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The river, Rui said.
I am strongest in or near water.
“Same,” Lancelot said. “Between the two of us, we can keep Annie and Arthur breathing beneath the water for as long as needs be. Let’s hope those shadow dragons are only sky-born and not adept in water as well.”
Thus decided, Rui took off at her fastest gait toward the river a couple miles away. She moved much faster than they would have by themselves, running on human legs, but she wasn’t the fastest dragon on land, given her sea legs, and the fact that she only ran on her two hind legs.
Above them, five of the shadows immediately diverted to follow them, while four remained behind to continue fighting Wolfe and Merlin. Their strategy was working.
The shadow dragons sent bursts of ghostly fire to raze the trees around them, making the larger oaks fall in their path, trying to obstruct their progress. Flaming debris rained downupon them, and if not for Annie’s forcefield, Rui would have sustained severe damage already.
“I wish I had enough power to hold the forcefieldandshoot fiery missiles at those ugly buggers in the sky,” Annie gritted out, her face tense with concentration, sweat already beading on her brow from the effort she was expending.
“You’re doing exactly what we need,” Arthur said. “We’re almost there.”
“Good thing too,” Annie muttered. “I can’t hold this much longer.”
Just then, a particularly large severed treetop slammed down on top of them. The forefield caught most of its impact, but it still hit Rui hard on the side, almost knocking the three of them from her back.
Both Rui and Annie grunted in pain, but Rui only staggered slightly before continuing on. If anything, her strides sped up even more with a new burst of energy, possibly the last. Lancelot could feel her strength waning.
At last, they broke through the tree line into the clearing that abutted the riverbank. They were entirely exposed out here, even if the water was mere seconds away.
Hold on tight!Rui instructed as she hunched low to the ground to make herself a smaller target.
The shadows dove, closing in on them, their dragonfire hot on their tail.
Lancelot could feel the heat from their flames, however diffused Annie’s forcefield made them. It was like being trapped in the middle of a volcano. Any moment, the boiling lava would engulf them.
And then—
Rui gathered the last of her strength and leapt.
The moment she hit water, submerged entirely in the deepest part of the river, they lost their seat upon her back.
Lancelot swam toward Arthur first, sharing his breath by fusing their mouths together.
Arthur’s head jerked back when he got enough, gesturing for him to see to Annie. Lancelot did so through the same process.
Annie had the wherewithal to grin at him and telepath,You’re a good kisser, Lance. Whoever your Mate is, they’re lucky to have you.
She winked at him and slid a coy glance at Arthur as he felt a blush stain his cheeks.
Grab on!Rui said again, swimming beneath them, her strength apparently renewed already.
She was another dragon entirely in water. There was a grace and confidence about her that wasn’t there on land. Though she was formidable in any form, in water, she seemed invincible. The speed with which she moved showed it.
When they gained purchase on her back again, she took them deeper into the river, all the way to the bottom where little light reached them. There, she stayed, arching her neck to look toward the surface, even though, from Lancelot’s point of view, there was little to be seen, only suggestions of movement.
Do you feel them?Arthur asked.
Your Mates. Are Wolfe and Merlin…
Alive and well,Rui finished for him. A statement, not a question.
A little worse for wear, but still strong. I can feel them moving in our direction. They are not free of the enemies yet. They have shadows on their tail.
And the shadows that chased us here?Annie asked.
