Chapter 17
Harlow
Time slows to a crawl as I watch Georgia run, her terrified screams echoing across the field. Several dragons swivel to track her movement, their eyes gleaming with interest. I can practically feel the hunt mode kicking in, that primal instinct Drake warned us about.
I’ve got seconds before one of those beasts incinerates her.
I don’t even think. I just react. I have to.
My legs pump as I sprint after Georgia, feeling the prickle of danger between my shoulder blades. Every instinct screams at me that I’m about to be roasted alive, but I can’t just stand here and watch her die. Not when Brianna’s death is still burned into my retinas.
For once in my clumsy life, my long legs work in my favor. I’m faster than Georgia, and terror gives me a burst of speed I didn’t know I possessed. My feet find purchase on the uneven ground without a single stumble.
It’s a miracle I don’t fall on my face.
Within a few strides, I reach Georgia and launch myself at her, tackling her to the ground. We tumble through the long grass, rolling in a tangle of limbs as I try to shield her with my body.
An almighty roar splits the air behind us, so close I can feel the vibration in my bones.
Shit! Shit! Shit!
I roll over and look up to find death staring down at me.
The dragon is massive and beautiful – a stunning turquoise green with scales that shimmer like jewels in the sunlight. But there’s nothing beautiful about the look in its eyes. It’s all lethal focus and cold calculation with a good dose of interest, and not the good kind.
This dragon wants us gone.
It closes the distance between us with terrifying grace, rearing up on its hind legs until it towers over us. This close, I can see every detail, from its razor-sharp claws to the smoke curling from its nostrils.
This is it. This is how I die.
But instead of cowering or begging, I force myself to my feet, placing my body between the dragon and Georgia. If I’m going to die today, I’ll do it with my head held high.
“Get away, Georgia,” I whisper through gritted teeth, hoping she can hear me. Maybe if the dragon focuses on me, it won’t go after her, too. Maybe we both don’t have to die.
The beast’s eyes lock onto mine, and I see my death written in their depths. This is nothing like my encounter with Drake. I felt safe with Drake. This time, there’s not a single hint of humanity. Just pure, feral hunger.
Every instinct inside me screams to run, but I hold fast. Running will only make it worse.
The dragon screeches into the air, smoke billowing around us in thick, choking clouds. The sound is deafening, and I get the distinct feeling it’s playing cat and mouse with us.
Unfortunately, I’m the mouse.
Behind me, Georgia makes a pained moaning sound. Maybe I hurt her when I tackled her, or maybe it’s just terror. At this point, what difference does it make? It’s too late for either of us to get to safety.
The turquoise dragon rears up again, just like the one that killed Brianna, and despite all my resolve, I can’t help but flinch.
Then I hear his voice in my head, clear as day: Stupid human. It’s calmly delivered in an even voice I know well.
In the same instant, Drake’s dragon tears into the turquoise beast from the side, his massive copper-tinted form moving fast. The impact sends the turquoise dragon tumbling, Drake’s claws raking bloody gouges along its flanks.
Amelia’s screams pierce the air as she clings to the saddle on Drake’s back. It’s clear that she’s holding on for dear life. At least, that’s what it looks like from here.
I don’t waste the opportunity. Grabbing Georgia’s arm, I haul her to her feet, and we run, using the fighting dragons as a barrier between us and the rest of the field. Georgia stumbles but manages to keep up, both of us breathing hard as we put distance between ourselves and the carnage.
Once we’re clear, we turn to watch the battle unfold.
It’s brutal and magnificent at the same time. The two dragons circle each other, snapping and clawing, wings beating furiously as they grapple for dominance. Drake is larger and clearly more experienced, but the turquoise dragon fights with the desperation of a cornered animal.
Seconds later, Drake’s powerful jaws clamp down on the other dragon’s throat, and the turquoise beast goes limp. But instead of finishing the kill or taking to the sky like he should, Drake releases his opponent and turns to me.
The dragon slumps to the ground, bleeding from several wounds that look like they might be fatal. I actually feel sorry for the poor thing.
Drake’s eyes lock with mine, and I feel that familiar mental connection spark to life. It’s a tugging feeling and much stronger this time.
“Drake, listen to me!” Amelia shouts from his back, her voice shrill with panic. “Fly! We need to go now!”
