Page 36 of To Touch A Silent Fury (The Bride of Eavenfold #1)

The ground around the egg was almost molten, and I jumped between the patches of mud untouched by her flame until I was a few feet from the shell. The egg cracked further as the screams and snarls behind me reached a crescendo, a hairline fracture all the way down its side .

“Come on,” I muttered under my breath. Just a little more, I thought, as tooth met steel.

I risked a glance back, and my heart jolted as three men cut down a russet wolf. Why the wolves had attacked, I could only guess. Whatever magic this forest held, however, I did not trust it enough to believe myself safe from the wolves’ instincts now that Vellintris was gone.

The men were winning, already. There couldn’t be more than a span of wolves left. Shadow was ahead of me. I knew in some natural way, as one knows the sun follows the moon, that he was waiting for me.

The ones nearest the front shouted to the others, pointing at me. “Kill the tribeswoman.”

Another barked. “She’ll die clean upon my blade.”

“Don’t shoot. You could hit the hatchling.”

I flinched, more from the noise than the threats. A large chunk of shell fell away as a thin and papery purplish wing, coated in grey mucus and slime, pushed against its confinement.

I reached my hands into the carcass of the egg, the hot air still escaping from its sweltering chamber, the steam burning my neck.

I felt warm flesh and pulled the thing up, holding its boiling, squawking form against my front and knowing my hands would be blistered if I lived past this night.

Opening my coat, I pushed the baby inside.

The warmth would be a fraction of where it had just come from, but I had no other choice.

Then I turned. Only two wolves remained, baring their teeth. The men bared their teeth back, swinging swords as a handful ran towards me. I heard more shouts in the distance. More would come.

I didn’t want to leave Vellintris here. Even knowing she was dead, it felt wrong to leave her to the plunder of lesser men. But there was nothing left I could do. I had to keep her baby safe .

Scanning the forest for any gaps, I cradled the tiny creature against my belly through my coat. There was no way I was making it on foot. Acting on some greater instinct now, I jumped across the molten embers to Shadow’s side.

He waited, and the moon caught in his eye as he looked at me. I touched my hand to his head, and through his thick fur, I felt the warmth of him. His assent. This was insane. This was completely fucking insane.

With my free hand I grabbed the scruff at his neck and hoisted myself across, clutching the baby dragon closer as I lay along his back.

And then the wolf flew. His muscles rippled and contorted under me, and I held on as best I could, which was poorly with only one hand free and a precious burden locked against my front.

I barely managed to stay on as he ran through two of the men, knocking them off-balance as shouts called for our pursuit.

I laughed, then. A strange choke, feeling this would be my end, and knowing it to be something I could never have predicted. I was riding a wolf. A cacof girl, clinging to the fur of a feral beast. Only the dragon at my side kept my hold firm and my mind in the present.

Shadow ran through the dark woods as lights converged around us.

More of the Dragon Prince’s men. More than I’d ever seen.

Horns blared and arrows flew past. I ducked, my head buried in the fur at the beast’s neck.

He skidded to a stop, and I nearly fell off entirely as the wolf dug his claws in to swing around.

He ran hard in the opposite direction, away from the approaching lights.

But even in the other direction, there was light again.

I glanced up as he panted beneath me, saliva dripping from his open jaw as his hot breath came thick.

He wasn’t built for carrying an adult woman, and he would tire soon.

He jumped over a log, and my legs screamed as I locked them around his middle to stay on.

Two men stood ahead of us.

One, dressed all in black and holding a torch.

The light bounced off his face, and a flash of recognition put my heart into my mouth.

Pale cheeks and dark hair weren’t enough to stand out in the forest. But I would know those eyes anywhere, and the grim set of his mouth stirred against memories I thought I had buried.

It wasn’t the first time I had seen him in my forest, but it was the first time he had seen me . I ducked my head, hoping he hadn’t seen my eyes, and couldn’t draw a straw of connection.

The other raised a bow, his eyes wide with shock, and pointed it straight at Shadow’s head as we barrelled directly towards them. Langnathin’s companion said something I couldn't hear over my own growl.

I wrenched Shadow’s fur to the right, pulling his head with it and making him yelp. But he understood my unspoken command, shifting to the right just as the companion’s arrow loosed. I heard it, more than I felt it, as Shadow bounded past the men.

Finally, on the other side, no lights swelled in front of us. I held onto Shadow, whispering some encouragement even as the pain lanced deep in my thigh. I glanced down and saw an arrow sticking out of it.

I held onto Shadow as hard as I could, but with one arm cradling a shuffling and scratching creature, whose tiny claw had already dug hard into my belly, and one leg burning with hot flashing pain, each bounce nearly sent me flying off.

The wolf let out a low keening noise, slowing some, but it was still too difficult, and I gasped out at the pain as he bounded into the night.

My grip on his fur was fading, and he was tired, trotting now through the woods.

We needed more distance between us and the men, but neither of us had the strength to make it.

Shadow hopped over a broken log, and I landed badly, slipping to the right.

There was nothing I could do but hold my arms in a protective circle as I collided heavily with the ground.

I’d broken the fall for the baby, but not for myself, and my arm took the brunt of it as I hit awkwardly against muddy roots.

I lay there on my back, the arrow screaming out from my left leg, and my right arm blossoming with fresh, acute pain.

Grey wispy clouds shifted over a waxing crescent moon, and then my starry vision was overtaken by inquisitive yellow eyes.

A wet warm lash raked over my cheek, and I didn’t have the heart to wipe away the slobber my shadow had generously lathered me with.

At my side, under my coat, a spongy claw poked into my waist, joined by a pitchy squawking noise.

I heard something then, some noise not of the forest, but of people.

I sent an apology to Vellintris as my eyes fell closed. I’m sorry. I tried my best.