It had grown so thick that it knocked Azrael flat on the academy courtyard ice like a fly with a swipe. He fumbled, scrabbling his hand toward his side. Jagged pain scratched at his ribs like clutching fingers striving to rip the muscle loose from its anchoring within his meat, but he gripped shut over the moan trying to come out.
"Ahhh!" he gritted the sheer force of dark magic that launched at him, making him shudder.
Before Azrael realized what was occurring, Adam was there beside him, looking inside his face as if trying to determine if everything was all right with him. His hands though, did so on instinctive surety, and he reached out and pried loose the glowing dragon heart still clutched in Azrael's hand. He freed it with swift decision.
"Are you okay?" Adam asked softly, yet fi
