I sure hoped we could fucking roar. It hadn’t gone well in practice flights.
I got this, my dragon thought, power pumping through us.
Everyone scattered out of the way, reading my intention, but Hadriel called out, “More room—she’s huge,” pushing and shoving at people to make room.
The pain barely registered through the adrenaline as the dragon form took over. Calia was moving her arms now, weaving them through the air like a dance. Those around her bowed under the strain, lending their power and strength to her efforts. Even the demons started to wilt from the strain. We wouldn’t have much time.
Roar, I thought like a whip crack. Now!
My dragon tilted back her head. The vibration started low and then built up through us, one clear directive blasting out with an incredible surge of power, all our own.
Fight!
Everyone around us shivered and shuddered. The wolves shifted as Weston tipped his head back again and added his song to our roar. Micah and Tamara added their roars as well, calling for action. Calling for vengeance!
“Go!” Calia said, pushing her hands wide. “Go! Hurry!”
The leathery substance peeled away, high enough to fly through, wide enough for one dragon with extended wings. Plenty big, in other words.
My dragon took to the sky immediately, moving through the doorway and into the very edges of the Forbidden Wood, beautiful on one side and twisting and crackling on the other. My rage fanned higher at this evidence of what the demons had done to us. To this kingdom.
I stayed in the air as Tamara came through next, followed by Micah. Below them, dragons in human form sprinted through on one side and the wolves streamed through on the other, peeling away in organized groups or shifting and taking to the sky and flying out a ways to make room.
When enough of us were through, we banked and turned to face the castle. I didn’t need a map to know where to find it. From the first time I was taken there, it had been stored in my heart, along with the rest of the kingdom. Along with the rest of my home.
My dragon roared again, the sound booming and reverberating through the air. Way up ahead, shapes popped out of the shadows, startled. They waited between the trees, weapons strapped to their bodies, keeping watch even way out here.
Demons.
Kill them all, I growled.
My dragon didn’t need to be told twice. No one did. We all shot forward as one, the dragons and wolves and those on two legs.
My dragon was first, though, on them in a heartbeat but blocked by the accursed trees.
Fire, I thought, anxious to get to them. Wanting to be the one who smote them from my home.
I’m fucking trying! It won’t come.
We’d never been able to do it in practice. Ami had said it took time to learn. Usually a dragon could only summon fire if they were utterly secure in their flying ability and at max power.
But fuck it if I didn’t need to get this knocked out a lot sooner.
My dragon flew low, just above the treetops, our mouth open and the desire to blast the demons strong. Still, nothing came. Not from us, anyway. The results were better when Micah and Tamara gave it a go.
A blast of delicious heat coated our sides and underside as streams of fire tore through the night, raking over the demons and burning them alive. Those gathered in front of me, sparse because we were so far on the edge of the kingdom, pulled up their bows and nocked their arrows.
Oh shit—
If I’d been in charge, I would’ve flinched or ducked and thrown my hands over my head. Arrows flew right at us, their aim perfect, the points gleaming in the moonlight. My dragon roared with rage as the arrows struck…and bounced off.
Oh shit, I thought again. How’d you know we were arrow-proof?
If we can slam against mountain sides and land on rocks or get pummeled by a rock fall and not take any damage, what’s a measly arrow? To our body, anyway. I don’t have such high hopes about our wings.
Still, we flew on, nearing one of the villages now. My glance behind revealed dragons spanning out behind us, creating a V formation and spitting fire down at or enemies. What demons they missed, the wolves found. They ran through the trees like wraiths and around brambles with no problem, working with us as one cohesive force. I only wished I could’ve gotten to see how the graceful faerie warriors would’ve fit into our ranks.
Well, if we can’t blow fire, what the fuck good are we? I asked, frustrated. If only I had a dagger, I could at least do something.
We are doing something. We’re leading. Why don’t you talk to your invisible people and let me work?
It occurred to me that I hadn’t rolled out that bit of neurosis in…a while. I didn’t even know how long. And I didn’t want to now. I wanted to take control and do something rather than just sit around watch everything unfold.
Yeah, how does it feel, fucker? my dragon thought as the tree space opened up a bit.
She swooped suddenly, and if I’d had a stomach, I would’ve lost it. She nearly scraped the ground with her head as she clamped her jaws around a demon that was running toward the nearest village. The vicious crunch of a body between our teeth made me inwardly grimace, and then she was pulling up again. Our legs skidded against the dirt. The trees caught us as we lifted out of the dive, crackling and breaking as we barreled through.
Fire lit up more demons beside us as she shook her head and body parts ripped off. She flung the body and let out the largest, most triumphant, most vicious roar I’d ever heard. She’d finally been let out of her dark cage, and she was about to go fucking crazy.
THIRTY-THREE
FINLEY
My dragon veered left, toward the village, coming up hot on demons scattering for cover. She scooped up another and lifted into the air before ramming into the side of the first dwelling. Chomping the demon, she sent blood spraying across the ground.
Rise, her roar said, calling to the people of the village. Fight with us. Rise!
Demons ran out of not just pubs but houses, and our vision went red. She swooped down, hit the ground running, and started grabbing them at will, chomping and throwing and grabbing more. She stomped and kicked, flinging around her tail and hitting anyone she could.
Wolves and other animals ran down the streets, the villagers starting to shift. Teeth bared and hackles raised, they launched into the demons throughout the village and then ran toward the wood. Small, slim, seemingly young dragons rose into the sky around the village. Those had to be the kids, responding to my call.
Incite them, I thought, my purpose suddenly clear. Get to Nyfain, but as you go, summon them. Bring them to our cause.
My dragon jumped up before pumping our wings, getting above the rooftops and lifting higher into the sky. She made a slow turn, since she still didn’t know how to bank very well, then put on a burst of speed. Her roar filled the hearts and minds of the villagers, all of them running out, shedding their clothes in the streets, and changing into their animals.
Over the Forbidden Wood we flew, toward the castle but at a diagonal, aiming to hit the next village. I had faith Hannon would get to ours in time to help our people, and there wasn’t any time to circle back. Nyfain needed me.
Tamara flew at my wingtip with the rest of the Wyverners in tow, but Micah separated. Somehow my dragon instinctively knew, or maybe sensed from his body language, that he would finish up here and keep battering the demons in the wood. We had a lot of ground to cover and not enough people to do it quickly. I needed to get the rest of the kingdom helping.