Seconds later, a flash rent the sky, accompanied by the deep rumble of thunder. And when Timothy looked around, he saw that the dragons of the storm and the earth had arrived at last.
Gregory and Damon had swept in with all their elemental power. Strong gusts of wind held the small army of fire dragons at bay. Every time a flash illuminated the stormy sky, Timothy saw a fire dragon fall towards the earth.
Meanwhile, Damon had rushed straight towards where the griffin shifter was still trying to escape together with Braeden.
With the power of the earth at his command, Damon was an expert in invisible shields as strong as diamond. He threw up a shield just as Timothy saw the fire dragon breathe another gust of shadow-flecked fire.
And this time, neither fire nor smoke broke through the shield. Jared and Braeden were safe.
Which meant that all Timothy needed to focus on now was his own mate’s safety.
I’ve got you, he thought desperately.
He was still hurting fiercely. He prayed that she’d feel his reassurance through the fragile mate bond.
The storm was still raging all around them. He hadn’t managed to rise as high as he’d hoped—with his right wing injured, it took more strength than he had left just to keep them both in the air.
And then the wound in his chest began to burn.
It wasn’t fire. He was the master of water; fire was unable to touch him.
But it still felt as if something was eating away at him, and it hurt. It hurt so much that he could feel the edges of his vision go dark with agony.
They were still in the thick of the fight. There were fire dragons all around them now—fire dragons thrown back and forth by the storm, but still dangerous.
And Timothy was wounded. He needed to carry Liana to safety. He needed...
Another of the smaller fire dragons was hit by lightning. The dragon dropped from the sky like a stone—and he careened right into Timothy, colliding with his already wounded wing.
Another groan of agony escaped Timothy. Darkness was closing in on him fast. His wounds burned in a way he’d never experienced before.
But he couldn’t give in. Not now. He had to protect Liana...
Dimly, he could make out the valleys and hills below him.
Forest stretched as far as the eye could see. He was very low to the ground now—but his right wing was nearly useless. How would he be able to land like this, without injuring Liana?
He soared on the current of wind for as long as it would carry him. It carried him across one forested ridge and over another valley. When they crossed the next hill range, he was so low that he could almost touch the trees.
The wind carried him over the next valley as well—and then, when they’d nearly made it across to the next hill, the wind suddenly died away.
Trees rushed up to meet him. With all of his remaining strength, Timothy forced himself to beat his wings.
Red-hot agony pierced his senses, but he clenched his jaw against the pain and forced the injured wing to carry him.
Just in time, they made it over the trees on top of the hill without crashing into them.
Timothy’s heart was pounding in his chest. His pulse was as loud as a drum in his ears, drowning out all other sound. He could barely make out the green valley opening up before them. Everything was turning dark before his eyes.
He saw a meadow spreading before them. He was in too much pain to think. Instinct made him lower his wings, and ne
w pain tore through him.
The last thing he felt was his feet touching the ground. Then everything went black.
Chapter Seventeen: Liana
They’d only just touched the ground when Timothy’s dragon form began to shimmer beneath her. A moment later, he turned back into his human form—and Liana unceremoniously tumbled to the ground alongside him.