The red draken lowers its head nearer to me and huffs out a rancid breath.
No, the rich female voice rings through my mind.No, she is mine.
59
Lina
Ibrave one quick glance back at Haze. His mask is gone, his hair sticking to his slick forehead. He steps forward, palms up in surrender, eyes wide in fearful awe.
The draken shivers and leans in closer to me. Breath catches in my lungs but I don’t dare move a muscle.
The massive talon-tipped paw curls around to create a barrier between me and the warrior I hate.
“Amora, you know what they’ll do to her.”
The draken growls softly.
What willyoudo to her? You are one of them. It has taken hold of you. That dark magic mars your soul.
I swallow. So even the drakai aren’t a fan of Haze?
“Yes. But you know why I did it. And you know damn well what I’ll do to keep her out of their hands.”
You, yes. But what about the creature inside? Can you control it?
“Yes,” he bites out. “I have to. It’s our only chance.”
The red draken retreats, shifting away from me. Haze rushes in, but he seems to think better of it and stops before touching me. “Are you hurt?”
I shake my head and curl my arms around my body.
This is yours, girl. Take it. Find her.
A whip around to find myself eye to eye with the red dragon. Her breath so hot it’s painful. Her talon shifts a pebble toward me with a screeching sound that hurts my ears. Then, her huge body shifts, curling around. Her tail swishes, rustling up the dirt and dust.
I stare down at the pebble she has pushed to me but notice it glints in the dim light. Carefully, I stoop down and pick up—a coin.
I press my fingers against my lips. It’s Astella’s coin. I blink, not understanding any of this.
“Put it somewhere safe,” Haze tells me.
“What does it mean?” I stare at the coin, unsure of its meaning. And unsure I’m capable of keeping it safe. I’ve tried.
“I don’t know. But she wouldn’t have given it to you if it weren’t deeply important.”
Unsure where else to put it, I slide it inside my shirt, tucked up against my breast.
“You’re safe from the other drakai now. They won’t harm you. At least, not on purpose. But we will still have trouble getting out of here.”
Come.
I look over my shoulder to find something shifting in the dark.
Near the wall where Haze pointed out, I see a waving reptilian tail in the dark. Slowly, I approach the giant creature. Could it be true that I am now safe from these beasts?
Beasts is not a kind word.
I cough.Um, sorry?
