Page 28 of Exquisite Monster (Dragons of Viria #2)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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ENDRE

M ost of the cells were empty.

Sirrus and I ran . We both knew that if we didn’t find the dragon, we would have to leave regardless.

Wait…

Turning inward, I collected as much power as I could spare and forced it through this entire place, blanketing it. My name is Endre, Heir to dragonkind. I am told a captive dragon is here. Tell me where you are .

It wasn’t a question. It was a command. As much as I hated using it, we didn’t have time.

I am here .

Further down the hallway and down another set of stairs. Sirrus was on my heels, and I shoved open the cell door with enough force that the door broke.

The dragon laid on a bed, entirely still with her eyes closed. “Dragon.”

No response. Not even a movement.

Sirrus approached and looked down at her. “Sit up.” Another command.

The dragon sat up smoothly and without hesitation. Fuck.

“I’m going to try something,” Sirrus said. “If her mind is broken it won’t work. If they’re poisoning her or using some sort of mixture…”

He set a hand on her head and closed his eyes. I felt the rush of magic and air around us as his power flowed in and over the female.

All at once her eyes cleared. A deep breath. I wished we could bring her out of it slowly, but none of us had the luxury. “If you want to leave this place, it has to be now.”

It took a long moment for her to nod before she took a breath and stood. “Yes. Yes, thank you.”

Sirrus held the door open for her, and we were moving. Up and toward the surface, the open sky, and Lena .

Idroal?

It is good to hear your voice, Your Highness. We are close enough to speak now.

We’re on our way. Where is Lena?

Safe.

I huffed a breath as we looked around a corner to clear it. That wasn’t what I asked .

I practically heard their sigh. She is in the throne room.

My heart skipped a beat. What?

Belleo and Karadi are with her.

Zovai met us in the central hallway. “I thought you were burning something?”

He smirked. “I am. It’s just delayed a bit.”

“ They’re escaping .”

Guards flooded down the stairs toward us, and we moved.

It was almost sad how easy it was. No wonder they wanted scalefire.

Even though the betrayal had been disastrous, I understood why the weapon had been given in the first place.

These men were outmatched in every way. If the barrier fell, so would all humans, and only the six Elders would be needed to accomplish that.

The female dragon lunged for the guard and took his sword. I saw it too late. “ Wait ? — ”

She turned the sword on herself, forcing it through her own body, close to her heart. The smile on her face gave me chills. She was already turning black before she hit the ground, and Zovai caught her.

Sirrus took down the last three guards with a slash of wind that opened their throats, clearing the way. I didn’t even think, simply unleashed my flames on the dragon’s body, sick as it made me. After everything, she deserved to return to ash. I could not argue her choice.

“Find your peace among the stars.”

Zovai’s hand came down on my shoulder. “Let’s go.”

The fields at the top of the stairs were on fire. More than half the crops were burning, the flames spreading quickly. In the distance, crowds of humans were trying to put it out, completely distracted.

We see you, Idroal’s voice. Get to the walls.

I ignored them.

“Lena’s in the throne room.”

Both Zovai and Sirrus’s minds sharpened, and the latter nodded once. “Should we go get her?”

All three of us ran before the words were fully out of his mouth. We didn’t know the layout, but I could feel my mate. She was close, and I wasn’t flying out of here without her.

Your Highnesses, Lena is already on her way .

Zovai glanced at the shapes of dragons above us. Idroal.

I swear on the Fallen, she is safe. With as much respect as I can manage in this situation, get over the fucking walls.

The laugh slipped out of me, completely at odds with everything else. “Well, when you put it that way.”

I ached to shift into my beast, but I couldn’t. Rather, if I shifted into my beast right this moment, I might not have the strength to shift back, and I would hold my mate with my human arms before that happened.

We were healthy, but I couldn’t pretend we were well. Every pain and ache I’d forced down was pressing against the walls of my mind, and I sensed it in the others. Freedom and relief came with consequences.

Sirrus’s air boosted us, aiding in the climb and softening the drop onto hard-packed dirt. It looked like nothing for miles in front of us. The same dirt. No vegetation, no animals, no grass. Craisos was well and truly dead. Only the bowl in the distance was visible.

A green dragon landed in front of us. Idroal. Closely followed by turquoise and then pale lavender. I climbed Idroal’s scales and settled on their back.

“We need?—”

I know .

We were already in the air, circling toward the main city. Ruby hair caught the light of torches. LENA .

Her head whipped up toward us. She heard me. She heard me. The dragon beside her—already in beast form—took her, and the last of those in human form shifted and flew, joining us as we headed back towards the Bowl, and for now, safety.

The sound reached us first, and then the force of the explosion. One look back showed a ball of fire rolling skyward, right where we had been held. Anything that had not already been on fire now blazed.

Z’s voice was nothing but victory. Told you I was going to burn something .