Page 115 of Anaki

Scales lunged forward with a swift, menacing grace, his massive jaws opening wide to clamp down on Idris's torso. Idris's body stiffened in our grasp, a tense rigidity taking hold of him, and just as abruptly as we had surged from the water's surface, we yanked him back into the dark depths below.

Scales shook him violently, thrashing with a relentless force that drove our sharp teeth deeper into his abdomen, tearing through flesh and sinew. The water churned around us, a chaotic dance of bubbles and blood, as Scales ensured his suffering would be prolonged. His struggles grew weaker with each passing moment, his eyes wide with terror and pain. We could sense his impending doom, knowing that soon he would succumb to the watery depths. Only then, once he had drowned in the murky embrace of the water, would we feast upon his lifeless body.

At least Scales would eat him. I’d ignore him.

The thought sickened me, but it was the only way to be sure he was dead. Once his movements ceased, we released him to eat him headfirst, but as soon as we did, black smoke surrounded his body and dispersed into the water.

We shook our head and searched in the water for his body, but there was none to be found.

We continued to search as I sank to the bottom to see if he had escaped us. We kicked up the sediment, and the fish swam away in panic.

“Anaki?” My name came in loud and clear in my head. Locke was trying to reach me, and I winced at what this could mean. Pissed he didn’t get hisshot to kill Idris or just straight up wondering what the hell was going on.

I rotated my body and swam to the surface. He was patient as I slowly emerged from the water, thankful we had a mind link. I’m not sure if I was ready to speak in my dragon form to him. He would have more questions than I wanted to answer.

I was ready to get back to Elena and Luis. They were my priority, now that Idris was no longer present. Dead or not.

“Alpha-”Scales used his voice through the link. He was doing it to protect me. My voice would have shaken if I did.“I apologize. It’s been a while since I’ve had to control my instinctual side.”

Locke stood on the shoreline, staring right at me like I was the enemy. He has never seen a dragon in his life, so I won’t fault him for that. “I get it. But where the hell is Idris? He better be buried underneath a rock in the deepest part of the lake,” he sternly said.

I curled my body and looked back at the vast emptiness of the lake.“His heart stopped beating, and I held him in my mouth, but he disintegrated. Is that how the fae die?”

Because hell if I knew.

Locke snarled and ran his claws through the fur between his ears. “I don’t know. We will have to speak to Bram. He knows more. Where are your mate and her son?”

I took my long forked tongue and wiped it across my lips.“Safe within my cave. Her grandmother ran off and said she must fulfill her destiny. I triedto stop her—”

I hated lying, I really did. Because I absolutely sucked at it.

Scales tutted in my head.“He didn’t even ask for that information. Why are you giving it?”

“I’m so nervous!”I snapped. “It makes me antsy.”

Locke shook his head and held up his hand. “She fulfilled it. But she isno longer with us.”

I slumped my shoulders and turned away.“I failed her,”I told him.

“No—” He shook his head. “It had to be done. It was her destiny, and I’m sure the goddess will bless her in the afterlife.”

I’m sure that was true. The goddess had kept up on the promises she had given thus far. Unfortunately, the result of Abuela being gone will leave heartache on both of her granddaughters.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Elena

Itook Luis to the cave. Our home now.

We would have to figure out a separate room for him. I’m sure there were other tunnels or parts of the cave that we could use. Anaki was very mindful that he was going to be a father, and while he has spent little time away from me, he’s been thinking of having Luis here. I was sure of it.

“Mama?”

My arms encircled Luis from behind as we paused at the tent's entrance, the canvas flaps rustling gently in the night. We peered inside, where shadows flickered against the dim light of a lantern. Luis tilted his head back to look at me, his eyes wide with worry, eyebrows knitted together in apprehension.

He was so young, and he was here having to deal with the death of a grandparent, and finding out about all this shit. Soon he would know his aunt was a damn Luna and a freaking huge, monster dog-thing was his uncle.

“Are you okay? You have this weird look on your face?”