The dragon shifter panted and a low groan left his lips.
“Xander.” I moved, dropping my dagger as I knelt in front of him. Forgetting about my nausea, I took his hands in my mine, holding them tightly. “What’s the matter?”
My mate’s hair was all over the place, and his golden eyes were wide as he shook his head back and forth. Wild and untamed, he looked like an animal straight out of a jungle.
“I don’t know,” he said, the words little more than a gruff whisper. His hand rose to his throat, clutching his necklace. “The most horrible feeling just swept through me.”
Dread twisted in my stomach, and I shuddered. “What do you mean?” I asked, tightening my grip on his fingers.
His eyes darted around, as though he wasn’t even fully aware of our surroundings.
“Something has happened,” he said after a moment. “Something… I don’t know what it is, Aileana, but something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones.”
My blood turned cold as I watched him. I had never seen Xander like this before. Shaken to his core. Frantic. Wild.
“Something is wrong,” he said again, his voice cracking. The sound of his pain was like a knife to my gut. Dropping his hands, I gathered him in my arms as best I could.
“We’ll figure it out, Elyx,” I whispered low, so only he could hear. “We always do.”
He shuddered. “I don’t know if we can fix this. I don’t even know whatthisis.”
Seeing my strong dragon shifter brought to such a place by his dreams shook me. There was something about this mountain that was stripping us down to our very souls.
“We’ll try,” I assured him. “We’ll always try.”
Xander shook his head, and his voice was still haunted. “It could have just been a bad dream, but…”
“But what?” I whispered.
“It felt so real.”
“Why don’t Maiela and Daegal Look ahead and See what is happening? Maybe something changed.” Kysha’s voice was soft, but I jumped at the sound. I’d forgotten the two females were keeping watch.
“It’s a good idea.” Slipping my hand into Xander’s, I turned. “Do you mind, Maiela?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. Let me wake up—”
“We’re up.” Daegal’s voice was rough with sleep as it rumbled through the cavern.
He and Ryllae stood, rubbing their eyes, as our group gathered in a tight circle in the middle of the tunnel. The air was thick and heavy, as though a blanket had been dropped over us. Silence stretched between our small group, the lack of noise almost palpable, as we all stared at each other.
Next to me, Xander shook.
“Can you describe what happened, Xan?” Daegal asked, holding Ryllae close to his chest. “It will help us know what we are Looking for.”
My mate took in a shuddering breath, seeming to gather his thoughts before he spoke.
“It was… dark. I honestly don’t know what I saw. A feeling of intense hopelessness slammed into me, and it felt as though my soul was being ripped from my chest and thrown into the deepest, darkest pit.” My dragon shifter turned, and his fear-filled eyes met mine. “I thought they had come for you.”
“They didn’t.” I squeezed his fingers. “I’m here. I won’t leave you.”
“Do you think—”
A trio of high-pitched roars echoed off the stone walls, drowning out the rest of Daegal’s words. My heart thundered, and the ground shook. The magic in my veins roared as I turned as a gigantic beast ran toward us. It had the body of an enormous mountain lion, but instead of one head, there were three. Each was filled with row upon row of snarling, gnashing teeth and six eyes apiece. A spiny tail extruded from its back, slapping the walls and causing rocks to fall as it drew near.
Time seemed to slow as the beast barreled towards us. It snarled, the sound echoing thrice over as each head made the same noise.
“Aileana!” Ryllae called my name, and I glanced over as she pulled red ribbons from herself, moving into a fighting stance.