Page 133 of Enchanted Crown
“No,” she gasped, the tears seeming to only increase. “No.”
The blood drained from my face as I waited for the inevitable. Amory moved forward and gripped my wrist, the only thing I felt over the pounding of my heart.
Avril swallowed and was able to inhale enough to tell us, “It’s Morana.”
“Where?”Zaire demanded.
“I had another vision. She’s in Esta’s lair.”
CHAPTER 44
“And she has company.”
Just when I thought her words couldn’t get more terrifying, she had to go and add to it.
“The hostages are there.”
I immediately went to shout down the bond for Esta to stop. To turn around. But just as I did, I felt her shock and rage slam through it, reverberating through me enough that I closed my eyes and fell to my knees under the force of it.
Morana?I asked Esta.
Yes.
Avril just warned us. We’re on the way. Stall, Esta. Please stall.
My wings had sprung forth at some point as if sensing my need to help her. My rage that Morana would dare to enter a lair that wasn’t her own. Then again, she had no honor left. So why was this all that surprising?
I spun to the balcony, ready to fly to The Drak as fast as I could. “Let’s go.”
Avril’s voice stopped me. “Wait.”
I turned back to look at her. Every second I did not make it toEsta was a second more she was in danger. Grave danger. The thing which stood between Morana and what she wanted most, the crown, was the person currently wearing it. Esta.
And even if Morana was thinking logically enough to realize Jagen was also still in the picture, I would not put it past her to kill Esta anyway. Esta was Dra Skor’s first woman Mallick queen. The position that Morana had always coveted but would never hold. And if she couldn’t have it, I wouldn’t put it past her to make sure Esta couldn’t either.
“I cannot go,” Avril explained quickly. “I have to remain here. My presence will cause the rest of you to hesitate and one if us will die if I go. I’ve seen it as a possibility.” She added, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Thank you for telling me,” I told her, moving back to the balcony. “Dex, stay with Avril.”
“I—”
“I don’t have time to argue with you,” I snapped.
“Trust your instincts,” Avril told me. “You don’t need me to finish this.”
I looked to Amory before I jumped. “Round up as many shifters as are still down there. I want everyone at The Drak. Surrounding it. Morana will not live through this day.”
“Got it,” Amory said, her brown eyes looking as determined as I was sure my own did.
I turned back to the balcony, to find Zaire there, already shifted. “Can you reach Malachi?” I asked.
He gave his large head a shake.He’s too far, but I have already spoken to a few winged shifters who may beat us there, hoping they can reach him.
Just before I took to the sky, he said,Hop on.
In my hesitation he added,Save your strength for when we get there. He let out a ring of smoke.I’m faster anyway.You can focus and speak to Esta on the way, and we can form a plan.
I couldn’t argue with that logic. I used my wings to fly me to his back and we were hurtling toward The Drak. My every hope, my every thought all a prayer that we would make it in time. That she would still be breathing when we arrived.
