Page 101 of Dark Embers

“He’s alive!” Arya cried.

Chapter 36

Tobias

BOOM! BOOM!

The blast shook the buildings and reverberated through the ground. I braced myself against the impact, then whipped my tail to knock out the two vampires behind me. The vampires thought they were catching me off guard, but I’d known about their position ever since they left the others. They were attempting to surround me, but I would never allow myself to be in that position of weakness—not as skilled as I was.

Their entire attack was well executed. The vampires had effectively separated me and Niko from the girls, occupying us with a barrage of constant assaults. But I knew that a couple of teenage dragons weren’t their target. My fears had been confirmed when one of the vampires snatched Arya and took off with her.

Instinct instantly took over, panic flooding beneath my scales and enhancing my senses exponentially. The bond was in control now, and I’d stop at nothing to ensure her safety, even if that meant sacrificing myself in her place.

I tried to jump away in flight, to go after her and save her from the blood-sucking, mer-killing monsters. But I was immediately pinned down by three more vampires. I couldn’t break away unless I wanted to be seriously wounded—or worse. And I would’ve done it, would’ve endured any number of injuries to save her, but the constant defense and pre-emptive offense keptme moving at a neck-snapping pace. I couldn’t find a chink in their armor to exploit.

Knowing that I couldn’t go after Arya burned me more intensely than any fire ever could. If she died here tonight, I—

No, I couldn’t think about that.

I almost missed the metal object that nearly impaled me when I saw the phoenix screech and go after Arya.

What the…Ashlyn?

It had to be. I’d never seen her shift—heard from everyone that she didn’t know how—but as she was the only phoenix anywhere near here, there was no other option. Ashlyn had learned to shift, and just in the knick of time.

Deftly, I was able to dodge another weapon, snapping the neck of the vampire wielding it before moving on to the next five that were already attacking. I couldn’t think about Ashlyn’s breakthrough; I just hoped she could save Arya without getting them both killed.

What a piece-of-shit imprinted mate I was that I couldn’t protect her myself. What good was this fucking bond if I couldn’t—

Niko’s deep red scales flicked, flipping up then settling and reflecting the streetlight like an old-fashioned disco-ball right into my line of sight. Niko was clearly panicked, and this trick was his way of distracting the enemy while simultaneously drawing my attention.

Niko was surrounded. I hadn’t even realize we’d been separated.

I rushed forward, not bothering anymore to find a weakness in my assailants’ ranks. In less than a second, I clamped my jaw around one near me—after blasting fire at three others—and tossed the limp creature into the side of a building before bracing to jump to Niko’s side.

That’s when I saw it.

Time seemed to slow as one of the vampires pulled back some sort of switch or lever on the top of what looked like a very high-tech weapon. Whatever it was, it was going to kill my best friend.

And I couldnotallow that.

Without thinking, I hurled myself forward, putting the entirety of my gray scales between the unknown weapon and Niko.

Fire seemed to envelope us right before—

BOOM!

*?*?*

I tried to fight against the unconsciousness, but my eyelids felt like lead and my entire body burned from the inside out. I should give into it—extinguish the wretched burning that wasn’t coming from my own, familiar flames—but somewhere distant, I knew my friends weren’t out of danger yet.

I needed to shift again and drive the vampires off.

I needed to contact Caesar.

I needed to get everyone—especially Arya—back to the safety of the Dome.

A strange feeling cooled against my cheek and my eyes flew open as I gasped for a breath.

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