I wouldn’t be sad if I got the chance to drive a dagger through Kolvar’s heart.
The other male, Phrin, had barely spoken since we first saw the shadow. I was fairly sure he was human, but there was no real way to tell. He was quiet and seemed withdrawn. A sword hung from his saddle, and I wondered what his position was in the Red Shadow’s retinue. Whenever I looked at him, he was eyeing the sky. He emanated nervousness as he rode, passing his reins back and forth between his hands.
Now he dismounted warily. Phrin glanced at the sky as he grabbed his sword before he handed his reins to Kolvar. The shifter took all three horses and tied reins to their saddles before slapping the steeds on their backside. They whinnied before taking off in a run down the road.
“They’ll make it to the city,” Phrin said as he watched them go. “But I’m not sure about us.”
Red ribbons of magic snaked from Remington’s palms, wrapping around Phrin and lifting him off the ground. “Shut up, you fool. I’m the Red Shadow, for Kydona’s sake. We are in no danger.”
I raised a brow. The prince was awfully jittery for someone who wasn’t in any danger.
Phrin nodded, his face pale. “Of course, Your Highness. My deepest apologies.”
Remington sighed, releasing the male. The red ribbons rushed back into the prince’s skin as Phrin went tumbling to the ground. He stood quickly, dusting off his cloak and tunic.
Keeping my thoughts to myself, I pursed my lips as I tried to figure out how I could use this fear to my advantage when Remington grabbed my arm and yanked me after him. My cloak billowed after me as I hurried to keep up with him. He was taller, and it took two of my strides to keep up with each one of his.
“Enough chit-chat,” the prince said gruffly, marching towards the forest. “We need to leave.”
We were just about to enter the forest when suddenly, a screech came from overhead. My neck hairs bristled at the sound. It was so loud that the trees all around us shook.
Then, even though it was the middle of the morning, the sun suddenly disappeared from the sky. I looked up, my brows furrowed as I sought the source of the sudden darkness.
The shadow was back.
But this time, it wasn’t far away.
No, this time I could see exactly what it was. I blinked once, then twice, wondering if I had gone mad.
A dark green, enormous dragon was circling above us, and it was descending rapidly. Wide-eyed, I stared at the huge wings extending from the beast’s body. Twin horns extended from the middle of each of its wings, adding to the creature’s deadly aura.
Kolvar swore. “Dammit. The dragon found us.”
Dragon.
The word echoed in my mind. The creature was magnificent in a way that I hadn’t known was possible. It continued to descend towards us until even its scales were visible. They were massive, the size of my hands.
Another roar and my heart pounded in my chest. Our rush into the forest was apparently forgotten as Remington released my elbow.
He fumbled as he summoned ribbons of red magic. “Ready yourselves,” he snapped to the others. “It won’t go down without a fight.”
Phrin and Kolvar stared at the dragon, their gazes transfixed as their weapons lay forgotten at their sides.
Remington roared, “Pick up your weapons!”
Both of them jolted and withdrew their blades, the weapons zinging in the air.
I took a quivering step away from the three of them, my eyes darting between the dragon and my unwanted fiancé.
Death by dragon certainly seemed like a better way to go at this point.
That, at least, would be quick. Unlike the painful, drawn-out torture of being repeatedly taken to Remington’s bed.
I had heard stories about what sadistic males did in the bedroom, and I wanted no part of that. I would not return to my gilded cage.
It wasn’t that I thought death by dragon would be painless. On the contrary, I imagined that being burned alive would be rather unpleasant, but hopefully, it would be over quickly.
Unlike my marriage. Once I Matured, I could live for a millennium. A millennium of long, drawn-out torture.