She’d lost not only her clothes but also her weapons. It didn’t matter; she’d still kill these assholes. She reluctantly released the girl as she twisted to face the two warlocks and the lycan coming toward them.
Behind them, she spotted Cole surrounded by a group of the Lord’s men. Mutilated bodies littered the ground around him, and the shadows leapt at those trying to keep him from her. Her heart sank as fresh blood splattered his face and clothes while he ruthlessly slaughtered those between them.
She lost sight of Cole when one of the lycans rushed toward her. Fire covered her arms and danced across her shoulder blades as she released a stream toward the creature.
She hated all this death, but she’d be damned if she allowed these things anywhere near the girl. Even if the child was already dead, she’d make sure none of the Lord’s men touched her again.
The nimble lycan was too fast for her flames and scurried out of the way. Lexi spun to keep him in view and unleashed another blast as the other lycan and warlock rushed toward her.
The three of them had come to the same conclusion as her. She had fire but no weapons; there were three of them, she only had two hands, and if they moved separately, she couldn’t get them all.
The power she felt unleashed beneath the dragon’s flame still thrummed through her body, but she had no idea how to release it orwhatthat power could do.
Lexi bared her teeth at the warlock as she edged closer to the unmoving girl. Screams sounded from behind her as Cole bellowed. The shadows closest to them shifted and rose toward the warlock, but they weren’t enough to stop the lycan from charging at her.
The creature dodged her fire as the second lycan charged too, and the warlock turned and fled from the shadows trying to take him over. Lexi’s heart hammered as the lycans grinned at her; she tried to keep her panic under control, but every instinct she had screamed at her to run. She wouldn’t leave the child behind, though.
A swooping shadow blocked the sun and fanned the inferno until it became a tornado spinning around them in a rapid circle of red and orange. Sparks shot off its side; they peppered her face and body, but they didn’t burn her, and they didn’t deter the lycans.
A breeze from the dragon’s wings caressed her cheeks, and the tip of a talon brushed her hair before the creature landed before her. The earth shook beneath its massive feet, and its wings remained wide as it cut her off from the lycans.
The green dragon’s head swiveled toward her; its golden eyes met hers as a puff of smoke coiled from its nostrils. Then, its head swiveled toward the lycan coming at her. Its roar blew back their clothes and staggered the men backward.
The creature was bound to the Lord’s commands, which meant it probably couldn’t kill the men, but it was obvious it wouldn’t let anyone attack her either.
She didn’t know how long this reprieve would last and wasn’t sure exactly how the Lord commanded these creatures, but he wouldn’t tolerate one of them defending her. She might only have seconds before the Lord called the dragon away.
Lexi spun and scooped up the child. Cradling the girl against her chest, she didn’t have time to see if the child still lived as she sprinted through the burning teepees. Debris and trees crashed and burned around her; flames shot into the air and screams continued to resonate from all around, but Lexi didn’t look back as she ran.
Lexi couldn’t look back; if she did, she would return for Cole, and she had to get this child and her mother to safety. The child’s mother remained kneeling near the burning woods as Lexi raced toward her. Uncaring of the danger surrounding her, tears rolled down her dirty cheeks.
“Cole!” Lexi screamed as she ran. “I’m going back!”
As she ran, Lexi opened a portal a few feet behind the woman. When she arrived at the woman’s side, she grasped her arm and pulled the woman to her feet.
The mother staggered and reached for her child, but Lexi shoved her forward and into the portal before she could grasp the girl. She glanced back but couldn’t see Cole through the destruction anymore.
As soon as they arrived at the prison, she would return for him.
* * *
Cole watchedas Lexi vanished through the portal, and it closed behind her. Not only was she safe, but now he would make them pay. He smiled as he released any restraint he still held over the shadows, and screams filled the air.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
Lexi’s heartthundered as she ran through the portal and plunged back into the small room where they last spoke with everyone. She glanced wildly around in the hope Cole was also returning, but the only ones there were Sahira, her dad, and Maverick.
Their eyes widened as they took in her, the child, and the woman who staggered and nearly went down before Maverick caught her. He steadied the woman who spun toward Lexi with her arms outstretched.
“Please,” the woman pleaded. “Let me have my baby.”
Tears stung Lexi’s eyes as she took in the child’s beautiful, blood-and-dirt-stained face. Her lips were blue, her eyes closed, and Lexi couldn’t tell if she still breathed or not as she was sostill.
Unable to look at the bloody wound in the innocent’s chest, Lexi stepped toward the woman and carefully handed her the child. The woman sobbed as she went to her knees and cradled the girl against her chest.
Lexi yearned to comfort her, but the woman curled into herself as she hugged her motionless child. Sahira rested a hand on the woman’s shoulder, but she didn’t pay any attention as she wept.
This was a private moment, they should all let the woman have her time to grieve, but Lexi couldn’t walk away and leave her alone in this room. So, instead, they stood and tried to offer what little support strangers could give someone who was broken.
