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“You do not understand. I am going alone to fight against a coven.” He held her eyes when she frowned, seeming to search his. “Amalia, I may not return.”

Her face paled and her hands fell.

“What do you mean you may not return?”

Her features turned into those of worry and care for him.

“Exactly what I said, I may not return. I may be captured or killed.” If they did capture him, it wouldn’t take long for them to remove his scales while he was alive and then kill him to take more parts from him. His eyes flickered over her and then around the alcove of her room. “If that happens, my ward will disappear. You are to run.”

Her hands flew up so she could cup them against her chest. She often did this when she was anxious or worried.

“My kind will come here, and they will not understand. You will no longer be safe. They will kill you, Amalia.” His eyes found hers again. “Take what you need and run. They may not chase you once I am dead since my face will no longer need to be a secret.”

Before she could speak, he turned from her.

“I have to go. I cannot waste any more time.”

“Wait!” He didn’t. He walked up his tunnel, but he could hear her chasing after him. “You have to come back.”

It was a sweet demand, but he didn’t give her any promises that he wouldn’t be able to keep. He looked at her one last time before he left his lair and ran into the clearing in front of his rock step.

Then he flapped his wings and took flight, heading towards what could possibly be his own death.

Chapter 20

It was half a day’s flight to Mahesh the Flightless’ home if one was to fly calmly. Rurik didn’t. He flew hard, and he flew fast, making the trip in just over a quarter of the day.

He imagined Glov had done the same.

I will be too late.He knew it. He knew the likelihood that Mahesh was still alive would be minimal. Still, he couldn’t turn his back on his brethren. He couldn’t abandon him when there could still be a possibility.

Rurik landed out the front of Mahesh’s cave. He could hear noises coming from inside, could smell the deep, rich aroma of blood.

He galloped inside.

There was a stray Witch walking in the main tunnel, and Rurik startled him when he came up from behind. Just as he turned to fight, Rurik slammed him against the wall with his shoulder, crushing and instantly killing him. He clamped his fangs around his throat and bit his head off before he swallowed it whole.

He planned to regurgitate it later, if he lived, so he could add it to his wall.

It had been a surprise attack, but his presence would be known by the others in due time.

He checked each alcove to make sure he wasn’t passing a Witch who could come up behind him as well as to see where his fellow Dragon was. They were still here, which meant they weren’t done pulling him apart.

It was a sad day when a Dragon walked into another’s lair to visit and found nothing other than blood and the tell-tale signs that they had been extracted. It was something they all feared would happen.

Mahesh’s cave was similar to his own, but windier and longer since he was much older than himself. Being flightless, he wouldn’t have had the freedom to leave his lair for a great distance. He’d spent his years shaping his home.

Rurik came upon another Witch who was going through a hoard in an alcove. He grabbed her in his large paw and bit halfway down her body before she could react. Swallowing her down so he could add her to his collection, he backed up just as a yell sounded.

He turned to the noise and found another female Witch. She looked horrified to see him, and she bolted down the tunnel.

“The WitchSlayer!” she screamed in an attempt to alert the others.

Before she could get too far, he landed his paw down on top of her, picked her up, and threw her against the wall. He’d expected them to come after him when he collected her, but they didn’t.

He moved further inside until he came to the first main room that Mahesh had created, having carved multiple areas for him to house Dragons in.

There they waited for him, four Witches and Strolguil. He paused to enter, all of them ready to fight him now that they were in a group and weren’t easy pickings.