A large, golden eye with a slitted pupil stared back at me. The beast seemed to look into my very soul as I took a wobbly step forward.
Then a deep, rumbling sound came from within the dragon.
It shifted, each step shaking the ground beneath us. I stumbled as it opened its mouth, showing off rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth. It seemed to… smirk at me before turning and facing the other two males.
The dragon’s tail flicked back and forth, not unlike a cat’s, as the scent of smoke filled the air a second before red-hot flames erupted from within the beast. There were screams, and then there was… silence.
Complete and utter silence.
When the fire disappeared, all that was left of Phrin and Kolvar was ash. I searched inside of myself for a modicum of pity for the cat shifter, but I couldn’t find any. For Phrin, I felt… sad.
I thought that perhaps at one time in his life, he might have been kind. But obviously, something had happened to him. Both he and Kolvar had been more than willing to stand by while the Red Shadow dragged me back to his home and forced me into a marriage I didn’t want.
For that reason, my lips tilted up as I watched the wind carry away their ashes. But then the dragon turned back towards us.
And I looked my death in the eyes.
Death Smells Like Smoke
The dragon tilted its head as it lifted one giant, taloned claw, then the next. It prowled towards me, but I stood my ground.
I would not quake in the face of death.
Not after everything I had been through. I would face my fate head-on.
Bravery, I was learning, was not about being fearless. Rather, it was standing in the face of danger and not running away.
Beside me, Remington bellowed, “I will not go so easily, beast!”
The dragon roared, shaking its head as it glared at the two of us.
The air crackled as the prince pulled spools of magic from himself. “You need to run,” he snarled, turning to me.
I involuntarily took a step back. The blue of Remington’s pupils was completely gone as red sparks flittedthroughhis eyes. He was violence incarnate.
Right then and there, I knewthiswas the origin of his name. This was the reason everyone was afraid of him.
The Red Shadow looked like he had danced with death and won.
“Run,” he ordered, his voice reverberating with deadly power.
“No,” I refused, widening my stance. “I’m not going to run.” Extending my bound hands towards him, I asked, “Why don’t you remove my bindings and let me help?”
He scoffed, his voice gruff as he shot red bolts of lightning towards the dragon. The beast roared as Remington turned and glared at me. “You are an absolute idiot.”
“With words as sweet as yours, how could I ever refuse your proposal of marriage?” I quipped.
A flash of red magic shot towards me, shoving me back against my will. Remington snarled, “I am Mature. I can fight him. You will break within moments if this beast gets close to you.”
I had already made up my mind. One way or another, I was not leaving this road alive. There was no way I would marry Remington. If the dragon saw fit to take care of my problematic fiancé, well, then… good.
I certainly wouldn’t protest the sudden change in my situation.
Shaking my head, I widened my stance. “No. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Stupid bit—”
The Death Elf’s response was cut off by a roar as the dragon turned. For such a large animal, it moved so quickly.