Summer of Frost (Forever Fae #3)(22)
“I do,” she confessed wholeheartedly.
“Okay, first things first, when I change into the dragon don’t be afraid. I would never hurt you. When the change is complete just climb on my back and hold on.”
“Sounds good,” she agreed, bouncing on her heels.
I backed away from her slowly and began taking off my clothes. She kept watch the whole time, running her green gaze over my body with a smile on her face. “Enjoy it being one-sided right now, because when we get back you’re going to be in this same position. Our dreams will soon be coming true,” I added, winking.
She shook her head and waved her hands impatiently. “I look forward to it, but you need to hurry up! We’ve wasted too much time. My friends need us. I feel guilty enough as it is ogling you while they’re in danger.”
Once the change started, Sorcha’s eyes grew wide in concern, and she cringed. Watching the transformation was hard the first time, or at least that’s what I’d noticed. It took Ariella a few times to get used to it. After the transformation was complete, I stood at my full height while Sorcha gazed up at me, mesmerized. I lowered myself to her, waiting for her to climb on my back. She hesitated for a few seconds, but then climbed up and settled her body at the base of my neck.
“You are so beautiful,” she murmured in awe, running her hands over my scaly dragon skin. I huffed in response, and looked back at her. When she was fully secured and hanging on tight, she gave me the final nod. “I’m ready,” she assured me.
The moment I took off into the sky I could feel her tense up and hold tighter. No matter what happened, we were going to rescue her friend and guardian, and I was going to keep her safe. She was mine … mine to protect.
The Crystal Lake was quickly coming upon us, and thankfully, the early morning darkness concealed me in the sky, giving me full advantage. My enhanced vision helped me see through the trees to the army below. Everyone was mostly still, but there were a few people up and about, completely unaware of what was approaching. I knew one thing … they were going to run like spineless cowards by the time I got through with them.
Circling quietly around the camp, I waited for my army to get closer, and when they came into sight I descended down on the enemy, letting out a guttural roar with fire from the depths inside me.
Drake’s growl was ear-piercingly loud, and if I didn’t know it was him I would’ve cowered in fear. I wasn’t afraid of him in his dragon form, but just the knowledge of what he could do was a bit terrifying. It had to be wonderful yet lonely to be the only dragon in the Land of the Fae.
“Oren? Can you hear me?”
Silence was all I heard as a reply, and it scared me. I would know if he was dead, but the silence wasn’t normal. Even though the wind whipping by us was loud, I knew Drake could hear me when I called out to him, “Sarette told me they were in the middle of the camp tied to a post. The dwarf we need to capture is the one with my spear. We just need to find him and take him down.”
Drake landed with a hard thud onto the land below, almost making me lose my grip. The sound roused the dark sorcerer’s army, and almost instantly they were alert and ready to fight. Pulling out Sarette’s sword, I headed into the fray, ready for battle. The screams and grunts of the fighting were all I heard as I killed one faerie after the other. The sword felt odd in my hands, but I was well trained in how to use it. I was in a zone where nothing and no one mattered except my friend and guardian. Death was a consequence the traitors knew would happen if they turned against their people.
Anger and betrayal overwhelmed me as more and more of my fellow fae came for the attack, and as much as I hated to kill them I knew I had to. As more faeries and fae creatures fell, I could see through the crowd to the center of the camp. Sarette was struggling against her bonds while Oren stayed limp at her side. Drake slashed his way through the enemy, severing limbs and bodies in the process while making me a clear path to my friends.
“Sarette!” I screamed, running toward her. “Are you okay?”
In the next instant, I heard before I felt the arrow slicing through the air and landing its target. The next step I took had me reeling in agony. White, hot fire surged through my veins as pain engulfed every cell of my being. I collapsed to my knees as Drake bellowed out a roar behind me. Jutting out from my shoulder blade was a deeply embedded arrow, and it hurt.
“What the hell!” I yelled, angry and pissed for getting hit. Staggering along the way, I eventually reached Sarette and Oren, and using my good arm I cut their bonds, releasing them.
Sarette was frantic. “Holy shit! Sorcha, are you okay? Turn around!” she demanded. As soon as I turned around she ripped the arrow out of my shoulder with one sharp pull. Screaming loudly, I fell to my knees on the ground and clutched my bad shoulder. Drake nudged me in the side, concerned.
“I’m okay, Drake. It just hurt that’s all.”
Fire shot through his nostrils as he scanned the woods for the attacker, emanating danger and death. Sarette spotted the culprit first and pointed to the trees. “It’s him!” Sarette shouted. “Sorcha, it’s Brokk, the one we need!”
Once Drake understood, he bounded through the trees, knocking them down in the process, as he chased after the dwarf. Needless to say, the dwarf didn’t get far. In one massive swipe, Drake brought his claws back and hit Brokk so hard he went flying in the air. It just so happened that he landed knocked out at my feet with my spear attached to his back and a bow in hand.