was coming. I was lured there. They knew, dammit. How did they know?"
Her chest rose and fell with ragged breaths, each one growing in anger. Bastian fought his instincts. He wouldn't punch Jarrett and take her in his own arms. She was where she wanted to be. Where she'd chosen to be.
"I don't know," Jarrett said. "We were careful. No one should have known we were here."
"Who is their ruler?" Fire burned in Tressa's eyes. "I will have their head. They did this. They brought my people here. Set them up to die. And the children. Where are they?"
"We are only six. A healer, four warriors, and a dragon. We cannot take on the Red Queen. It is impossible. Our only hope in this mission was to free your people. Smuggle them out," Jarrett said.
"We failed." Tressa words were spat out in disgust. "I refuse to just leave the rest behind."
"Then fight, daughter."
The five spun around. Tressa's father, Fenn, stood in front of them. With a cackle he transformed into a dragon, taller, wider, stronger than Connor had been moments ago.
Chapter Fifty-Two
"Oh shit," Bastian mumbled under his breath.
The red dragon spread a vast pair of black wings and snorted at the group. The fetid cloud enveloped them. Everyone but Elinor coughed. She'd been smart enough to draw her arm over her mouth and nose.
"Connor?" Bastian asked.
He didn't answer. Naked, he ran off to the side, changing faster than Bastian had ever seen him transform before.
The cobalt dragon faced the red, his jaws open, saliva dripping from between his teeth. Connor was ready for blood.
Tressa's sword whizzed as she brandished it in the air. "I'll ride Connor again." Before she could run toward him, Bastian grabbed her arm.
"You'll stay right here," he said.
Jarrett grabbed her other arm. "Bastian is right. You're not going anywhere. Getting in between these two would only lead to your death."
"I did it before," she insisted between gritted teeth. "I can do it again."
"You got lucky," Jarrett said. "Stacia was half the size of this dragon. She was weak, arrogant."
"And you think he isn't?" Tressa spat on the ground. "My father will die, and I want to be the one to run him through."
Jarrett dropped his grip on her. "Your father?" He gazed up at the dragon that was circling Connor, his claws bared, aggressive jaws snapping.
"Yes. At least he was. Once upon a time. I don't know what happened to him. Why he's turned into..." her lips snarled, "this thing."
"Bastian! Oh, Bastian!" Bastian spun around. A woman came running through the now deserted square.
"Mother!" He let go of Tressa and took off running. He caught his mother's hand in his and pulled her to the safety of their group by the monument. "Are you okay? I've been worried about you." After he realized Fenn had been lying to him, he worried for her safety. She collapsed into his arms, her chest heaving.
"Bastian?" He heard Elinor talking to him, but he ignored her. His mother's safety was most important.
"Fenn is – "
Jayne placed a finger over his lips. "I know. Fenn is the dragon. He's changed."
"Are you okay?" Bastian asked. He ran his hands over her hair. She was so small compared to him. Such a tiny wisp of a woman, but she was his mother and he would forever be her little boy.
"Bastian!" This time it was Tressa. What was their problem?
A tug on his shirt interrupted his next question. He shrugged it off. Then a strange sensation bit into his arms. Like claws tearing at flesh. Blood gushing from an open wound. Eyes wide, he looked down at his mother.
Her eyes glowed a bright red. A slash of obsidian ran marred the red glow.
"No," he said. He tried to step backward. To get away, but her claws were embedded in his skin.
"I would suggest staying right where you are," she said, a forked tongue sticking out between her lips. "If you move, you'll bleed out. I wouldn't want that to happen. Would you?"
Bastian shook his head. He'd come here, expecting to play the hero just like he had in the misty forest. Just like he had when he'd saved Elinor from the kilrothgi and when he'd challenged Connor. Not once had he really thought he'd die.
Now his mother, the woman who'd brought him into this world, held his life in her talons.
He heard footsteps coming behind him. "Stay back," he shouted over his shoulder. The footsteps stopped abruptly.
"He's right," Jayne said in a sweet voice.