Entrapment (Thor's Dragon Rider #3) - Katrina Cope Page 0,20

hunch that another army was brewing trouble. She requested we stay in contact so we could sort out that battle. The battle is over, and without that threat, we no longer need to keep in contact.”

His facial expression doesn't change.

I groan. “When are you going to believe me?”

In my frustration, I shoot magic at his nose. It screws up, appearing almost like rock folding upon rock. The reaction is minor, but it gives me enough incentive to shoot more magic at probably the most tender part of his body. He shakes his head, trying to rid himself of the discomfort and giving me hope that this may be working. Maybe my minute amount of magic is doing something.

I consistently send magic bolts at his face and cry, “Put me down!”

Frustration explodes through my body as he ignores me, yet at the same time, it gives me power to increase my magical intensity. I’m happy that my magic works, and I know I’ve stirred up some reaction, at least. The energy seeps from my body, leaving each magic attack weaker than the last, and my arms grow sluggish, causing the throws to become sloppy. I fire my last few bolts of magic until his nose wrinkles and he shakes his head.

His head folds back then shoots forward, releasing an enormous sneeze. Hot scalding breath blasts me, loosing me from his tentative grasp on my quiver. My terror rises, matching my speed as I shoot backward, straight toward the river of lava.

- Chapter Eleven -

* * *

I scream, my body a projectile through Muspelheim’s sulfurous air. Nothing is there to protect me or stop my fall. Surt’s massive hand swipes for me—concern flashing briefly over his face. He narrowly misses, leaving my body careening toward a scorching death. I scream again, flailing my arms and wishing I had wings. I know that’s a useless wish.

This must be it. This is going to be my end—after everything I’ve struggled for.

Surt swipes a dismissive hand at me. He's given up trying to save me even if I am the only one he believes can call Freya.

Then my back slams into something, and I’m yanked upward, away from the glowing river. Twisting, I search for whatever changed my direction. The straps of my quiver dig into my underarms, rubbing a deeper chafe along the front of the shoulders. That’s a pain I’ll gladly put up with, happy to watch the lava river shrink from underneath me as I rise.

The arrows rattle in my quiver as my legs dangle beneath me while I’m dragged through the air. I search again for the thing grasping me, thinking that maybe the lava monster caught me to help Surt.

The air above me is empty. Nothing is pulling on my quiver, saving me from falling to my death.

Shutting my eyes, I thank the nonexistent rescuer and suck in deep breaths, calming my nerves and clearing my other senses. I rise in patches to an almost monotonous beat, and I realize with each rise, I’m hearing the flapping of wings.

“Elan! Thank you.” I breathe the words, keeping my voice soft, not sure how good Surt’s or the lava monster’s hearing is.

Of course I’m going to catch you! I'm not going to let you fall to a fiery death. Her voice was most welcome in my head. I’ve been floating around invisibly since Surt grabbed you. It’s easy now that I don’t have to worry about you giving us away.

My flight continues to rise and dip in time with the flapping of her wings, and I welcome the hot breeze pressing against my face. For these few moments, everything is beautiful, almost perfect. Elan's just rescued me from certain death. Even better, I am safe in the grasp of a friend.

Elan flies across the lava river, leaving dark rocky piles underneath us. Searching the land, I find everything in this realm appears to be made of dark rocks or molten lava. The land is desolate—barren and threatening—the red and black heightening the arid land's nastiness. Nothing nice exists in this place.

Gazing over my shoulder, I spot Surt diminishing in the distance, which gives me some hope. The lava river lies between our captors and us. “Come, let’s get out of here. I hate this place!”

Carrying you like this is getting rather tiresome. Do you think you can put up with what I did the first time you rode me?

I trudge through the depths of my memory, trying to remember everything we did