Dragon Mystics: Supernatural Prison 2(36)

He dived faster, swift as the wind, his wings flattened to his side. When he was at an angle where I was seconds from sliding off, his right wing shifted around and I felt a heavy weight descend across my legs. He had me pinned to his back. I could hear blasts of fire, screeches and snapping of jaws, but I couldn’t see much of what was going on.

Eventually he freed my legs. He needed to fly.

Braxton flapped his powerful wings and we were ascending again, following a path along the coastline. On one side I saw a massive body of water, and on the other the never-ending forest. Staring out across the falsely green expanse, I was starting to realize how lucky I was that Braxton was with me. He’d used his dragon nose to scent for the ocean, and I had no doubt that without him I’d have been lost wandering randomly in that forest for weeks.

Was there was more to this world than forest and water?

Spinning about the best I could, there didn’t appear to be any harpies around. Had they retreated or had my dragon taken out the last few? As I had that thought, something huge crashed into the underside of Braxton. He twisted to avoid another attack, and my precarious hold on his scaled back was lost. Both arms flailing, I grabbed for anything but there was nothing.

With a gasp I found myself tumbling backwards, spinning downward toward the ground.





Chapter 8



I was a long way up, so I had a long time to contemplate my death as I fell. I saw Braxton react, his dragon twisting, prepared to dive after me. I had no idea if he could reach me fast enough, but I spread my body eagle-style to slow the descent. I had to give him a chance.

He moved swiftly, his bulk cutting the distance between us like a bullet, rapid and lethal. A sliver of hope lit up my heart, then something smashed into Braxton again and knocked him off course – another large creature, bigger than the eagles the harpies had used. Probably the thing which had knocked me off his back.

The ground was closing in, I could see the ocean and tree line. I was about to become intimately acquainted with one of them very soon. I shut my eyes, the descent making me dizzy. Inside, my dragon raised her head and growled.

I knew immediately she wanted me to shift into her and save all our asses. My wolf joined in with the growling, her hackles raising along her silky back fur.

Well … right now the Four were not my biggest worry, and who even knew if they could feel energy in Faerie.

I reached for the dragon energy the same way I would my wolf’s. I couldn’t remember what I’d done the one other time I’d dragon shifted. There had been so much panic and pain in the prison, but surely it was simple.

Nope.

The energy was there – I could feel it, but it didn’t encase me as my wolf did. The dragon growled again, bashing against the cage which held her. At this stage, even if I managed to shift into her, we wouldn’t have the space to prevent the inevitable smash into the ground. My only other hope was the dragon’s strength. She could possibly survive this plunge, which was going to kill me in my humanoid form.

I reached for her again, and at the same time she gnashed her teeth and lunged for me. We collided against the barrier. What the hell? Was this the protection from Louis? I thought he said he was just hiding the energy, not locking it away.

No … I was pretty sure it was something else.

I still had my eyes closed. I didn’t know how far until my life ended, but it had to be soon. I screamed as something wrapped around me. I was jerked to a grinding halt. Well, actually, I was still descending, just slower this time. I opened my eyes to find a pair of talons wrapped tightly around my middle. I was going to be very sore and sorry tomorrow. But Braxton had saved my life, so I couldn’t really complain.

Flickers of blue light caught my attention, and I noticed that parts of his tail were covered in flames. But he’d managed to keep the rest of himself fire free. Which I was thankful for.

As I had that thought, we were attacked again.

Holy eff me sideways. Is this shit ever going to end?

Something pierced through my right thigh. I screamed again, long and loud as whatever had speared me attempted to wrench me from Braxton’s grip. I doubted the spearer was stronger than the dragon, but the two forces were going to tear me apart.

More cries ripped from my throat. My dragon was still smashing inside, but we couldn’t touch each other.

I slipped through Braxton’s claws; the pain in my leg did not ease. I couldn’t see what had attacked me, but as I started to spin in a circle, whatever held my thigh released me, flinging me into a straight downward plunge to the ground. This time there was absolutely no chance to be saved.

I closed my eyes again and prepared myself for the impact. In my mind all I could see was Braxton, the beautiful dragon shifter trying his absolute best to save me. As long as he survived, I would be okay with dying. And maybe there was a chance … I hadn’t been as high this time … maybe I’d survive. I was strong, I was dragon marked