Then, I lifted my tail and swung it like a wrecking ball. The spiked crystals slammed into the dragon’s spine with a loud, stomach-churning crunch.
The dragon screeched from the blow. She crumpled mid-air, twisting and losing altitude. Her body lost control as it gave in to the pain.
She let Quinn go.
I didn’t think.
I just dove.
I pulled my wings and limbs tight against me and angled my muzzle downward just like a missile. My tail was straight behind me, trying to give myself as little air resistance as possible.
I caught Quinn easily in my arms.
Quinn released a litany of curses in both Spanish and English in our shared connection. She sounded breathless even there.
Well, I can check skydiving off the list now,she joked.
I snorted, my dragon’s version of chuckling.Are you okay to ride on my back, babe? We need to get Cody.
You never have to ask if I’m good to ride you, Sweetness,Quinn replied, making my wings sputter in flight.
It’s a good thing I’m flying right now because I can’t fucking stand you. I rolled my eyes before I helped Quinn climb onto my back. She grabbed onto one of the crystal spikes along my spine, just behind my wings. It was hard not to deny the things the strong grip of her thighs did to me and my dragon, but I had to ignore them and concentrate.
Cody’s scream nearby helped. With Quinn now secured and clinging tightly to me, I hastily banked toward the sound.
Uncle Everett was battling the same dragon that had slammed me into the SUV and stolen Cody. Seeing them side-by-side was wild. Everett’s griffin form was bigger than my dragon one, but he was still dwarfed by this dragon. My uncle didn’t seem phased by the difference in their size as he fought. He did what he could against the beast, slashing and clawing with wild precision and strength, but the dragon’s bright scales were impenetrable armor and his talons weren’t even scratchingthem, let alone making it through. Not to mention, his quick movements and manipulation over the air made him hard to hit with Everett’s usual powerful swipes and bites. I wanted to join in the fray, but I doubted I would be able to get the element of surprise on him. Plus, there was the risk of Cody getting caught in the crossfire. He was kicking and fighting, but it was clear that he was still too weak to do much more.
Let me help,mi libélulita, Quinn said, and I felt her shift on my back. Then, I saw two black blurs fly overhead.
Quinn’s daggers struck the dragon right under his ribs.
They were too short to do any real damage, but they were long enough to hurt.
Nice shooting, Knightmaiden.
About time the dragon-hunting blood was used for good.
The dragon snarled in pain. His roars only grew louder as Quinn called her blades back, ensuring they slashed the wounds they created even wider.
It was the opportunity Uncle Everett needed.
Without hesitation, he reared up and dug his talons and beak into one of the dragon’s wings and ripped downward.
The dragon’s roar almost burst my eardrums.
It made him release Cody, who was only screaming for a moment or two before I darted down and caught him on my back next to Quinn, with a grunt from him from the impact.
“Oh-fucking-kay!” His voice was a hoarse squeak. “Itotallysee why we don’t hunt dragons anymore. Those fuckers are gnarly as hell.”
“You aren’t wrong,” Quinn said, her own voice strained from more than just the ordeal. The magic of the enchantment’s barrier must still be weighing on her even from up here.
I wheeled around to descend near the SUV. I landed just in time for Talli to blast a dragon with coral flames, the magic burning the tips of the dragon’s feathers. An enormous jaguarthe size of the SUV fought off a different dragon, the cat’s eyes glowing a familiar pale green that meant it had to be Thompson. Maisie was back on her feet, too, concentrating on holding up her neon purple shield around the SUV in case anything got past Talli and Teddy. Water surrounded the base of the shield, ready to help as Simone stood next to Maisie with glowing aquamarine hands. They had healing scratches and bruises on them, with various cuts and tears in their clothes. I was both insanely grateful for my friends standing with me and proud that they could hold their ground, yet I was enraged that anyone would dare to hurt them.
Suddenly, a jolt shot down my spine. I growled, knowing what the sensation meant without my dragon telling me.
More dragonswere coming.
Too many.