But he ignores her completely.
“Drake! Fly now!” she screams, her voice filled with desperation.
He doesn’t respond. Instead, he takes a step toward me…and another…and another.
That isn’t right. Aren’t riders supposed to have some control over their dragons? From what I can see, Amelia has none.
He advances on me, his eyes never leaving mine.
Crap! Oh, no!
Behind me, Georgia whimpers and starts backing away, keeping her eyes on Drake as she puts distance between us without turning her back on him. Smart girl.
Amelia continues to scream, her face a mask of concentration as she tries desperately to regain control of the great beast beneath her.
Human, the word echoes in my mind.
“Drake,” I whisper, glancing around to make sure no one else can hear me. “You need to go. Please listen to Amelia.”
No, he responds, walking right up to me and lowering his massive head until we’re at eye level.
Shit! Nooooo! This is bad. So bad.
Go away!
Please!
I’m not sure if he can hear me or not, but if he did, he ignored me just as he did Amelia. I look to my right and see every unbonded Tribute staring at us. Their faces are masks of shock and confusion. Even the remaining dragons have stopped their restless pacing to watch.
“Go!” I whisper-shout at him. “Do it now. I’m begging you. They’re going to find out.”
“You stupid idiot!” Amelia snarls down at me, her face twisted with rage. “What have you done?”
She looks down at Drake, her expression shifting to one of intense concentration. I can practically see her straining to reach him through their bond, trying to force him to obey.
He doesn’t budge. Doesn’t even acknowledge her attempts.
Drake pushes out a warm breath, and the scent of smoke fills my nostrils as it wafts around us. Without thinking, I reach out and place my hand on his snout, feeling the smooth, warm scales beneath my palm.
“That’s a good dragon,” I murmur, and he actually purrs. It’s a deep, rumbling sound that vibrates through his entire body into me.
“Please listen to Amelia,” I plead. “You need to go.”
He makes a chuffing noise, like he hates the very idea. Then he snorts, rears back, and finally takes to the sky with powerful beats of his wings.
Once he’s gone, I become acutely aware that everyone is staring at me. Every single person on this field – Tributes, riders, dragons – has their attention focused on me.
One of the dragons circling overhead swoops low, hovering directly above us.
“All bonded humans may leave!” the rider shouts down. “You can go and wait by the SUVs. The rest of you need to walk past the dragons one more time to be sure. No running. Stay calm!”
I start to make my way back toward the dragon line, hoping against hope that I can salvage this somehow.
“You’re bonded, Tribute!” the rider calls out to me. “Yes, you,” she shouts at me. “Go to the SUVs. Wait there!”
No! Crap! They know. Of course they do. If I hadn’t been bonded to Drake, I would have been dead.
This is terrible. This ruins everything.
I start making my way back toward the vehicles, my heart sinking with every step. Georgia walks beside me, both of us moving like we’re in a daze.
I stop walking. “Wait, Georgia,” I tell her. “You need to go back. You’ll be expected to walk past the dragons again.”
Georgia shakes her head, her face stricken.
“I mind-bonded with that turquoise dragon,” she whispers, her voice broken. “I tried to keep it out of my head, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t!”
That explains the pained moan I heard earlier. The dragon had been forcing a bond with her.
So it planned to kill me because I was standing in front of its mind-bond. It wouldn’t have killed Georgia. If I had left things alone, all would have been well.
I couldn’t know that.
It looked like it wanted to kill her…to kill us both.
I scrub a hand over my face and let out a shaky breath.
“I don’t want to stay,” she tells me, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Neither do I,” I admit.
We turn toward the SUVs together. Becca is already there, standing next to the vehicles with the biggest grin on her face. Next to her is Dani, who looks like she was just given a death sentence.
“You bonded with one?” I ask Dani.
She nods, her face ashen.
As Georgia and I reach the vehicles, we turn to watch the remaining Tributes make their final walk past the dragons. My heart lodges in my throat as I watch, praying they all make it through safely.
I look up at the sky, searching for Drake, but he’s nowhere to be found.
This is such a mess. The plan is completely ruined. Everyone knows about our bond now. This sucks!
I can only hope that Drake can find a way to get us out of this. I can’t stay!
One of the dragons roars, pulling my attention back to the others…back to my friends.
Please let them live.