This was chaos.
From a rational perspective, I knew I should calm down and think, but my beast was having none of that. We had a job to do. One more important than any other we’d ever been given.
I crawled over the rock ledge of the nearest cave entrance and landed on the earthen floor. The ground trembled under my boots. I shook my head at Her antics.
I’d always paid attention to how She spoke, but it’d been years since I’d heard anything other than these teasing tremors reminding us of Her power.
I ignored Her taunting as I adjusted the basket of baked goods on my arm, turning left down the tunnel, away from the sounds of weak human cries.
The biggest fears the town peasants—residents—had were of my dragon and the human government.
They didn’t even realize the real threat was beneath their feet. Each rumble of Earth’s shifting crust was a rushing tide of disaster. She’d continue to move faster and faster without the guardian to absorb Her energy.
The whole world was about to change.
And I was foolish for staying here.
Anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere would be unrecognizable in a few years. The Southern Hemisphere would follow shortly after. Nowhere was safe, but we could keep moving if we had to.
I wouldn’t let Her take Ember yet.
Not when she still had so much life and passion and love in her eyes.
It was my job to protect her.
With our dying breath,my dragon roared, invigorated with his new purpose.
It was a struggle to keep him away from the human male chained to the tunnel walls and head deeper into the earth instead. We’d gotten our answers from the sheriff already.
I wasn’t sure if I could trust myself to leave him alive for Ember’s gift if I had to speak with him alone again.
What she’d seen in that pitiful man was beyond my comprehension. I couldn’t even find it in me to be jealous of such a lowly creature.
The whiny sounds as I’dgentlyinterrogated him still filled me with disgust. I should probably hurry in case he succumbed to his injuries though.
Worst case, I’d bring her his head.
The sounds of water dripping from stalactites and flames crackling in lanterns lit by dragon fire guided the way through the main tunnel.
It was colder here, warmed only by the flames that held Earth’s magic given to dragons to wield. The fire would burn until the dragons died or put it out.
I shivered, realizing that end was coming sooner rather than later. Having Ember tumble into my life showed me just how fast it could all slip away.
I quickened my pace, not wanting to waste any more time now that it felt so precious.
The scent of old scrolls, potted ink, and musty remains of bones was a soothing balm to the rapid pulse of my dragon’s rage. It slowed our heart, reminding us of calmer days of the past.
Bemouth looked up from his stone slab desk covered in yellowed parchment. He smiled in greeting as I entered the cavern. My old mentor was more beast than man.
Reptilian scales of silver covered liver-spotted patches of skin on his upper human body. His lower half was permanently dragon. Monstrously large thighs creaked as he moved about the room, dragging his molting silver tail, constantly peeling with weak new growth. His white human hair was fragile and wispy, pulled back with a leather strap.
Slitted dragon eyes regarded me under bottle-cap bifocals with a grandfatherly warmth. “Are those muffins I smell?”
“Agatha made the poppy seed ones.” I set the basket on the desk, unhooking the meat pouch from my belt to place beside it. “Is she awake?”
We both looked to the darkened cavern beyond the open enclosure Bemouth made his home, listening for sounds of the chains rattling.
Silence greeted us in return.