An experienced soldier, the big Sabre wasn’t waiting for an explanation. Far below, the forms shifted as Kade led the Sabres toward the gap Dani had torn in the rock ridge. The horse galloped ahead of them. Zach brought down every Dire that dared to step into their path.
“No, that is a decoy,” Tyrez answered. “He’s with the strike force. Watch yourselves.”
“We’re on our way.”
Razir took a step toward him. “Easy bro. They’ll get to her.”
Until then, Tyrez hadn’t realized his wings had burst through his shoulders. He couldn’t stop himself from snarling at Razir, and his brother’s eyes widened.
“Breathe, brother. You have to let them do this...”
In desperation, Tyrez reached for Ash.
But there was only blackness.
* * *
Hoofbeats echoed off stone, and a horse erupted through the opening in the rock ridge. Screaming her battle cry and carrying Zach, she lunged into the Dire pack, and the Sabres came behind her.
With a snarl of rage, Rindek looked away from Dani, his hand lifting to fry them all.
Dani leaped, straight up, wings folded tight, talons grabbing and pushing off the confining boulders until she was clear.
The Wyvern was about forty feet above her and climbing, too far for her to reach if she didn’t have wings. But blinded by the beast he sat upon, and distracted by the attackers coming through the ridge, Rindek didn’t see her coming.
She had no idea how to use her wings, but the air crackled against them as they thrashed downward...
Like this. Do it like this.Ash’s voice, his presence wrapping around her, showing her the way. The link with him was as natural as breathing.
How had he known she could hear him?
I’m an Oracle, silly. Now, do it like this. Extend your talons. Aim for the Wyvern’s belly. Pull them down.He snarled in her head.No mercy for monsters.
It was as though he were a part of her. As a Dragon who’d so recently learned flight for himself, he knew exactly what to show her. They melded together like they’d been doing it all their lives, driving her body upward, extending razor-sharp talons toward the Wyvern above them.
The beast was fighting the rein, twisting its head, as oblivious to the danger as its rider as they rocketed upward. Ash’s images flashed through Dani, mixing with her own—all the terrifying, horrible, twisted things the Archmage had done to them interwove into a single, red-hot tide of rage.
He will die.An unspoken mutual vow through the link. And then her talons sank deep into the Wyvern’s belly.
The creature shrieked and then raked at her with its hind claws, but its forelegs were its wings. It couldn’t reach past them to snap at her with its jaws. They were close to the same size, and Dani’s weight dragged the creature toward the ground.
Ash was part of her as Dani curled her body around the Wyvern, bringing her hind claws up and shredding with them too. She braced with them sunk deep into the Wyvern and surged upward toward the rider, jaws snapping with razor-sharp teeth.
Which was when Rindek shot her point blank with the dart.
She ignored it. Her jaws closed on his arm, and Rindek sent every bit of energy he had into her.
It rocketed through and threatened to fry her. Ash fought back through the link, sustaining her as she brought her foretalons into play, sinking them into the man’s chest and yanking him free from the spinning Wyvern.
Freefall. Ablaze with energy, Dani’s focus narrowed to the crimson gaze boring into her own.
There was only one way to end this. The Dire in her had the answer—she released his arm, and lunged for his throat.
Rindek opened the floodgates on his power, yanking from the life essences that surrounded him. It blasted through her, and this time, it did set her on fire. Her wings were ablaze with energy, filling her with agony. But Ash was there, supporting her with his strength, helping her dig talons into his chest and reach through the anguish to sink her teeth deep in the Archmage’s throat.
He shrieked, a shrill sound of denial. Power cascaded from him, scorching through her. But she braced her forelegs and ripped her teeth free. Warm blood fountained over her.
They hit the ground with a tremendous crunch. For a millisecond, the energy blazed around them like a second sun.
