Chapter Thirty-Three
Dracul
Early the next morning, before dawn stretched over the skies, we attacked. I led the charge through the entrance I had spotted the night before, Firenze and Fangburn at my sides with the others close behind. The two measly guards Borthen had keeping watch were nothing to me—my claws killed them instantly, coating me in blood. I could feel Lora’s presence nearby and let that feeling guide me as I raced through the halls, unreservedly slashing anyone who crossed my path. I did not care if my warriors or Lords followed me—my mind was set on one goal: rescuing Valora.
After several minutes of running and bloodshed, I paused, trying to sense the direction of her presence. A human servant turned the corner and yelped in fear. Instantly, I pounced, pinning them to the ground.
“The woman your Lord took, where is she?” I demanded, my teeth dangerously close to their face. I smelled the odor of urine and wrinkled my nose in disgust.
“Down the hall, that way,” they said, pointing to a corridor to my left.
As soon as the words left their mouth, I launched myself off them, not bothering to kill them, and heard Firenze and Fangburn following me. We encountered no one as we entered a large cave filled with weird domes lining the walls all the way to the ceiling. From what I could tell, they seemed empty, except I could feel a presence in only one, almost all the way at the top on the right. I flapped my wings, gaining altitude to see who was there, holding my breath that it was her.
When I reached the dome, I peered in. My heart skipped a beat. Lying on her side in the corner was Lora, wrapped in a blanket. Her eyes looked red as she moved to look at me, her expression unbelieving.
“It’s you,” she said softly. “You came for me.”
I transformed into my human self, holding out my arms for her. “I always will.”
She rushed towards me, crushing me in her embrace. Tears soaked into my neck as she buried her face there, sobs wracking her frame.
“You’re safe now, Lora,” I said, holding her tightly. “Never again will he hurt you.”