A Turn of Tides (A Shade of Vampire #13)(57)

Taking advantage of my mother’s shock, I burst out from the bushes and bellowed up at the dragon.

“Hey, you brute.

Down here!” All eyes shot toward me.

My father yelled and my mother screamed.

Yes, it was a stupid, reckless thing to do—but they didn’t realize that I was the only thing that would call Charis back to the ground, which was what we needed if we were to have any chance of ending it.

As Charis dove toward me, a dozen vampires and werewolves hurtled toward him at once, their weapons raised.

Still perched on the dragon’s head, Caleb inched closer to his eyes.

Now that the dragon’s entire focus was on me, he seemed to have momentarily forgotten about the vampire hanging from his head.

My mother’s arms closed around me, dragging me back into the bushes as my father yelled, “Caleb!” He tossed another spear toward Caleb, which Caleb caught at the last moment.

Driving the spear downward, this time, Caleb hit his mark.

The sharp tip pierced through Charis’ small eye, causing him to let out a piercing shriek as he fell onto his back and began writhing on the ground.

My eyes shot toward Caleb, who landed several feet away on the ground.

As the army closed in around the dragon to end him once and for all, Charis spread his wings and launched into the sky again.

I half expected him to lunge toward my direction again, but instead, his flight unsteady in the sky, he flew toward the sea.

“No,” Caleb shouted, running after it.

But it was too late.

The staggering dragon had reached the beach and was fast traveling toward the boundary.

We all stared after him as he was soon just a speck in the sky.

He could have been mistaken for a large bird in the distance.

Now that the danger had passed, my mother allowed me to run out from the bushes again.

I leapt into Caleb’s arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and holding him in a tight embrace.

“You did it!” I was expecting him to look at least somewhat triumphant, but instead he was just scowling.

“I didn’t.

It got away.

I should have killed it, but clearly I didn’t apply enough pressure.” “I doubt Charis will come back with that injury,” I said.

“Maybe not Charis… but if he makes it back to his realm, this island could have just made another whole horde of unwanted enemies.”

Chapter 37: Rose

Although Caleb’s words worried me, I was too exhausted to think about them much.

I was just relieved to be back here on the island with him and my family.

A crowd gathered around Caleb and me, my parents at the forefront.

I looked my father straight in the eye as Caleb lowered me to the ground.

“I think my boyfriend has earned his place on this island now, wouldn’t you agree?” I ignored the way my father’s eyes widened as I referred to him as my boyfriend.

I was too proud of Caleb to feel shy.

My father still looked uncertain as he eyed Caleb, but I was relieved when he said, “I’ve been wrong about people in the past.

I look forward to a full explanation.” I squeezed Caleb’s hand and was about to suggest that we return to the apartment and give him just that when a voice called out from behind us.

“Hey! We could use some help!” The crowd parted as everyone turned around to see who it was.

Standing by the Port was Mona, an arm wrapped around Kiev’s waist, with Erik on the other side supporting him.

Two figures lay on the ground—Corrine and Ibrahim—while Abby was standing nearby, calling and waving us over.

We all hurried toward them and as we drew nearer, I was shocked to see that Kiev was missing an arm.

Helina reached them first and threw her arms around Kiev’s neck.

“What happened to you?” He looked so sick and pale, as though he might collapse at any moment.

“Corrine and Ibrahim…” my mother said, as she bent down to their unconscious forms.

“How?” Mona shook her head wearily.

“Later.

My man needs to lie down.” “Your house is a wreck,” Helina said, still looking distraught at the state of her brother.

“We should take him to one of the spare mountain cabins.” Without another word, Mona vanished from the spot with Kiev, Helina and Erik.

My mother picked up Corrine, while my father lifted Ibrahim, and they hurried toward the direction of the Sanctuary.

Caleb and I followed them, along with Abby and most of the crowd.

“Where’s Patricia?” my father asked Abby as we ran.

“She didn’t make it,” Abby croaked.

A mournful silence fell among us—a silence that lasted until we reached the witches’ temple.

My parents laid Corrine and Ibrahim down in their bed.

I still had no idea where Mona, Kiev and the others had even gone, so to hear that Patricia had passed away left me shocked and doubly bewildered.

A handful of witches gathered around the bed and began treating the couple.

After five minutes, they turned to everyone present in the room and requested us to leave and give them some space.

I looped my arm through Caleb’s as we walked out the room, following closely behind my parents.

I supposed it was just as well Mona had arrived when she had.