Page 109 of Dragon Blood
Swooping toward the ocean’s surface, she regained flight.
Her chest constricted, noting that she’d been followed.
Several Aeleftherian guardians, a couple of males, and some other unknown fighters set upon the ships, breaking masts, destroying harpoon launchers, and crushing spell casters stationed on the decks.
Zadora turned her attention to the ship waiting well away from the battle.
This one.
Chapter 37
Kaicaughtthesilverglimmer in his grandmother’s eyes as she accepted his promise before running off.
He’d heard enough of the Dragon Star tales to know that if this old woman was that legend, then there was a slim chance of failure.
“Collect any survivors you find and take them to the cave on the far side of the main island.”
At his nod, she turned and flew into action.
Shifting, he picked up his wounded cousin and took off after Astred, who was sounding orders through alternating tones in her roar. Every Aeleftherian knew the signals and what they meant.
The others would follow their lead, or so he hoped.
Any Aeleftherians not engaged in fighting turned their attention to the seas and islands, flying low in search of anyone they could find.
Kai flew low over the next few islands, searching. Below, a cluster of women waved their arms, signaling him to descend.
He crouched so that the women could climb enough to pull their wounded up with them.
Kolina lay among them. He picked her up with his other foreclaw.
Her head lolled, eyes cracking open, voice weak. “Kai? My boy… you should not be here.” Her eyes closed again. Upon each of his paws, heat emanated from Kolina and Zayli’s bodies as their magic worked to heal themselves.
Once the non-dragons were secured, he carefully took off, headed for the island Astred had directed him to.
There were others arriving. Odson was already there in human form, carrying wounded into the cave.
“Tell Jori to get his ass back to Kymri’s side,” Odson shouted up to Kai.
Kai lay Zayli and Kolina as close to the entrance as possible to lessen Odson’s work before he left to find more as he went in search of Jori.
He found him in a cluster of writhing dragons fighting to destroy each other, as they bought time for the Aeleftherians to reach their vulnerable and get them to safety.
They were running out of time.
Snarling, Kai soared in, gathering his shadow power into his foreclaws, creating dark barriers to blind the enemy, while Jori and his males incapacitated them, taking them out of the fight. He roared, with a jerk of his head, indicating they fly away from Aeleftheria. They went, but not before making the rounds to draw the others away, leading the attackers in pursuit.
He went in search of Astred. From the north, a glint caught his eye: Metallic scales shimmered under the ruthless tropical sun as Zadora fought a dragon much larger than herself, moving toward the archipelago.
The sound of Astred’s furious screams drew his attention to her battle, and he turned to help.
Her claws ripped out the throat of one as she spun her tail through the air, smashing the other’s skull. Both fell into the ocean.
His gaze darted back to the approaching threat of Zadora and her Star Stone.
There was no time to get back to the cave. He rushed for Astred, driving her down to the nearest island, his entire body enveloping hers as he launched his shadow magic. They crashed into the sand next to an overturned plane, and the world around them turned grey as he forced Astred to tuck her wings and tail inside the barrier he extended, just enough to ensure she was fully covered. He didn’t know if it would work, but he had to try.
The song of the star stone filled his head and vibrated through his body, calling to him as Zadora approached overhead.
