Hidden Fate

3

She whispered, “We’ve got to leave. Get Thorn to listen. You’re the only one who can do it.” She took Tyson from me and ran back the way we’d come from, toward the safe house. Vlad helped Errol get away, and they rushed after her.

Glancing back, I marked Thorn as he was about to slip through the tree line after Drake. I connected to him with the only thing I could think of and prayed it would work.

Thorn, I need you!

Concern washed over me as Thorn responded, What’s wrong? Are you hurt? Regret and guilt weighed down our bond as he spun around, his eyes narrowing.

The knot in my chest loosened. I hadn’t been sure I could reach him, but thank goodness, his concern for me outweighed his hate for Drake. About a third of the king’s warriors were fighting those loyal to Drake…though I wasn’t sure if loyal was the right word since he’d threatened their families. Regardless, the outcome was the same. Eventually, they’d overtake the king’s warriors and capture us. We need to leave before—

That asshole won’t touch you. His irises darkened to cobalt. His pain and anger rushed through our connection. Run. I’ll get King Arman and be right behind you.

My heart squeezed so tightly that it throbbed. I understood what losing a parent was like, but this had to be worse for him. This parent had abandoned him and tried to make things right moments before he died.

I stayed put, needing to make sure he wouldn’t let his hate and anger take over again. Chaos unfolded around us. The guards were focused on each other, and the ones who’d fought to protect Thorn were fleeing.

Luckily, Drake’s guards were chasing them, leaving us alone, but they wouldn’t for long.

Thorn lifted the king and rushed toward me.

Ev, go, he connected, his face twisted with concern.

A few of the remaining warriors paused, and a woman called, “Thorn and the girl are getting away!”

Tap into your dragon, Thorn connected and ran even faster. In a second, he caught up to me.

With no time to lose, I replicated what I’d done earlier. My dragon surged forward and connected with me, lending my legs extra strength.

My skin tingled as we rushed toward the thick line of oaks and red cedars.

Something whistled behind me. My breathing quickened, and I braced for the prick of the dart. My dragon surged, guiding me to zigzag instead of continuing in a straight line.

Fear squeezed my chest and the bond as my emotions and Thorn’s melded together. He was moving in the same pattern, and neither of us was hit.

Footsteps sounded to our right, heading toward the clearing. Probably more warriors.

My knees wanted to buckle, but my dragon roared. If we fell, Thorn and I would be captured. I gritted my teeth and pushed through the discomfort.

The footsteps stopped.

Falkor asked, “What in the hell is going on?”

“Where is everyone?” Ladon piped in.

The two guards were awake. It felt like a lifetime ago since we’d knocked their asses out back where we’d found them with Theron, Sol, and Wyvern.

“Uh…the king is dead, and the warriors are fighting each other over who should be king,” one answered quickly. “We’re going after the girl and Thorn.”

“What do you mean, warriors are fighting against Drake?” Falkor bellowed, a hint of hysteria in his tone.

Of course he wasn’t focused on the king’s death but on people acting against Drake. I wondered if that was because he was Drake’s guard now or if there was more behind it.

We were gaining distance from them, and I was more than okay with that. Let Falkor and Ladon distract our pursuers.

Their voices grew fainter, and I almost cried with relief when Falkor commanded, “We can worry about the girl and Thorn later. With the king gone, it’ll be easier to catch them. We have to make sure no one hurts Drake. He is the future and protecting him is our priority.”

He was right. With the king deceased, there was no one left to keep Drake in check. All the injured and old dragons would be openly hunted, the same as we were. But that was a problem for later. Right now, we needed to get away.

Something was brewing in Thorn, but as the scents of Saphira, Errol, Brenton, Tyson, Vlad, Cassidy, Sol, Wyvern, and Theron thickened in the air, I didn’t have time to decipher it. We were close.

A few minutes later, we ran around an oak tree and found them with Hydra. As soon as we came into view, Cassidy and Saphira let out huge breaths, their shoulders relaxing.

Cassidy murmured, “Thank gods. We were about to come looking for you.”

Brenton held Tyson in his arms, and Saphira and Errol flanked him.

“Sorry,” Thorn murmured as we stopped in front of the others. That emotion I’d sensed had morphed into guilt and disgust, weighing heavily on our connection. He was struggling, and I hated that I wasn’t sure how to help him. I didn’t want to pry while we were still in danger.

I studied my mate for the first time since he’d picked up King Arman. Blood from the king’s wound drizzled down his bare, muscular chest and streaked his body. Bile churned in my gut. Carrying his father’s body was something he shouldn’t have had to do.

Saphira looked toward my mate, and a growl emanated from my throat before I could stop myself. Her gaze was firmly on the king, but it was still way too close to my mate’s naked body. I hated that he was exposed to another young, attractive, and very unmated female.

Surprisingly, Wyvern snarled as well, and Saphira glared at him.

We were all experiencing heightened emotions, and we needed clothes, stat.

“Let’s leave.” Vlad cleared his throat and glanced at the area behind Thorn, avoiding looking at me.

I kept my gaze set from everyone’s shoulders up. There were some things you could never erase from your mind—like seeing your in-laws naked.

“I can’t leave my thunder.” Theron shook his head and turned to his mate and son. “You two go with Wyvern, and I’ll meet up with you when I can.”

My chest burned. Because of Drake, more people were being forced to run. This had to end.

“That’s a bad idea.” Wyvern raised his hands. Unlike us, Wyvern, Hydra, Sol, and Theron were dressed because they hadn’t flown to get here. “I’m the one who reached out to Drake. He’ll trust me more than you. Besides, you need to be with your family, and you might need to use your resources to find another safe location.”

What is he talking about? I didn’t want to ask out loud and delay us further, but I also wanted answers.