Chapter Twenty-Six
A familiar roar rings out from above the treetops—one that sounds like it has human words in it. In the most blood-chilling way possible, it seems to say, “Touch her and die!”
In case it wasn’t obvious what kind of creature the roaring belongs to, a big dragon swoops out of the sky and knocks down five IKEA stores’ worth of tree branches on everyone’s heads.
The Councilors freeze in their tracks.
The dragon lands, shines with magic, and turns into a mouth-wateringly naked Nero with his hands still claw-like and his limbal rings out of control.
My heart jumps, and I realize how overjoyed I am to see him—and not just because he stopped me from becoming mincemeat. It may have something to do with that hard-yet-kissable mouth, perfect abs, chiseled pecs, and don’t even
