Page 73 of Ensnared

I’m pretty sure the second I die, they’re moving on to him. “I’m sorry,” I say, my eyes welling with tears. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t get out of this. I’m sorry you’re about to be attacked when you’re already weak, and my last wish is that you will be able to kill all those silver devils.” I’m smiling one last time at that prospect as the earth races to meet me.

Because, surprisingly, I really want him to be fine.

But instead of splattering on the pavement below, a huge, blood-red dragon slides in underneath me just in time, his massive wings pumping furiously, and suddenly I’m moving upward again instead.

Azar.

Somehow, when I was about to die, Azar found me again.

Axel may not be very well liked, and certainly the Prince of the Return has his flaws, but I can’t fault Axel’s faith in his friend. He comes through in a crunch in a big way.

16

I thought, when that insane electro dragon yanked me up into the sky, that was the highest I would ever fly. I thought it was the highest I’d ever want to go. But now, riding Azar, the city below’s barely visible. Some of that is thanks to cloud cover, of course, but a lot of it is that we’re higher than I thought humans could fly. I can’t help wondering how much farther I can go before I won’t be able to breathe.

I must be clutching him pretty tightly, and maybe dramatically gasping for breath a bit, because he addresses my concern before I’ve even voiced it. I’m able to generate enough oxygen for you. Don’t worry.

“You can generate. . .” Asking him about science right now is probably pretty stupid. Instead, I squeeze his neck a little tighter, and then I inhale deeply. Fall in Houston can be pretty hit or miss, but it’s usually still fairly warm.

On the ground.

Up here, I’m freezing half to death. It’s totally worth it, though. This is definitely a once in a lifetime kind of view. It might be nicer if I hadn’t just been bitten on both my thigh and arm by dragons with dagger-sized teeth, and then grazed on the shoulder and side with a sword. Even so, I’m lucky Azar showed up when he did.

I can probably heal from this with Axel’s help.

There’s no healing possible after becoming pavement jam.

“Thank you,” I say. “You saved my life again.”

But that makes me wonder why he’s the one saving me. The earth dragons may not be as powerful as the electro dragons, but he is a prince. Surely Axel could have marshaled his army and brought hordes of dragons over to save me. . .or something like that. “Is Axel okay?”

Aren’t you really just worried about your siblings?

“I’m worried about Axel, too,” I say. “Those stupid electro dragons—” I catch myself too late. “Er, I mean, the strike blessed who took me were trying to harm him.”

Axel can defend himself.

“Maybe, but why are they so angry?”

They’re jealous.

“That’s kind of your fault.”

If I hate him, they attack. If I like him, they attack. It’s a problem with our society, which is proving difficult to repair.

“Aren’t you the only one who can fix it?”

It’s treason to criticize the established power structure. The strike blessed are more powerful than the earth blessed. There’s nothing I can do to change that.

“But the way the powerful behave models behavior for the lesser creatures. As adults, it’s our job to teach our children good manners and ethical behavior.”

His head curves just a bit so his massive eye can see me. You have some insight, but you don’t understand the blessed enough to be helpful.

“Well, that’s not my fault.” I’ve been trying not to show how cold I am, but it’s getting harder and harder. My fingers are numb, and my grip’s getting weaker. An involuntary shiver runs through my body.

You’re cold.

“Aren’t you?”