It descended with a tremendous crash of stone and mortar, but the sound was muted against the roar of the fire beyond. Flames burst through the small gaps in the stone, but we were protected on the other side.
When they subsided, Dani used her power to clear us a path through the jagged chunks of stone. Just like in my vision, the walls were on fire. We choked on smoke as we raced back to the courtyard…
Just in time to see Victor’s Dragon take off. Most of his scales remained the orange of the Fire Drake, but he now had the slimmer body and the larger wings of the Dragon. We watched him disappear in the smoke, leaving nothing but flame behind him.
That’s our cue,said Caliel.
“Okay, gang. Hang onto me.” Riley extended her arms.
I cast a frantic glance to the ledge, which was fully aflame. “But—we’ll burn up.”
“Not with me here.” Rafael reached up to his throat and pulled on a cord that was fastened around his neck. When he reached for Riley, my eyes fell to the hand clutching the glowing green crystals—it was covered in silvery, slightly ridged scars.
Those look like burns,Caliel assessed uneasily.Let’s hope he’s more successful at dealing with the fire this time.
Rafael interrupted our nervous perusal by telling Riley, “I’ll only be able to hold it back for a short period.”
Hold it back?Caliel sounded incredulous.
“Long enough to get us past it,” Riley stated.
“Hopefully,” added Marcus.
Not exactly reassuring,Caliel noted as I grabbed onto Riley’s arm. But this time, when Rafael moved up beside us, the Gryphon didn’t try to move away.
I contemplated that as the air dissolved into golden light, and with a snap, Riley took us to the ledge.
She’d chosen the one at the end. It was an inferno. I experienced the quickest kiss of burning pain before Rafael raised his hands. Somehow, he used the crystal energy to create a bubble around us.
Hellfire,Caliel cursed.
I sensed his amazement as Rafael walked forward, and we hugged as close to him as we could as the flames broke through in places, licking hungrily toward us. The partitioned door to the ledge was partway across the opening, and we hurried through.
Flames scorched the door, and the edges were melting, but the room beyond was still safe, for now.
Okay. He has his uses,my inner grumpy Gryphon admitted.
The suite was lush enough to befit a princess, with two rooms, and a bathing chamber running along one wall. Even as I looked at them, the heat’s intensity caused the hangings and artwork to burst into flame.
The room appeared empty, but we spotted an open door along the other wall. The private quarters were not connected to the rest of the resort internally, but they were to each other. Awakened by the fire, Rigg’s sister, Sirki, must have sought her family.
Rafael let the shield drop, and we dodged burning bits of falling ceiling as we ran through the door. Embers fell on my top, and I brushed them away before they could burn through to my skin.
The next room over was in darkness, but the heat was even worse. It also was empty. Across the room, yet another door stood open.
Coughing in the smoke, we hurried through. And found Lady Eriana and her two daughters in full Dragon form, raking at the external window with their talons.
It was an effort destined to fail, and they had to know it. But they’d barricaded the landing ledge doorway with every bit of furniture the room possessed. Some of it was already smoldering.
Two of the Dragons spun as we entered. One raked us with her eyes—they widened when they saw Riggs, and then landed on Dani.
“Dani!” the Matriarch cried.
“We’re here to get you out,” Dani said.
The Matriarch gestured to the entrance. “There’s no ways out. That’s no ordinary fire.” She held up her forearm, showing a livid burn.
“This fire was deliberately set,” Marcus stated. “They used the Fire Drake.”
