Page 97 of Dragon Blood

Kolina tugged and dragged harder as she clung to him still, adding to the imbalance, twisting to avoid his clawed hindquarters. Iron gray and steel blue flipped as sky and sea exchanged places again and again.

She’d go down into the water with him if she had to, though if she was too slow, he could drown her.

Her gut churned with another revolution, catching sight of a substantial form barreling toward them, but her head spun, their bodies on an uneven rotation. Her focus, as tight as the grip of her jaws, on this one thing.

Bring the deviant male down.

His wings fought to ascend, powerful tail whipped to the side, dragging Kolina toward his massive body. A hindquarter shot out, and solid bone caught her temple. The shock of the impact forced her jaws loose as her head rang and spots filled her vision. A second kick dislodged her with a deafening crack.

Acid filled her gut as her body refused to obey her command to hold on, but it was too late.

She fell.

He righted himself and dove after her, maw widening as he closed the distance.

Kolina sped, back first, toward the ocean, staring up at the terrifying sight, still unable to force her limbs to obey her commands to twist, to fly, to evade.

As she impacted with the surface of the water, a great mass erupted from it, jaws open and claws ready.

Carson.

Her heart fluttered as the two figures collided, creating a great thunderclap before disappearing below the surface that Kolina sank into. A tsunami sent her further away, tumbling through the water as she’d previously tumbled through the sky.

Still, she couldn’t move.

The spots impairing her vision multiplied as she sank into the darkness of the ocean, staring up through the lighter layers toward the sky.

The shadow of another dragon drifted into view, hovering over the surface.

She continued her sink into darkness.

Chapter 31

Astred’sfingersslidoverthe stone hidden under the scales on her chest while those of her right hand drummed her knee. Still six hours before they reached the North American east coast, and still more after that to Aeleftheria herself.

Kai’s warm hand enveloped hers, calming the staccato of her hand and that of her pulse. His palm tingled against hers, soothing.

He was her sanctuary.

She looked up from their joined hands at him occupying the seat beside her, and Bayn beside him, offering both a wan smile.

“You know, I hate planes.”

He leaned close, “I haven’t met a flighted dragon that doesn’t.”

“Apparently Jori Mountainside loves them. The smaller and deathtrappier the better.”

“I heard he was late to dragonhood, and doesn’t know any better.”

She laughed, shaking her head. Too much idle time, trapped, forced to listen to her thoughts, doubts and fears.

She rubbed the hidden amulet again, whispering, “Every time I close my eyes, all I see is the vision of the meteor streaking through the sky, obliterating everything around it.” Dropping her head back against the seat. “I don’t know why I feel compelled to bring it back, when logically it’s likely the worst thing to do.”

Kai’s finger squeezed Astred’s. “At least the seals are safe. No one but the queen can awaken the Mother.”

She nodded, dropping her free hand to scrub at a loose thread on the hem of her shirt. “There is that. But nor can anyone awakenmymother.”

“May be that is for the best. It keeps her out of this fight.”

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