Page 82 of Hidden Fate

Not your fault,I replied as I sucked in a huge breath.You caught me. It would’ve been worse if I’d hit the ground from the fall.

The thrumming sensation in our bond flared, and his hands glowed as the lavender dragon huffed and whipped its tail at us again. Thorn raised his hands and caught it. Gripping the tail, he clenched his teeth and pulled hard on his magic.Get out of the way in case I can’t hold it for long.

I climbed to my feet, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs, and moved several feet back. The dragon whimpered as its body shrank. It was losing its strength, which meant Thorn wouldn’t be struggling for much longer.

Glancing toward the magenta dragon, I noted Vlad, Theron, and Wyvern surrounding it with their daggers lifted. Saphira stood several feet away with her gun aimed at the dragon. The dragon hunkered down, blood pouring from one of its eyes.

Saphira had taken a shot. The dragon shook its head, whimpering as it flailed its legs and tail around to protect itself. If Saphira shot at it again, she’d have to aim close to Wyvern. She wouldn’t chance hitting her mate.

I had a clear view of its nose, but I didn’t want to chance Wyvern or Vlad getting in the way of a bullet, either.

I glanced at the lavender dragon. Its scales were fading to reveal a woman with long orange-red hair. It wouldn’t be much longer until her dragon was completely gone, and she’d be permanently human.

I’m going to help the others,I informed Thorn, and took off with one target in mind.

Displeasure washed through our bond, but Thorn replied,I’ll be there in a moment.

The magenta dragon shook its head from side to side and rolled around to keep Wyvern, Theron, and Vlad from reaching its face. Luckily for me, the eye nearer me was the bloody one, but it would sense me sneaking up on it.

I focused on moving swiftly but quietly. When I got within ten feet of the dragon, it sniffed, and I froze.

It jerked its head to the side so its good eye could see me while smoke trickled from its nose.

I had to move fast before he blasted me with fire. I lowered and tapped into my dragon, then ran toward it as quickly as I could. As soon as I was within striking distance, Thorn yelled, “Everly! No!”

The dragon opened its mouth, and flames encompassed me. My skin heated, and the fire swirled down my throat. Though it didn’t feel as if I were being burned alive, the fire rubbed painfully against my skin. The closest sensation I could compare it to was when I was younger and a friend had gripped my arm with both hands and turned them in opposite directions. I hadn’t expected it to be this painful—no wonder Thorn had yelled.

Gritting my teeth through the agony, I focused on putting one foot in front of the other. The closer I got to its mouth, the rawer my skin felt. The blast threatened to trip me backward, and I couldn’t sense anything other than the flames crackling in my ears and the intense stench of brimstone.

When the roar of the fire and the scorching heat melded together, I had to trust I was at its mouth. I leapt, sweeping my dagger up, the flames burning under my arms, and swung down hard.

The flames vanished, and I was thankful for the fireproof dragon spray that we’d soaked our clothes in earlier. The wind rushed in the opposite direction, toward the dragon. Then there was an agonized scream.

When the air stilled and my hair blew out of my face, I found that I’d stabbed the dragon’s tongue. I yanked the dagger out and swung again to make sure the jackass stayed down for the count. I wouldn’t let any of my friends get hurt if I could help it.

Everly, move, please.Thorn’s magic swirled through our connection.I’m taking his dragon, and I don’t want to risk affecting you.

We both knew that likely wouldn’t happen. He hadn’t been able to remove my dragon when he’d tried to take it back, but I didn’t want to take a chance. Not anymore. I wanted to remain a dragon shifter and be with my mate as an equal in all ways.

Stumbling back, I inhaled heavily, the pain still affecting me.

Saphira ran to me and threw her arms around me. I winced from the discomfort.

“What’s that for?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“I couldn’t shoot at him, and that dragon was getting its bearings.” She dropped her arms. “If it weren’t for you, one of the guys would’ve gotten hurt. But…” She paused and put a finger in my face. “Don’t ever do that shit again, or you’ll be hurting worse than a burn right now. I love you.”

“I love you, too, and I wanted to make sure no one got hurt.” I glanced at the former lavender dragon, now a girl passed out cold on the ground. Her breathing and heart rate were steady. Her skin was pale with freckles all over her body, so I was certain that was her natural skin tone and not from the trauma.

“That’s so freaking crazy to see in person,” Wyvern rasped as he joined Saphira.

We needed to get into the tunnel. The magenta dragon was already halfway back into its human form. The scales disappeared, revealing a naked middle-aged man. His eye was still bloody in human form, and my stomach roiled. But he’d attacked us. We’d had to protect ourselves.

I’ll take Saphira and Wyvern into the tunnel,I informed Thorn.Join us as soon as you can. Vlad and Theron could keep an eye out until all three of them could come.

Sounds good,he answered, concentrating on his task.

I rushed over the slight rocky incline and went to the boulder that blocked the entrance to the tunnel. I reached around it, searching for a latch.

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