Page 107 of Locke

“Get up, Emm. Now!”

Emm blinked immediately and looked up at Idris.

Idris pulled out a pair of long, sharp knives from his belt and held them in his hands. He blew on one and it floated into the air. Emm took a deep breath.

“Just a knife. I can dodge those easily,” she mumbled.

“Not these,” Idris taunted.

“They’re enchanted, they won’t stop coming at you. Fucking leave and get back to the pack!” I roared inside the link.

“If you are going to talk out of your ass, at least turn around so I can hear you better,” she snapped at me.

Emm lunged at Idris with the lycan speed she possessed. It was slower than it should have been had she had been trained and not recently shifted, but she was still fast. Idris was quicker, his magical daggers proving to be a lethal asset.

He dodged her attacks, his legs working just fine. He held out the dagger again and it rose into the air. The pointed end aimed for Emm and flew with outstanding speed. Emm gasped, feeling it hit her shoulder, and hissed.

“NO!” I was able to roar, pulling and twisting in the red bonds that tied me.

Idris’s menacing laughter echoed through the air as he retrieved a gleaming dagger from his concealed stash. Gripping it tightly, he held it aloft, watching as it hovered weightlessly. With a forceful exhale, he blew on the blade, causing it to slice through the atmosphere and find its mark on Emm’s shoulder, eliciting a sharp and agonizing pain.

I roared again, this time the bonds that held me faltered and I began to break free.

“You fucking bastard, you fight me!” I yelled at him.

Despite Idris’ ability to heal, he was bitten twice. Venom was running through his body. His skin was grey and he was having trouble, even with his magic. He could throw the knives, try to heal, or keep me pinned. He couldn’t do all three.

Idris snickered, and walked closer to Emm, pulling another knife from his sash.

Amid their matched chaos, Emm’s body shifted back to her human form. I knew she couldn’t maintain the lycan form. Her body was giving up.

Idris’ sinister laughter echoed through the air as he maliciously hurled yet another blade towards her. With a surge of adrenaline, I managed to break free from the restraints that held me captive, his weakening magic granting me freedom. Instinctively, I positioned myself to shield her from further harm, bracing as the blade pierced my shoulder. The searing pain shot through my body, accompanied by the metallic scent of blood that began to flow down my arm.

I turned my head slowly, my fangs dripping with anticipation. “My turn.”

Idris backed up several steps toward the lake, and bubbles came to the surface. I smirked and let my claws clink together, as Idris let another dagger rise from his hand. He blew on it and as soon as it went into the air, my hand raised and I caught it with ease.

“Someone has become weak—again.” I taunted.

Idris smirked despite being cornered. “Is that so? Go ahead, kill me.” Idris opened his arms. The last few remanding daggers dropped to the ground. “Rip out my heart. See if I care?” He laughed again, and I wondered if I really was the crazy one here.

If it was a trap, I didn’t know but I didn’t really care. I was ready to sink my teeth into his throat and end him for good. To kill him with my bare hands, feel his blood on my teeth.

I took a determined step forward. His eyes flashed with malice as he lunged towards me, his nails slashing across my abdomen. The sharp pain seared through me, but I refused to show weakness. I clenched my jaw, feeling the warm trickle of blood down my side, and locked my gaze on him. With a swift motion, I raised my arm, the metallic scent of sweat and anticipation filled my nose ready to end this once and for all.

My mate was slowly healing behind me. I could feel her. But to keep her safe, I needed to end him quicker than I really wanted to. As my hand reared back, the bubbles behind him gave way to two blow-holes. A large snake-like head rose above the water, and Idris and I both stood back.

A magnificent blue dragon, its towering form covered with shimmering silver scales and adorned with vibrant yellow accents, loomed above us. As it gracefully opened its nostrils, a refreshing cascade of water poured down upon us.

I could smell Anaki’s scent, his recently-mated scent.“Anaki?”I linked

Without hesitation, Anaki launched into action, moving swiftly and silently like a cobra. With lightning speed, Anaki’s powerful grip ensnared Idris by the torso, pulling him forcefully into the depths of the water. The surrounding waves trembled violently, echoing with the tumultuous commotion. As the chaotic struggle unfolded, Anaki’s sleek body twisted and turned, mimicking movements of a crocodile.

I stood in shock until the waters calmed and I could no longer see Anaki or the Idris.

The hell?

Sadness hit my chest, a new feeling since starting the fight here next to the lake, and I realized I needed to tend to my mate. I dashed toward Emm who was laying naked in the dirt in her human form. Blood was drying on her skin, tears streaming down her face.

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