Page 45 of Monsters In Her Head

“I mean if that prince of hers is looking for her, she shouldn’t be out there alone even with a guard.”

Ryu patted Desmond’s shoulder. “I think one drake can take on a few humans. We’ve done so before.”

A sinking cold feeling crept into Desmond’s belly. He didn’t like this, not at all.

Spinning on his heel, Desmond stalked down the corridors toward the exit that led to the clearing. For a moment, he thought his brothers weren’t going to come but a few moments later the resounding thud of their steps as they rushed to catch up with him filled his ears.

“You really think something is wrong?” Ira asked, coming up beside him.

Desmond shook his head. “I don’t know. I just have this feeling. Either way it doesn’t hurt to check on her, right?”

Ryu frowned and then chuckled warily. “So worried for her safety now are you?”

“If she’s the only thing standing between us and annihilation then fuck yes I am,” Desmond snapped as they grew close to the entrance. He paused his nose lifting to sniff the air. “Blood,” he announced before his footsteps quickened.

They burst out of the cave entrance, the bright sun stinging Desmond’s eyes for a moment before pushed forward. Ryu rushed toward the edge of the spring where Georgia’s shoes sat while Ira stopped half way down the path.

“She was here.” Ryu held up her shoes. “But why would she leave her shoes behind?”

“Maybe she forgot them,” Desmond answered, hoping speaking the words would make them true.

“And the blood?” Ira asked, kneeling one knee on the ground, his fingers touching the drying red substance. He lifted it to his nose and sniffed. “It’s drake blood.”

So the princess was okay.

The tension in Desmond’s tail relaxed before he realized what that meant. “Does that mean...” Desmond trailed off as Ira moved into the woods. Desmond glanced at Ryu before chasing after him following the scent of blood as it got thicker.

The sight of the drake on the ground made Desmond’s heart stutter. He didn’t particularly care for Tatoween one way or the other but no one should be left to die bleeding out alone.

“That’s material from Georgia’s clothes.” Ira stated, kneeling beside the drake to touch the cloth wrapped around the multitude of stab wounds already bleeding through the fabric. Desmond watched as Ira tested the drake for breath and then placed his ear against his back. “He’s breathing but barely. His heart is weak. Georgia binding his wounds is the only reason he hasn’t bled out already. But we need to get him to the infirmary quickly.”

“Obviously they were attacked but where’s Georgia?” Ryu said from behind him his nose to the air. “I can smell her scent but it's fading, it's been an hour at least.” He walked around the clearing, sniffing as he went.

“Are you listening to me?” Ira asked Ryu. “He’s going to die if we don’t get him back.”

“Then take him,” Ryu snarled, his eyes flashing and his claws flexing by his sides. “I’m going to find our princess.”

“Maybe she finally ran away?” Desmond offered up, trying not to sound too hopeful.

Ryu shook his head. “No, the ground is disturbed with multiple footprints and they go this way the same direction her scent went. Someone attacked them and grabbed Georgia.”

Desmond stepped up to his brother avoiding his swinging tail as he glared out at the woods. “We’ll get her back, Ryu. But we have to get Tatoween to the infirmary first. We can’t go rushing after her with no plan or idea of where she was taken.”

Snarling a huff, Ryu turned to him. “You’re right. I just hope they didn’t take her back to that bastard yet. If he touches one hair on her head, it’ll be the last thing he ever does.”

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