The Fae King's Dream (Between Dawn and Dusk #2) - Jamie Schlosser Page 0,55
of her, but I can barely catch my breath. When we get to the road I came in on, she begins running faster. My legs pump as hard as they can, and my lungs burn from pulling in the icy air.
Minutes go by. Five, maybe ten.
Rocks and sticks cut into the soles of my feet. They’re probably bleeding, but I barely feel it through the numbing cold.
I throw a look behind us, but the citadel is small in the distance. And it’s on fire.
Astrid. Quinn and Kirian. All Damon’s friends. I hope they got out and they’re safe.
Looking ahead again, I see we’re getting close to the mountains. We go by the trail our caravan was on earlier.
I slow, thinking we’re heading that way, but the woman yanks me past a cluster of dead trees. Their leafless branches hang down, as if they’re frail fingers that are reaching for me.
Dread forms in my stomach, and I start to resist.
“We’re almost there,” the woman says without glancing back.
I can tell she’s trying to sound encouraging, but there’s something off about her voice. A hint of malice. A warning she’s trying to conceal.
I stop dead in my tracks when I see the gaping opening in the mountainside. This entrance isn’t boarded up and it doesn’t have warning signs, but I recognize it. Inside is the blackest black I’ve ever seen.
“The Shadowlands.” I swallow thickly. “I can’t go in there.”
“You have to.” The woman laughs at me, as if I’m acting like a child who’s frightened by the boogeyman. “Damon needs you.”
I shake my head. “He’s the one who told me to never go in there. He made me promise.”
“Well, that was before he was being tortured.”
Whipping my head toward her, I lock onto her light purple eyes. “Tortured?”
She gives me a solemn nod. “They’ll start with his fingernails, ripping them off one by one. After that, they’ll remove extremities. Toes are a popular choice.”
I press a hand to my stomach. I think I’m gonna be sick.
And then I hear it. A gut wrenching scream.
Damon’s scream.
Someone’s hurting him.
Gripping the metal rod in my hand, I run forward and stop about fifteen feet from the dark abyss. “How can I help him? Do I have to fight someone? Tell me what to do.”
“Go to him.” Sidling up next to me, she places a hand on my shoulder. “They’ll stop hurting him once you’re together.”
My gut is telling me not to do what she says. Not only would I be going against Damon’s wishes, but it’s also most definitely a trap.
I’m frozen in place. I’m so scared I can’t move.
Suddenly, the woman’s eyes dart to the sky over my head, and they widen with fear.
Now, I’ve seen this shit in movies. I know there must be something awful up there. I don’t want to look, but I can’t resist.
Turning, I glance up at the dark clouds.
A scream gets lodged in my throat. A dragon—an actual fucking dragon—is descending, flapping its massive wings as it dives straight toward me. Orange reflections from the burning citadel glint off its silvery scales and its eyes glow bright red.
“Whitley!” My shoulders are being shaken by the woman, but I can’t take my eyes off the horrifying creature. “You have to take cover. Go inside. Now!”
“Whitley!” That’s Damon. His voice reverberates from inside the cave, and he sounds terrified. “Whitley!”
“I’m coming!” I shout back, my voice trembling.
A whimper escapes as I take a step. And another. I feel like no matter what I do, I’m going to lose. I guess if it comes down to facing a raging dragon or plunging into the unknown where Damon is, I’ll choose my mate.
He’d do the same for me, caution and promises be damned.
Breath heaves from my chest in wheezing puffs as I sprint for the pitch-black cavern. Reaching out, I welcome the shadows. I surrender to them. For Damon. My fingertips are just inches away from the opening when something grabs me from behind.
Screaming, I glance down to see a large clawed talon wrapped around my torso. Immediately, I’m yanked off the ground and pulled away from the place where my soul mate is being brutalized.
To make matters worse, I lose my weapon. A sob escapes me as I watch the fire poker clatter to the ground below.
I already broke one of Damon’s battle rules. He was counting on me, and I failed him.
“Let me go!” I struggle against the unwavering grip on my waist. “I have to get to Damon.”