Page 84 of Twilight of Embers
“It’s going to be okay,” Cáel whispered gruffly. “I promise.”
I wanted to believe him. But I wasn’t sure I could.
“Let’s go,” enforcer one said.
Knox nodded. “Hayden goes in the middle.”
Cáel guided me to follow the enforcers while Knox brought up the rear.
“Don’t you dare come back,” Delaney yelled. “I’m getting the locks changed.”
I’d sleep on a park bench before I went back to that dorm room.
I followed the massive men down the stairs and out into the quad. If I’d thought we’d gotten a lot of stares before, it was nothing to what we were getting now. Students didn’t even try to hide it. They just halted what they were doing and gaped at us.
I didn’t blame them. The four men around me were massive. And Knox and Cáel had larger-than-life reputations. But I didn’t need the attention. I just ducked my head and moved toward Knox’s SUV.
Cáel opened the back door and slid in behind me. Knox didn’t make any chauffeur quips as he climbed behind the wheel.
In a matter of seconds, we were pulling out of the parking spot and heading back toward home. Except it wasn’t my home, not really. I hadn’t had one of those since I was eleven.
My eyes burned as pressure built behind them. Why was it now that I longed for that feeling of home? It wasn’t like home automatically meant safety. What had happened to my parents proved that much. But maybe it gave the illusion of security. And I’d take even a glimmer of make-believe right now.
Knox drove at least ten miles over the speed limit, taking turns quickly and barely slowing at stop signs. The blacked-out SUV behind us did the same thing.
I breathed a sigh of relief as we hit the gravel road that I knew would take us to the guys’ property. The tall redwoods towered over the road, giving an air of protection.
I forced myself to focus on the road ahead and nothing else. Not the note. Not that someone wanted to hurt me. Just the next few feet in front of me.
A large shadow danced across the road, and Knox cursed.
I frowned as Cáel took off his seat belt, leaning forward. “How many?”
“I don’t know,” Knox clipped back.
The shadow swept over the gravel again, almost as if a plane had passed between us and the sun.
I leaned forward to peek up at the sky, but there was nothing.
Then there was movement ahead. Something landed on the road. So large that it made our SUV shake.
I gaped, blinking rapidly. But no matter how many times I did, I couldn’t clear my vision. Because in front of us was a massive creature. It almost looked like a supersized lizard. But it wasn’t.
It was a dragon.
A roar tore through the air, and its mouth opened. And then flames were hurtling toward us.
42
HAYDEN
The fire was beautiful. A mixture of reds, oranges, and golds. But as it flew toward our vehicle, I knew it was as deadly as it was glorious.
Knox slammed on the brakes, and Cáel launched himself from the SUV. He opened his own mouth, and blue-silver fire shot from him. It formed a sort of wall or shield. The red-gold fire slammed into it but couldn’t get through.
My breaths came in short, quick pants. This was all a dream. I was still unconscious from my attack last night. This was all in my mind. There was no other explanation.
“Stay in the car,” Knox commanded. “Don’t move until I or one of the guys come get you.”
