Page 127 of Heir of Broken Souls

In the sky, a dragon suddenly falls.

The sudden rush of air yanks its wings upwards, flipping it back first, belly up and exposed. Aurora lunges, landing on its underbelly as she roars and snaps her jaw around its chest and pulls its rotted heart out.

Without so much as thinking, as if second nature by now, the second Aurora throws herself backward, her large black wings flapping furiously, I send up a wall of golden flames, satisfaction sizzling through me as the demonic dragon that aided in Knox’s attack goes up in flames, its body melting into nothing moments before it hits the ocean with a deadly crash.

It won’t be coming back anytime soon.

My breath hitches, a grunt exploding from my chest as my back lands on something hard, Knox’s unconscious body landing on top of me with all his weight. I cling to him, noting the way his chest rises and falls slowly as a whine tumbles from Aurora.

My head drops back atop her raven coat.

“Thank you,” I wheeze.

Chapter46

Knox

The sun blinds me as I squint through its strong rays. My foggy mind churns as I try to remember where I am, who I am, and?—

It comes back to me in a mighty flood of memories.

My hand instinctively snaps to my back, my fingers finding the shredded clothing and yet the skin is perfectly intact, not even a bump or ridge to be felt. What I do find, though, is raven-black fur and a woman beneath me, squirming. Scrambling upwards, Delilah heaves as I get off her.

“Gods, how long was I out for?” I groan.

“Long enough!”

Something tells me I don’t want to know the real answer and how exactly we came into the position we are in.

Peering around at my surroundings, I find just one demon dragon left, along with Axel trying to heal a badly wounded Zephlyn.

I don’t think, I just move.

Squeezing Delilah’s hand, I open up my wings and shoot directly for Axel, who is hovering midair as the griffin somehow continues to fly despite the nasty gash around his hind and belly. I place my hands atop the wound, and I’m surprised to find I have more than enough magic in my reserves. Without a second thought, I send it careening for the griffin, my heart pinching as his eyes close from euphoric relief.

“Thank you,” Axel heaves, his eyes misting slightly as they remain locked on Ace’s soul pair griffin.

“No need to thank me.”

As the words leave my lips, the skin begins to stitch together beneath my palm.

Before anyone can react, the last remaining demonic dragon swoops. Its mouth drops open, revealing the lines of razor-sharp teeth—all the while the Phooka atop it whips out its bony hand and yanks Elysia from her perch behind Axel.

Elysia screams as the Phooka hooks her to his chest, holding a blade dripping with crimson blood to her neck. The terror that fills Axel’s face is a punch to my gut as he stares at his mate in a precariously close situation to how his brother died.

Elysia’s wide eyes swivel in all directions, taking on a wild gleam.

Axel twitches, Zephlyn only so much as turning to face Elysia, but the Phooka tsks.

“Move another inch and her head flies.”

“The time for negotiations wasnever. Release her!” I bellow.

The animalistic gaze in Axel’s eyes is a sensation I know all too well. The pure predatory need to protect those we love. It’s overwhelming, a rush of emotions that cannot be contained.

Zephlyn, still healing from his near fatal attack, cannot take on another demonic dragon, and Axel knows that. The sight of it all draws a whimper from the griffins, the sound mingling with the water battle raging on below.

But we can’t tear our gaze away from the sight before us. We can’t abandon our family.