to escape.

TWENTY-SIX

Samantha

Just a short time ago,this was all just a nightmare. Now, it’s my reality.My dream from the other night merges with my reality in a way that leaves me sick to my stomach.But unlike my nightmare, I’m going to escape this.

With nothing else to do, I do the only thing I can. I find an opening between the dragons and start flying as fast as I can. I’m quicker than the males are, but they’re practically on top of me, and I know it. Unfortunately, I only make it a short distance before Malikay smashes into me from above.

His claws tear into my wings, and a terrible sound comes from my lips. I buck. I toss. I do everything I can to try to escape him, but he’s holding on tight.

I search for an escape, but only see the other male dragons around me. I feel like a mouse on the ground, with hawks all around me, trying to tear me into pieces.

Tears sting my eyes. I keep fighting against him. In response, he claws me deeper, and for a minute, I’m falling to the ground before I catch myself once more.

Get away from me!I scream, even knowing it won’t make a difference.

You won’t escape this time, Malikay hisses into my mind.

Then he releases me. Wobbly, I fly away from them, trying my best to escape, only for Malikay to grab me again, digging his claws into me in new and painful spots.

I fight against him. He releases me, and I bolt once more. Except, he smashes into me again, digging those terrible claws into my back and wings.

He’s playing with me. This is all a game to him.

I use my fire, blazing at the dragons that surround me. They shift back, but the second I’m done, they’re surrounding me again. I keep blazing them with my flames, trying to get some space between me and them, but then Malikay is on my back again, ignoring the flames.

She needs to learn a lesson,Malikay says smugly.Let’s teach her what happens when she fights us.

Suddenly, all I can see are the dragons. All I can smell are their terrible smells. And then claws are coming at me from every direction, shredding my wings. Shredding my body. Every inch of me is in pain, and now I’m only in the air because Malikay has his grip on me. If he releases me, I’ll fall.

Still, I’d rather fall than endure this.The pain is unlike anything I’ve felt in my life. My mind is begging me to lose consciousness, but I can’t. If I do, then it’s really over.

What the hell?Balor growls, but his words are edged with fear.

The dragons move away from me, except Malikay, and I see the sky has darkened. Gray storm clouds swallow the blue, and rain begins to fall, slow at first, then faster and faster.

My heart squeezes as relief flows through me.They’re here. I’m saved.

I smile.You’re in for it now.

No! Balor says in horror.

I spit blood.If you think I’m hurt, it’ll be nothing compared to what they’ll do to you. Get ready to die.

The dragons fly around in a panic as lightning splits the sky and thunder roars. And for one second, the pain clears enough for me to truly relish the fear that’s settled into these pathetic assholes. They thought they were so big and tough when it was just me.Let’s see how big and tough they are with my men.

Fuck, Malikay mutters, and I see them. I see Evander, Aydan, Granger, and Zane, flying at us like bats out of hell.

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