Remington stopped five feet away from me, and his wings disappeared from view. His fists were clenched as red sparks still danced over his skin. The magic pulsed around him as though it were alive.
He lifted his hands, and the ropes binding me to the tree disintegrated. I fell forward, throwing out my arms to slow my landing. A rough, icy hand landed on my elbow, yanking me up.
“Look at me,” Remington ordered. His voice was firm, steady, as though he hadn’t just wielded an untold amount of power. I knew elves got their power from the goddess, but I wondered why he wasn’t exhausted. Why wasn’t he passed out, like I’d been after saving Hironna?
When I’d been with Xander.
A pang went through my heart.
Pulling my gaze to his face, I stared at the male who had just fought a dragon. He glared at me, his eyes wide with violence and bloodlust.
“I’m looking,” I stated. In my peripheral vision, I saw something twitch. I held my breath as the dragon moved. It was still alive. At that moment, I knew I would do anything to keep Remington’s attention on me. “Are you going to throw your magic at me, too? Was killing a dragon not enough for you today? You need to take out your anger on a defenseless female?”
Remington slapped me. I was coming to understand that this was his automatic reaction to everything. Pain. Suffering. Torture. I winced at the throbbing in my jaw, and hesmiled.
“Don’t test me,” he hissed between clenched teeth. “There is nothing I would like more than to teach you a lesson, but unfortunately for me, Ineedyou alive.”
I swallowed, nodding. Alive. To breed.
Behind Remington, the dragon was pushing itself to its feet. Its golden eyes were open, and I could have sworn it looked right at me.
“Okay,” I said quickly. Anything to keep Remington’s attention on me. A plan began to form in my mind. A completely crazy, absolutely insane plan. But he had released me from my bonds, and there was no way I would go with him willingly.
Over the prince’s shoulder, I caught a glimpse of the dragon’s open mouth and razor-sharp teeth. It was standing on two unsteady legs now and seemed to be… waiting.
“Okay?” Remington repeated, disbelief lacing his tone.
I nodded. “Okay.” Smirking, I tilted my head, raising a brow. “You’ll just have to catch me first.”
Before the last word was even fully out of my mouth, I took off running. I refused to look behind me even once. My cloak billowed in the wind, but still, I ran.
When heat—hot, infernal, horrible heat—erupted at my back, I continued to run. When cries of absolute agony came from Remington’s direction, I didn’t stop. I kept running until the cool breeze embraced me.
Only then did I whirl around.
And I screamed once more.
My voice shattered the silence as a throbbing pain fissured through my chest. I gasped for air, my heart breaking as I stared at the scene behind me.
Remington—what was left of him—lay prone on the ground as horrific burns covered his body. He was very clearly dead.
But that wasn’t what made me scream.
The dragon was nowhere to be seen. And in its place…
I sobbed, my chest tightening painfully as I stared in disbelief. I blinked once, then twice, but nothing changed. The horrifying scene in front of me remained the same.
A very familiar head of silver-white hair was lying on the ground, a few feet away from the very dead prince. Crimson blood stained everything in sight.
How is this possible?
My heart seemed incapable of beating properly as it stuttered in my chest. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think.
My feet carried me to Xander’s body of their own accord. My soul felt as though it had shattered into pieces.
He was lying before me. Bloody and bruised and broken.
And now…