Page 129 of Marked By Moonlight

“Marius!” I croaked between gasping breaths.

The dragon raced in, skimming over the closest rooftops, then over the ground.

Get down!his roar burst into my mind.

I waited until the last possible second, then threw myself down.

Whoosh!Marius sliced the sky over me. The downdraft tossed my hair, and the air heated as a long line of fire scorched the park. The wolves scattered.

Keep running!Marius urged.

Rolling to my feet, I ran toward the buildings. Then two shapes burst out of the shadows ahead, and I halted.

Shit. This was it. I was finished.

But the beast on the left ran directly past me, snarling. I stared at the blur of dark stripes. The one on the right sprinted past too, and I spotted a thick, flowing mane. A lion?

Then I cheered. “Bene! Roux!”

Mayhem ensued, and I backed away from the snarls and screams. When things died down, I rushed closer, gesturing toward the tunnel.

“Henrik is in there fighting Szabo and two other vampires!” I yelled.

Bene flew into the pavilion and down the stairs, his long, tufted tail streaming behind him. Roux followed. I was of half a mind to follow, but Marius roared.

Don’t even think about it.

So I didn’t. I just stood there, listening as snarls and curses broke out in the tunnel.

Marius circled overhead, studying the ground. I turned, following his gaze. The earth was singed, and three lumps lay still on the grass. Marius lifted his mighty dragon muzzle and roared into the sky.

So, Etienne and his cronies were dead. But what about Szabo? What about Henrik?

Chapter Twenty-Six

MARIUS

My heart pounded as I circled the riverside park, peering into the shadows. Fortunately, Mina wasn’t hurt, but I wasn’t about to relax. Not when another foe could appear at any moment.

I dipped for a closer look at Etienne’s lifeless body…or the ashy remains of it. Then I exhaled, but only slightly. One bitter enemy eliminated, but others remained. Like Szabo.

After another tight turn, I swooped down. The ground rushed up at me, and I stuck out my claws for landing. At the last possible moment, I braked by catching the wind with my wings. Touching down, I took a few skipping steps, then stopped, gazing at Mina.

She stood a few steps away, startled yet stubbornly holding her ground.

“Marius…”

My heart thudded as she stared at me, wide-eyed.

“Are you all right?” she whispered.

I snorted. She was the one who’d tangled with Etienne and his gang.

I grunted quietly.I’m fine. What about you?

She nodded. “Thanks to you.”

My dragon preened.