Page 42 of The Magic of Destiny
Heavy breaths and sharp nails against the concrete floor were all I heard over my pounding heart. Sloane was getting closer, and with the fog dissipating now, I saw flashes of scales when I looked through the enclosure.
A huge head came into view, and I gasped. Yes, I'd seen Sloane in this form before, but not like this. Not this... feral. This out of control. His eyes glowed like burning embers and his long forked tongue snaked out. Slowly, so fucking slowly, that massive head turned in our direction. Fischer angled his body in front of mine in a protective move, and Sloane growled so deeply that the very aggression of it rocked my bones. He didn't like that move.
“Sloane,” Fischer stated calmly, like we were about to have a beer together or something. How did he keep his voice so calm? I watched, transfixed, as the scales on Sloane's back rippled as he stepped closer, that tongue flicking out again.
“Stop,” Fish commanded, and the dragon opened his mouth in what could've been the scariest smile I'd seen in my entire life. “We're here to help you.”
Sloane didn't stop. He took another step closer, his tail whipping through the air and slamming against the enclosure, causing the whole thing to creak.
‘We have to get him out of here.’Fischer’s voice rang in my head.
‘I can fly us out, get him to chase us?’I suggested quickly, because he was maybe ten feet from us now.
‘Head back for the tunnel, it's our best shot,’Fischer agreed.‘NOW!’
We wrapped our arms around each other and I didn't hesitate. My wings snapped and caught the air, propelling us up and away from Sloane. Oh, he was fucking pissed.
“Go, sweetheart!” Fischer shouted and I quickly called upon my green magic, letting vines manifest and wrapping them around the two of us, just to make sure we wouldn't get separated.
I took a nosedive as we approached the huge doors which, thankfully, were now open. Another earth-shaking roar pushed me faster, now that I knew he was following. Speeding down a hallway, I almost stopped when I saw a group of ten guards running toward us.
“Go! Don't stop,” Fischer shouted.
The demons below started sprouting wings and were preparing to grab us when I saw their mouths drop open.
“Dragon!” one of them screamed as they tried to disperse. We were already taking the corner when a blast of heat nipped at my back.
“Oh my stars, he torched them,” I gasped.
“Good. Now get us out of here, sweetheart,” Fish shouted in encouragement.
I easily found the way back to the tunnel, with Sloane's growling, snarling, and roars of rage spurring me on. I wasn't used to carrying someone else's weight while flying though, and I was getting burned out really fast.
“Come on, just a little further!” Fish whooped.
“I'm running out of energy,” I panted, seeing the door to the outside up ahead. We were so close.
With a final push that came from sheer determination and adrenaline, we shot out of the still open door and into the night. My wings were screaming with exhaustion, and I could feel sweat running down my spine.
“Oh my gods,” Fischer breathed, and I turned to look. I immediately wished I hadn't.
Sloane was emerging from the tunnel like a beast from the underworld, his skin simmering with fire, lighting up the night. His wingspan must've been thirty feet, and he was sprinting. Fucking sprinting. Right for us. With a jump that looked effortless, his massive body took to the sky just as I hit a pocket of turbulent air.
I screamed as we rolled through the air, my wings too weak to correct the flight path.
“Hang on, sweetheart,” Fischer said against my neck as our chests rapidly rose and fell against one another. I didn't even get a chance to look at what I was hanging on for, when a huge foot closed around both of us, holding us securely.
“Oh no, no, no,” I chanted, trying to squirm within Sloane's grasp, but it was no use.
“He's not crushing us, so that's something, right?” Fish asked, still as calm as could be.
“No, but he's flying higher and higher. I'm too worn out to fly any further. If he drops us, Fish…”
“He won't,” Fish replied immediately.
I hoped he was right. The past several hours had felt like a blur. I was so thankful that we’d found Annie, and just thinking about her reuniting with Miranda caused my eyes to prick with tears. Everyone else had gotten away, and they should all be back in my cottage by now, safe. Hopefully once Faris regained consciousness, he’d be able to help heal Kai. My poor, fierce Alpha. If not, I knew Gran would help treat their injuries to the best of her ability.
Sloane’s wings beat powerfully against the cool night air, though the movements of his body were surprisingly gentle as we flew. We’d found him. I could only hope to the stars that he hadn’t been harmed, and that all of this vast open air would help purge the adrenaline he’d been exposed to.
