ENSANGUINED
VALE
Fire spewed from the dragon’s maw. Hot, thick flames of burnished gold fell in sparkling shoots as it burned the treeline below.
Good.
More—
More.
The dragon wanted more.
The bodies shrieked as the fire lit them up. The flames danced as they licked at their flesh, reducing dark wings to shriveled ash. The feathers burned first, leaving the skeletal outline of their wings. Then that too was gone.
It all became ash.
The dragon roared into the ensanguined night.
The Umbra—once Fallen—hovered in the air, dark, feathered wings beating, spears in hand, whistling through the air as their silver tips hurtled toward the dragon.
Fire erupted from the dragon’s curled lips. The Umbra gave guttural cries of pain as flames enveloped them.
A spear hit the side of the dragon’s wing. The tip bent against his scales, and the spear fell into the water below.
He barely felt the pain.
57
PRETTY IN PIECES
LUELLA
Cold terror dripped down Luella’s spine like the water falling before her.
Sharp pain lanced through her ribs. She gasped and looked down, expecting blood, but saw nothing.
She knew, then, where the pain had come from. It hit her like lightning, jolting through her. She jerked up into a stand, the water misting her skin.
Restless, she walked beneath the waterfall. The water chilled her to the bone as it poured over her.
She stood in the quiet stone circle, gasping for air as she held a hand against her ribs.
"Graves," she realized aloud. "No—" Her face twisted with anguish.
Graves was hurt.
She knew it—even with the distance stretching their bond thin.
Her fingers flexed against the hilt of the dagger by her side, and she stared down at it. She was powerless.
That was the thing about damsels. Reading about them was like slipping through a soft cloud, until you realized there wasnothing to hold you up and you fell right through, the illusion shattering.
Thiswas her shattered illusion. It helped no one to be defenseless.
Her head fell, fingers loosening on the dagger.
If she couldn’t help with her strength, could she aid with her magic? It was foolish. Reckless, even. She didn’t have control over her powers. But a little chaos could turn the tide.
