Page 66 of Secrets of Ruin

The flames didn’t affect the tanklike beasts but tore up the earth as it scorched a crevice across the land. It hit the sides of the giant monsters, lifted them, and flung them into the jungle.

The gremlins and cats screeched as they scampered to get out of the way, but many didn’t elude Alina’s wrath. The ones who did were taken out by the dragon following her and then the next.

The dragons were destroying their enemies, but they’d become trapped inside the growing inferno if they didn’t move soon.

“Move out!” Cole shouted to be heard over the flames and destruction of the earth as the dragons’ fire ripped it asunder.

CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE

Kaylia threw her arm over her head to help protect it from the fiery branches breaking free of the trees and tumbling to the ground. Sparks and debris cascaded around them as they raced after Cole and into the jungle.

Moving fast wasn’t their best option, considering they had no idea if more traps lay ahead, but they didn’t have a choice. Besides, the jungle hindered their progress as it pressed against their sides, much like the closing walls had.

Kaylia shuddered at the reminder of how close they’d come to being squished to death within the pyramid. She wanted out of this Valley before they lost any more of their number, but she suspected they were closing in on the ophidians as their traps and monsters ramped up around them.

When a large shadow fell over her, she looked up in time to see the giant leaning over them and using her hands to shove trees and debris out of their way. Giants weren’t immune to flames like Lexi; the fire had to burn the woman, but she showed no signs of stopping as she carved a larger path through the jungle for them.

Then the flames caught on the woman’s shirt, raced up her arms, and surged toward her face. Her cry was as loud as thunder; she tore her shirt away and threw it into the jungle, but it was too late as the fire had spread to her hair.

Staggering into the jungle, the giant pummeled her head to smother the flames before disappearing into the vegetation. A resonating thud rocked the jungle as the ground vibrated.

Kaylia’s heart ached for the woman who had helped save them, but she didn’t have time to mourn her loss as they raced through more of the fiery debris while chaos ruled around them. Three dragons soared so close overhead that the wind from their passing plastered her clothes to her.

She swore one of them brushed her head with the tip of its wing, but they weren’t that close. A branch broke free of one of the trees and tumbled toward them faster than she believed possible.

Before it could hit them and severely maim or kill someone, Kaylia threw up her hand and created a blast of air to fling the branch into the woods. She was powerful, but her abilities were dwindling beneath her constant use of them today. She had to be careful not to drain herself completely before they faced the ophidians.

The sweat sliding down her neck cleaved her tunic to her nape. The flames were all around and rolling over their heads as they mingled with the oppressive temperature of the jungle.

They created brutal conditions that made her head spin and her throat burn with thirst. It took all she had to keep moving.

Just when she was about to collapse, the flaming trees and sparks gave way. The heat became less stifling as they plunged out from under the inferno and into a section of the jungle that wasn’t on fire.

Cole almost ran into the teal-colored dragon trapped beneath the netting but skidded to a stop before he did. The net had cut off the end of the creature’s tail. It lifted its head, and instead of bellowing, it released only a small, heartbreaking moan.

“Don’t touch the net!” Brokk yelled when Cole went to grab it.

Cole hesitated with his hands only centimeters from the netting. Kaylia shuddered as she recalled what it was like to have that net against her, and she’d been lucky to have Brokk’s body mostly protect her from its agonizing effects.

“Then how do we free it?” one of the brownies asked; she thought it was Loth.

Kaylia studied the netting and the dragon pinned beneath. The earth shook when one of the enormous beasts landed nearby and closed its wings before stalking forward.

Alina landed on the other side, and the witches gathered closer. “We can lift it off with a spell,” Elsa suggested.

When Alina stopped a few feet away, Lexi slid from her back and landed on the ground. She stormed forward and examined the dragon trapped beneath the netting before stopping beside Cole.

“We agreed you would stay in Dragonia,” Cole said.

“We did.” When she rose on her toes to kiss his cheek, his expression softened, and he rested his hand on her hip. “But that was before Aladon was injured. How do we get this off?”

“We’ll take care of it,” Kaylia assured her.

Taking a deep breath, she grasped the hands of her fellow witches as they formed a circle around the dragon. With their hands entwined and the earth pulsing beneath her feet, power flooded her as they all strengthened each other.

They whispered to each other while deciding on a spell. When they finally agreed, Kaylia turned her attention to the dragon, who whimpered as its golden eyes surveyed them.

Her heart went out to the creature, and she swallowed the lump in her throat. She couldn’t cast a spell if she couldn’t speak.