Lethal Souls (The Tether Trilogy #3)

ONE

CAZ

The dream I have is no different than the last.

Like always, it haunts me like a bad omen.

I stand alone on a desolate dirt field, the sky a fiery red with no clouds in sight. The ground trembles beneath my feet. There is no sign of life around me. All I can hear is my own beating heart—my pulse swimming in my ears.

The ground splits open to reveal bubbling molten lava. A burning sensation builds in my hands, and when I look at them, they’re glowing bright red.

Veins of the same color spread up my arms, and I feel an intense energy coursing through me, making my blood rush and my heart pump faster. It’s as if one wrong move could set me off like a bomb, potentially destroying the entire world.

Suddenly, a piercing screech tears through the air. I look up, heart still drumming in my chest, but there is nothing to be seen.

At least, not at first.

A creature with massive wings flaps slowly, creating its own wind that has now become an eerie, echoing melody. As the screeching intensifies, I finally find my feet and run, my footsteps crushing the splintering ground beneath me. My body moves on its own accord, propelled by some unknown force or instinct.

I sprint ahead with a sense of urgency, being chased by something I can’t escape. Though I have no idea where I’m going, I know deep down that I must reach my destination at all costs.

But just as I’m about to arrive at this unknown location, the winged creature appears before me. Its massive form lands with a powerful thud, quaking the ground with oversized taloned feet.

I freeze as I stare up at this beast made of metallic red scales, sharp horns, and pointed ears as it fixes its fierce amber eyes on me.

Its mane of fire seems to dance in anticipation as its serrated teeth gleam. I take a step back, unable to tear my gaze from it.

Then the dragon speaks in a voice that rumbles like thunder. “Your blood will be mine!”

A gust of flames erupts from its gaping mouth, and without hesitation, I throw up my hands and summon a burst of scarlet to deflect the fire.

As the flames fade away and the creature disappears into thin air, that’s when I finally wake up from the nightmare with my heart beating a frantic rhythm in my chest.