Entrapment (Thor's Dragon Rider #3) - Katrina Cope Page 0,2

rendering her unconscious and almost killing her. Getting over that injury and the magic held within the lava monster's claw marks took a long time.

Despite the pain covering his face, Thor climbs to his feet and swings his hammer, releasing it at the lava monster before staggering awkwardly. Already, his actions seem more sluggish, and the lava monster has more time to move to one side, sending Mjolnir careening past unhindered.

A massive black fist swipes at the staggering Thor, pummeling him again and sending him flying several feet in the other direction with a final hit. Thor's body flops aside like a plush doll and thumps to the ground, unmoving.

I clasp at the crack in the fingers with both hands, trying to pry them farther apart. “No!” I scream, dread riding my voice.

Elan’s tail twitches beneath my feet. What is it?

“Thor’s been scratched by the monster. He’s tried to continue fighting, but the scratch is already affecting him. He’s being thrashed and thrown, and he won't get up.” I stare at his unmoving body, willing him to move.

Elan gripes, Well, that's it, then. We’re doomed.

“I know it’s not looking good. But we can’t give up.”

Hmm. I disagree. The monster hasn’t released us yet, so we’re officially damned. She attempts to swivel, probably to see out of a crack.

“Stop moving, Elan. You're squashing me. If you keep it up, I’m not going to be able to breathe.”

Sorry. I was attempting to help, but that's useless. I can’t bite the stupid monster because it's squashing my face.

The vision of Thor's lifeless body is ripped away as the lava monster swivels. Vibrations rattle us, matching the walking giant's pace as the grasp on Elan and me tightens.

- Chapter Two -

* * *

My heart sinks—not only for myself and Elan but also for what happened to Thor. The last I saw, he was sprawled on the ground, unmoving. I hope he’s all right. Asgard needs him, and he is also becoming one of my friends.

My body jerks with each giant footstep the monster takes, the reverberations traveling through its enormous body. The constant shaking rattles my bones, vibrating up to my neck and head and giving me a headache. For a moment, the movement stops, giving me a reprieve, which is shattered when the giant monster shoves its hand into a large bag and drops Elan and me into the center, swinging within the material.

The dark fabric completely blocks my view, especially when the monster seals the opening shut and swings the bag. The uncomfortable feeling of floating through the air comes to an abrupt halt when we slam into something hard and warm. The monster must have tossed us over its shoulder in the sack. My assumptions are confirmed as we sway roughly from side to side, swinging out then slamming into something solid again. My headache grows, along with additional bruises as I continually slam against the hard surface, sometimes unlucky enough to be squashed under Elan’s form.

Elan grimaces. Sorry. This is uncomfortable enough for me, but at least when you collide with me, your weight isn’t unbearable.

I groan, gritting my teeth, bracing myself as we swing out, and Elan’s body pummels me again, squashing me against the monster’s back. My vision seems blurry inside the dim enclosure, and I feel like I want to pass out. A slight depression creeps up on me. Here I am, trapped again. I was going to find out ways to learn more magic and make it stronger. Instead, I’ve been captured by a giant monster, and I can't do anything about it. My magic isn’t big or strong enough to help protect me, Elan, or Thor.

My thoughts trail off to Thor again as sadness encloses my heart. I hope the monster didn’t hit him too hard, and lethal magic hasn’t filled its scratch, as with Elan's injuries. The sack enveloping us swings from side to side, and I wonder why this monster hasn't tried to kill me. I don’t understand why it’s carrying us.

Elan groans.

“What is it?”

This bag is made out of fabric, right?

“I believe so. Why?”

No matter how much I try, my talons won’t cut it.

I roll my head back in defeat. “It must be tainted with magic.”

Elan huffs, and hot air fills the sack. That would be the only explanation. These talons have cut through many things stronger than a simple piece of fabric.

The movement changes, and the swinging motion shortens for a while, turning my headache into motion sickness. I clamp my