To Wake a Dragon - Naomi Lucas Page 0,42

corridor. Following his gaze, I see the path breaks into a mass of stones that leads upward. It’s steep. The shrieking wind calms for a moment, and I hear the scuttle of falling stones. They keep falling until a single pebble rolls its way to our feet.

Drazak tenses beside me. And this time, when he steps forward, I stall him. “Don’t hurt him.”

His face turns to me with a sneer. “Why?”

“He’s just a boy. He’s harmless.”

Drazak’s nostrils flare. “You care about him? Another male?”

“A child. One who’s all alone and possibly stuck here like us.”

“Human, those snake beasts are no less monstrous than a dragon. They make fine food, but their jagged spearheads and poison are wicked at puncturing a wing, and in our case, exposed flesh. If he wanted to survive, he should have never made his home in a dragon’s den.”

“Drazak,” I warn. “We aren’t hurting him. You aren’t hurting him. Even if he attacks us, we’ll subdue him but bring him no harm.”

He scowls.

I scowl back. “We do not hurt children.”

Drazak growls and shakes off my hand. He grumps and scowls at me again. My eyes are narrowed, my lips flat, I’m not backing down.

“Fine,” he barks.

“You promise? It’s your turn to make me a promise,” I add.

More growls. “You use my weakness against me?”

“Yes.”

“I promise, human.” He stomps forward then sprints up the pile of rocks.

“Drazak!” I yell, rushing after him. By the time I catch up, he’s already on the stones, the naga boy underneath him.

A cacophony of shrieks echoes through the cave.

The boy’s tail swipes out, and I dodge to the left. With his next swing, it rises, pounding Drazak on the back. Screeches tear from the boy’s mouth while grunts come from Drazak’s.

“Stop!” I cry, unable to see what’s happening.

I don’t want either one of them to get hurt.

The boy’s tail swipes out again and the tip whips my arm. Pain rushes through me. Slapping my hand on the wound, blood rises under my palm. The naga’s noises grow more frantic and high-pitched.

“Waters! Stop!” I scream. My voice booms through the corridor. The wind picks up, howling again. I dodge the boy’s next attack and grab at both his and Drazak’s arms. Not even my male could convince me to allow this to continue. Thankfully, the naga’s flailing comes to a halt when his tail thumps on the rocks. A scattering of stones tumbles down the slope.

For a moment, they’re the only noise, but then the naga’s ragged panting starts.

“Milaye, move back,” Drazak orders.

I swallow, staring. He has the boy pinned tight to the ground. Drazak’s not hurting him. He’s just subduing him. I’m relieved. Horrified but relieved.

But I glimpse terror in the boy’s eyes and my brow creases. I kneel next to them.

“I said, move back.”

“Let me see him,” I say, ignoring his order. “Look at me,” I tell the boy, making my voice as calm as ever. I’m anything but calm. “It’s me. You know me.”

Drazak groans with exasperation and I clasp his bicep in reassurance.

The boy glances my way. His eyes stick to me.

“See? It’s me,” I say, exhaling. “You have nothing to fear from me.” My feather is lodged in the boy’s tangled hair. “He won’t hurt you,” I voice a little sternly between breaths as a warning to Drazak. “Neither of us will.”

The boy stares at me.

I frown. I’m certain he doesn’t understand what I’m saying, but hopefully he senses my intent. I find no recognition in his eyes. They’re blank, except for fear.

Drazak speaks, “I told you. Nagas are nothing more than beasts. Nothing more than meat.”

I shake my head. “Beasts don’t adorn their hair with feathers,” I say, indicating the one in the naga’s hair. “They also don’t collect shells into piles, steal human supplies, or fashion weapons.” I reach my hand between Drazak and the naga to cup the boy’s cheek. He flinches.

“Milaye!” Drazak barks. The boy tries to snap at my hand, but I’m braced for it and pull my hand away. Drazak tightens his hold on him, and the boy hisses, snapping again.

“If he hurts you, I will break my promise!”

“He won’t,” I reassure him, still sounding calmer than I am. I narrow my eyes at the naga, and wait for him to stop snapping. “Look at me.” The naga does. My pulse flutters. My lips twitch into a brief smile. “I knew you understood me.”

“Coincidence,” Drazak rumbles.

“It’s not a coincidence! Look at him, Drazak. His chest is that of a human male.