Phoenix turned in time to see a bunch of cute, colorful creatures climbing the sails. Her giggles turned to laughter when the crew yelped in surprise and Drago shouted for them not to harm the creatures or the Empress of the Monsters would toast all their asses.
She sighed, watching the mayhem unfold. “If the others are having half as much fun as I am, then this is going to be the best adventure ever!” she giggled, turning around and lifting her face to the breeze.
No one noticed that slight flutter of gold among the paper birds. They were too enraptured by the antics of the kids and the sea monkeys. Fluttering up to land on a weathered beam, Aminta chuckled as she watched the chaos below with amusement.
Scattered across this vast world, her friends faced their own trials. With Phoenix safe, Aminta soared into the sky, her wings shimmering, scattering golden sparks like a thousand tiny suns as she disappeared into the blue. It was time to check on a certain young dragon prince who might be in a little over his head.
Coming Next:
Under the Sea…
Zohar Reykill wanted an adventure… he just didn’t expect to land under the palace of the Sea King.
One moment, he’s falling through the fractured portal—the next, he’s making a splash in a mysterious reflective pool deep beneath a kingdom he’s never seen.
His unexpected arrival startles two curious boys, Dolph and Juno—sons of Orion and Jenny—who’ve just discovered a hidden map leading to a mythical creature their mom once told them about… the Loch Ness Monster.
With no idea where his friends are—Zohar strikes a deal: he’ll join their quest, if they help him find the others.
But danger lurks beneath the surface. From magical sea serpents to creatures straight out of his mother’s fairytales, Zohar quickly realizes this is no ordinary adventure… and without the other Dragonlings, he might be in way over his head.
Join Zohar as he dives into a world of wonder, peril, and unexpected friendships. Will he survive long enough to reunite with the others? Find out in the next thrilling chapter of The Portal: A Dragonlings of Valdier Adventure Part 3!
Part III
Under the Sea
Chapter Eleven
Zohar Reykill twisted and turned on the fading threads that connected him to the portal. Fractured light sparked around him, splintering against the vast blackness pressing in from all sides. For the first time in his life, he was actually afraid. Afraid he wouldn’t make it out of this adventure he had barreled into without thinking. That he would never see his friends or family again.
It was a sobering thought at the tender age of sixteen. Thinking about his death. It was one he didn’t like. It turned out he really, really didn’t want to die.
No die. No die. No die.
His dragon’s feverish chant pulsed through his mind, a rasping, guttural rhythm vibrating in his bones like a war drum. The pressure in his chest tightened with a vise-like grip, making it hard to breathe.
The scent of ozone filled his nostrils—sharp and acrid, like a storm tearing through a power line. The threads connecting him to the portal fizzled one by one, hissing and snapping like angry snakes.
If he could’ve pushed words past the lump in his throat, he might’ve muttered a curse or two. Instead, he swallowed hard, his heart thundering as he closed his eyes against the vast, silent void ahead. The chilled hush of space pressed down on him, heavy and absolute.
His breath hitched.
Then—
He dropped like a stone.
His stomach plunged as gravity suddenly returned with a vengeance.
He gasped and his eyes flew open in disbelief—just in time to see a brilliant, crystal blue sky flare into existence above him. Wind whipped through his hair, cold and biting. Clouds streaked past in a dizzy blur.
His dragon roared with relief, and Zohar felt the familiar shift roll through him like a wave. Scales rippled across his skin. He spread his wings and let out a whoop of exhilaration when they flared on an updraft of air. His elation lasted all of two seconds before he was suddenly sucked down by a spiraling funnel of water that rose from the sea below.
“Come on!” he groaned as the glorious sky vanished. Mist slapped his face. Roaring wind howled in his ears. Spray stung his eyes. He spun in ever increasingly tighter circles.
Wheeeee! This fun! his dragon chirped.
Fun? FUN? It’ll be fun until we get sucked under and drown, you idiot! Neither of us can breathe underwater, Zohar snapped.
