Page 123 of Heir of Broken Souls

“If we survive this.”

Breathing deeply, I shove aside the pain and heartache that I hear in his voice and instead muster up the strength and courage needed in this moment. “We will walk away from this, Knox. Then you can scream and rage at me, I deserve it, but until then we need to work as one.”

All things considered, it’s not fair to use our precious ideology against him. But he’ll understand, once I show him everything. I know deep within my bones that if he was in my position, he would do the same thing.

“You once said that when I wasn’t strong enough you would be the strength I needed, so let me be that for you now.Trustme, Knox.”

My words are infused with every ounce of feeling I can muster in this moment as we fly into the sky atop Aurora’s back. Zephlyn, Axel, and Elysia, all invisible, arc around to approach the water dragons from behind.

I feel more than hear the breath whoosh out of him as he drops his forehead to my shoulder. “Okay,” he says softly before straightening. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

“When the time comes, don’t stop me.” He stiffens behind me, making me repeat, “Trust me.”

“I trust you with my life.”

Rolling waves come into sight in the distance, approaching faster than I anticipated, the magnitude of them making my stomach drop and my heart sour. “Good. It’ll be needed,” I whisper.

Below, the pod snaps into action. Naia leads them, the rainbow of their tails growing fainter by the passing second as they descend deeper into the depths of the ocean, hopefully to attack from below.

Knox sucks in a sharp breath, and Aurora’s hackles rise, a low growl rumbling from her chest, as the demonic water dragons come into view.

Twice as long as the ship and just as wide, they skim through the water, their scales the same color of the ocean. If it weren’t for the clear day and the glints of sun, we wouldn’t have been able to see them, let alone fight them. They’re beautiful beasts, and if it weren’t for the fact they were sent here to kill us, I would have admired the creatures.

But as the leader’s head lifts from the water, letting out a ferocious roar and its sharp teeth and long fangs shine off the water, my body chills. Then its eyes lift, ones as deep as the crimson pumping through my veins, and something akin to recognition flashes in its depths before narrowing.

It descends, faster than I expected for a creature of its size. The other two follow at its flank until they submerge so deep their scales blend with the ocean.

Knox, using his thighs to keep him steady on Aurora, stands, peering on either side of her. “Where did they go?” he calls.

Ignoring his question, my eyes don’t leave the spot they vacated. “Game on,” I mutter. And with one mighty tug on our soul bond, I pull Aurora high into the air, right as a dragon shoots out of the water, its sharp teeth on full display. Its mouth snaps shut within inches of Aurora’s hind legs before it falls, its body slapping against the water and spraying it in all directions.

My hands are at the ready, golden power swirling around my palms as another arcs out of the water, this one higher than before. Its mouth opens wide to fill its belly with our bones, but I meet it with a golden fireball, unleashing myself with my own roar.

The moment the fire hits the dragon’s open mouth, it recoils with a scream of such pain I can’t help but cry out too. Aurora’s ears flatten and her hackles rise. Smashing my palm over my ear, I’m shocked to feel wetness. Pulling my hand back, I find crimson smudged across my fingers.

“Delilah,” Knox says suddenly.

“I’m okay,” I whisper hoarsely, quickly wiping it away on my pants as I peer at the water below.

A dark shadow is swimming upwards at an alarming rate.

“Fly, Aurora!” I call out, just in time.

Aurora banks as another water dragon arches out of the water, showing off its eel-like body. My eyes widen as its tail arcs fully out of the water, the shape similar to the mermaids.

The reminder of mermaids has me leaning forward. “Fly around in a zig zag circle, don’t let them guess you’re next move.”

Not needing any further instructions Aurora takes off, flapping her gorgeous wings at an alarming rate. She suddenly cuts left, then right as not one but two dragons jump out of the water.

“They weren’t ordered to kill us all, otherwise they’d be going after the ship.”

“I know,” I say solemnly. “They’re here for me.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, I lift my hands and aim, sending two golden fireballs for the water dragons. But as quickly as they appeared they disappear, my magic landing in the water, sizzling into nothing but a gray cloud of smoke.

Knox fires as one of the smaller water dragons leap out of the water. Knox’s fire lands, hitting its side, making the dragon’s body cave in on itself as it roars in pain.

I pull my hand back to launch a deadly blow while it’s distracted, only for my hand to stutter as a fourth shape appears, this one an identical color to the ocean’s blue. I wouldn’t have been able to see it if it weren’t for the ripple in the water, the change in pattern.