Page 36 of Dragon's Midlife Secret Baby
Sol moved quickly, grabbing a fistful of Corbin’s shirt and thrusting him out at arm’s length so that he hung over the treacherous cliff and the crashing waves below. “Leave now, or I’ll throw him over the railing.”
“And then we’ll tear you limb from limb and lick your blood from our teeth,” Lilith vowed, showing a side of her they rarely got to see.
The mage only lifted his chin higher. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’ve worked hard to build up what I have here, and I don’t need lowlifes like you to interfere.”
“Mommy!” Corbin cried again, genuine fear reddening his face as he wiggled in Sol’s grip. He twisted and turned, pressing uselessly against the man’s hand.
“Leave now, or he goes in the water! This is the last time I’ll ask you!” Sol yelled.
Corbin couldn’t conceive of the true jeopardy he was in as he squirmed. He twisted and yanked, freeing an arm from his shirt.
“No!” Chelsea cried, but it was too late.
Corbin’s little body slipped free of his t-shirt.
Beck shot forward with every ounce of strength he had, but he might as well have been in a nightmare. His legs were made of concrete. His body was too heavy and awkward, and he would never get there on time. He was about to lose one of the most important things in his life, and he was too far away to save him.
The boy screamed as he fell, but the sound changed as his newly discovered dragon form quickly emerged. His wings shot out from his back, and his clawed hands scrabbled uselessly in the air. He was a dragon, but that didn’t mean he knew how to fly. Corbin didn’t even flap his wings as he plummeted to the rocks and waves below.
The dark brown flash of a shadow was almost imperceptible. It detached itself from the murkiness behind Sol and pitched downward along the cliff face. Giant wings tucked themselves against his body, the bronze color gleaming so slightly as it raced toward Corbin’s falling figure. The wings whipped out with a snap, and the dragon caught Corbin in his arms before arcing back up toward the sky.
It was Griffin.
Beck held his breath, ready for thenext battle. Sol wanted to use his son for his own gain. If Griffin wanted to attempt the same, they would both suffer the same fate. There was a collective gasp as Griffin swooped along the clifftops, past the group, and circled around.
He landed with Corbin safely in his arms.
16
“Oh, thank Goddess!”As Chelsea and Beck reached Corbin, she leaped from his back and fell to her knees. Griffin wordlessly handed her toddler over. He was screaming and dirty, and a good amount of snot ran from his nose, but she pressed him to her chest and held him tightly. “My sweet boy.”
Beck had quickly flipped his form, and his arms enclosed firmly around them both. He breathed heavily and muttered something under his breath. Through her tears, Chelsea could see the pure anguish on Beck’s face. She’d been pissed at him when they’d arrived on the island, and then she’d turned that anger toward those who actually deserved it. Now, she wasn’t sure how she felt. Forthe moment, she just kissed the top of Corbin’s head over and over.
“Now you can get the hell off my island!” Sol called out. “And take your brat with you. I’d suggest keeping a very close eye on him, though.”
A blaze of gold light sent him staggering slightly as Maeve lobbed an attack.
He recovered quickly and flicked an attack right back. “Please. As if your miserable attempts at magic could affect me.”
“Is that why you ran away like a dog with your tail tucked between your legs?” Lucille called out. “You didn’t have any chance of stopping us until you threatened the life of a child.”
Maeve moved to her left, ensuring that Sol couldn’t run again. It was either them or the cliff. “Mygrandson. You’re going to pay for that.” She reeled back like a baseball pitcher and sent another one flying.
It burned his fingers, making him flick his hand and curse, but he laughed. “Oh, Maeve. If you’d stayed with me, I could’ve taught you how to use magic as a real weapon, not just a little light show. It’s pathetic, really.”
A few of the remaining acolytes had gathered a short distance away. They hovered, watchingand waiting to see what they were supposed to do.
Chelsea was only somewhat worried about them. They could be taken out if needed, but Sol was the real concern. “Mom, we need to bind him. He’ll always be a problem for us if we don’t.”
“I agree,” Lucille said.
Sol pretended to yawn. “Or you could just stop the charade and leave while you still have a chance.”
Even in defeat, the asshole was arrogant.
Maeve stepped back to be closer to the other witches. “We don’t have any candles, so we’ll have to wing it.”
A puff of smoke escaped from Ewan’s nostril. “We have plenty of fire if you need it.”
