Ash Princess (The Deviant Future #6) - Eve Langlais Page 0,82
it would start a chain reaction.
Only the sudden change in the air currents warned him. He ducked and yet still felt the swipe of claws over a bicep, drawing blood. He cursed and went to yank the string, only to have a second dragon dive in and tear it from his grip.
Oh fuck no. Cam thought of Kayda and the others in need of a miracle.
What of his sister and the Marshlands?
This had to stop.
Now.
He ran and jumped for the string on the ground just as the dragon returned. He kept hold of it as he dodged the claws. His feet teetered on the lip of the volcano. The dragon came for him, and in that moment of calm clarity, there was only one thing to do.
Even though he wasn’t clear of the blast zone, he yanked the string hard enough to pull the pins. The explosion flung him off the edge, and he plummeted for the molten surface.
At least death would be quick. He closed his eyes as he heard boom after boom.
He’d fulfilled his part of the prophecy.
Ozz was saved.
Chapter 20
She was too late.
Milo had landed the transport in the valley, but the hike up the side of the volcano had taken too long. Kayda had arrived in time to see Cam teetering on the edge, a pair of dragons in the air overhead.
Before she could warn him to run, something exploded! The momentum took him over the edge of the volcano.
“No!” she screamed.
And it was as if she yelled with more than a voice. The sound, the thought, the devastating emotion of it blew outward in a cold frost, rimming the ground around her, misting her breath.
It sent small wheeling bodies scurrying for the heat. All except for one. A single dragon pierced the icy mist falling into the volcano, a big shadow arrowing for Cam.
Was this where Cam’s prediction the dragon would eat him came true? The trembling fear and sadness in her only served to chill her further, and her lashes frosted as she fluttered them shut so she didn’t have to watch.
Kept them shut tight even as the air around her shifted when the drake landed close by.
It had shuttered its mind from her. She didn’t even know it could do that.
I can do many things when strong. The drake chose to speak.
“Go away.” She didn’t want to see the beast that had killed her lover.
I plan to, but first…
She got an impression more than words that conveyed a debt repaid. It made no sense until he spoke.
Or more like harangued. “What the fuck are you doing on the volcano?”
Her eyes flashed open. It couldn’t be…
She looked up to see Cam, slightly red and singed, his clothes partially scorched, but alive.
“You’re not dead.” Disbelief saturated the statement.
“Not I’m not, and luckily neither are you. What were you thinking coming here?”
“I came to save you.”
He might have replied if the dragon didn’t bugle. Farewell.
The massive creature didn’t so much step off as it threw itself from the edge, and she gasped to see it plummet only for a moment before the wings snapped and it headed down for the lava, its level lower than before. It was sinking, exposing a network of caves.
Uttering an ululating cry, the drake arrowed into one. Sharing a bugling call, the smaller dragons joined him.
Cam tucked her against his side and joined her in watching all the disappearing dragons.
“What’s happening?” he said.
“They’re going home,” she whispered. Lucky beasts.
“Now what?” he asked.
“Can you walk a little more tonight?” she asked.
“Do I have to?” he groaned. “I fell off a cliff and got almost eaten by a dragon you know.”
“You’re exaggerating a bit, don’t you think? You don’t even have bite marks.” She swept her hand up and down the length of him, relieved to see no holes in his flesh.
At this incredulous look, she laughed. “You should see your face right now.”
“Not funny, Kay,” he growled.
She sobered. “I know it’s not. I’m sorry. I am really grateful.”
“So grateful you won’t let me camp here,” he grumbled.”
“I know you’re tired, but what if I said you only to walk a little further to hitch a ride?”
His expression brightened. “Milo flew the ship.”
“He did.”
“And you let him come here!” He scowled.
“The correct response is, ‘thank you.’ Don’t you know I’d do anything for you?”
“Why?”
She could see the yearning and trepidation in him. “Because I love you, Marshlander. Even if you have a hero complex.”