She pulled Lunis high enough in the air that they were out of Carl’s reach and far enough from the battle with Howard and simply watched while waiting for Evan and Coral to materialize. If they didn’t soon, then she and Lunis would have to do something.
Sophia held her breath. She didn’t know what Plan B was going to be, and with each passing second, she worried that her friends were trapped underwater and not coming back up, which presented a multitude of problems.
Chapter Seventy-Four
Simi was hurt. Wilder had known that was a part of the risk. He’d expected that. Still, that didn’t make it any easier to accept.
It was hard to judge the severity of her wounds from the air. She was able to keep flying and that was something, but they were both surviving on adrenaline at this point. When that waned, Wilder didn’t know what to expect.
That’s why he turned his dragon around to decide his next option. He didn’t want to leave his team. Abandoning the woman he loved wasn’t an option either. But if he and Simi became a liability and plunged into the ocean, then they wouldn’t be helping but rather harming the Dragon Elite.
Her breath labored, Simi spun and showed Wilder the view that had been at his back. He caught sight of Mahkah not too far off, his stoic gaze directed at the simurgh in the distance.
And to Wilder’s astonishment, a fiery arrow coated in magic raced through the air. He expected for it to hit the creature in the midsection and rebound off like before, but instead, it stuck straight into the large bird’s eye and made it scream in obvious pain.
The sound echoed all around them, and the air seemed to shake. Wilder held the reins tighter, thinking he’d be thrown off from the blast.
Then, to his astonishment, the monster spiraled head over feet through the air like the tiny arrow had been a death missile and hit the creature’s only vulnerable spot.
And it had, Wilder realized. The genius who was Mahkah had found the one magically unprotected part of the simurgh and had struck it using a spell.
The giant bird tumbled through the air for what seemed like eons before it fell into the waters of the Mediterranean Sea and made a huge splash. The water rushed into the air and billowed high like an upended freighter before the bird sank, its calls of pain drowned out by the water that covered it.
One tiny arrow had defeated the massive bird. It was a good lesson for Wilder. The strongest and best were always taken down by something small. Guard your weak spots for once exposed, death is imminent.
Chapter Seventy-Five
Going up for air would ensure that Evan and Coral lived longer. Maybe not that much longer since Carl might take them out straight away, but staying down longer and piercing the leviathan’s weak spot would ensure that the Dragon Elite members were safe.
Somewhere over the surface of the water, Sophia and Lunis were endangering their lives trying to serve as distractions. Wilder and Simi were fighting a deranged bird. That crazy guy had raced at the simurgh, all to get its attention off Evan. Then there were Mahkah and Tala, doing something strangely brilliant and strategic.
Yes, Evan and Coral could come up for air and preserve their lives, but the chances of finding the small vulnerable spot on Carl again were unlikely. Sometimes there were things more important than preserving oneself, and right then was one for Evan McIntosh.
Evan’s mouth absentmindedly opened as he brought up his sword and used his last bit of magic to propel it through the water. It spiraled forward until it connected with the red heart-shaped glow on the leviathan.
The dragon and rider didn’t see what happened next because they passed out, overcome by the churning seas. Even those empowered by water could be taken out by it.
Chapter Seventy-Six
It didn’t surprise Mahkah to watch the giant bird’s demise, but it did fill him with a great deal of relief.
What surprised him was when the leviathan shrieked in obvious pain, and all of its tentacles reached straight out in a weird formation.
Then he heard Tala’s familiar voice in his head.
Coral, the dragon exclaimed. Evan. They’re in trouble. Just to the ten o’clock of the leviathan.
Mahkah didn’t hesitate. He darted straight for the area his dragon had indicated. The others had noticed too because he saw Sophia come around the side of the creature, which now writhed in pain. Whatever was happening to the sea monster was part of its demise.
Still, Mahkah streaked in the direction of a billowing shape that was rising to the surface as the monster sank low. There was so much happening at once that it was hard to discern what was monster and what everything else.
Sophia shot him a look as they neared and they both laid eyes on what was unmistakably Evan and Coral in passed-out form. Tala, who hadn’t been through the same events as the others, reached down and picked up Coral with the half-conscious Evan clutching her.
Sophia knew what needed to happen next and opened a portal using what had to be the last of her magic. To Mahkah’s relief, Wilder had followed her and wasn’t far behind.
Tala carried Evan and Coral through the portal that led to right outside the Gullington, where the Dragon Elite would be safe once more. The others followed. All of them found solace on the grassy lawn where they passed out, huddled together and protective of one another after the battle that had nearly ended them all—but hadn’t, because they’d have other important battles to come.
Chapter Seventy-Seven
Nevin Gooseman watched from the only cloaked magitech plane he had left as his leviathan and simurgh sank to the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The Dragon Elite might have defeated him again…
Nevin ground his fist into his knee. He was livid, thinking this would be a bigger battle. However, he wasn’t out for the count.
The politician knew better. He hadn’t expected this to take the dragonriders out. He’d learned from the past and knew not to discount them.
What he hoped was that they were injured. Scared. Not prepared for what was coming next.
If the Dragon Elite thought that these monsters were sizable, they had no idea what was coming for them.
This had been Round One. None of them would survive Round Two.
Chapter Seventy-Eight
“What are you sketching?” Hiker asked Mama Jamba as they all sat at the breakfast table and waited for Trin to bring their food.
“Things,” she said simply and kept her attention on the pad of paper in her hands.
He sighed before turning his attention to the bruised and battered Wilder, Evan who didn’t appear much better, and Mahkah and Sophia. “Good work out there. I hope you all got some rest.”
“I slept fitfully,” Evan admitted. “Without my wife, I just can’t sleep.”
Quiet mumbled something from his place beside Mama Jamba. She nodded in reply.
“Try telling him that though,” Mama Jamba replied to the gnome.
“Tell me what?” Evan asked at once.
She pursed her lips. “How do you know we’re talking about you?”
“I know.” Evan looked toward the kitchen. “Do you think Trin will come through with food any time this century? I’m starving.”