Eighteen
The world spins as I scramble hastily to my feet. “What the … how did they …” My gaze falls on the golden digits hanging in the air. They’re all zeros. “Aurora! Dammit, how long have we been asleep?”
Not an important question, I remind myself as she stammers out apologies, since the answer is clearly ‘Too long.’ I focus on the approaching guardians making their way swiftly up the hill toward us with orbs of light bobbing above them. I can see three figures so far, but there must be more behind them. My immediate thought is to say something, to command them all to freeze, but I remember then that I used all my Griffin magic on granting Bandit the power to become a full-sized dragon. Which, it appears, might actually save us. Because the Bandit who was curled against my chest mome
