And yet, behind the plug of stone that now blocked the tunnel, magma was still rising from the bowels of the earth, forcing its way to the top of the mountain.
Then the rock around them shook. Braeden's senses told him that the magma had finally found an outlet.
Far above them, molten rock exploded from the top of the mountain. More importantly, lava was beginning to ooze down the sides, at the same time as a shower of sparks and burning stones came down like fiery hail.
And he and Alyx were still trapped inside the mountain.
“Hurry,” he gasped, keeping his hold on her wrist. “We have to get away before the lava finds the entrance.”
He could probably force his way out, after all. The lava wouldn’t hurt him, and he could shield Alyx.
Still, Steele had wounded him, and his leg was aching fiercely. Worse, his chest felt sore and tight, as if the smoke he'd breathed in had settled in his lungs.
He had to keep up his strength so that he could fly Alyx out. And right now, he wasn't sure if he could manage that. Not if he'd also need to protect them from a torrent of lava trapping them from both sides.
This time, fortunately, he didn't meet any other dragons on his flight through the corridor. The minutes seemed endless as they rushed through the dark tunnels, the only sound the groaning of rock and their panting breath.
And then, at last, the tunnel ended. Before them was the familiar wall of stone that hid the entrance.
“We're trapped,” Alyx gasped. She hit the rock with her bare hands, tears in her eyes. “Damn you, let me out!”
“Wait.”
Braeden pressed his own hand against the stone. He sent a flicker of flame into it.
He could sense heat beyond—but not the deadly blaze of an ocean of lava.
Good.
A rectangle in the stone began to gleam, a tiny flame running all around it.
Then the flame vanished, and the rock opened.
Beyond, the green valley was much transformed. A tree was on fire, burning like a torch. Here and there, large rocks had landed that were still glowing orange with heat.
But the lava was rolling down the mountain further to the west. The way was free.
“Trust me. One last time,” Braeden said as he pulled Alyx out into the open.
She barely had eyes for him. Instead, she was looking around with disbelieving joy, ignoring the erupting volcano.
“I'm free. I'm really free...”
“We have to get out of here.” Braeden gave the mountain a worried look.
As if on command, another rumble made the ground beneath them tremble.
“Now!”
Braeden shifted, going to his knees before Alyx and lowering his wing.
She hesitated only for a heartbeat. Then she pressed her lips together and began pulling herself up onto his back.
A second later, he was in the air, quickly gaining in height as a new flood of lava began to flow down from the smoking volcano—headed straight towards where they'd only just escaped the mountain.
Braeden was high up in the air before the lava made it to where they'd stood. He didn't stop even for a second. Despite his aching leg and the deep pain in his lungs, he kept flying as fast and as far as he could.
He could only think of one thing now. And that was to get Alyx to safety.