Traded

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indiane bark. The was due back boties ago and yet, i remain ltid in her the van ashtone. The only thing I can think of 4 there was a hiccup in getting my monit, of he got raught To hamufer doing komething and she tuned him in Fean’t bring myself to reach out to Merikh and let him know yer

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The would launch his own version of a resin. Well, more like he would continue his rescue, which is already sabotagest f pull my hands through my hair, shipping it into a high hum to keep my neck from itching Teiran needs to hurry his ass op

therwise shut is going to go sideways so fast

The door handle niggles and then swings partially open before drops. I wait cautiously for Terlan to push into the room, inching closer as listen for anything out of sorts, but all I hear the sound of retreating footsteps and then nothing. My shaky hand waches out for the door, pulling it open with an ee creaking before I slip my head out,

There is not a soul in the corridor, not even the sound of anyone in the distance, and I know that this is my chance. Teiran had to have sent someone, or it’s a trap. Either way, I have to take the risk and hope for the best. My mother is relying on me, as are my mate and those with him.

“Shit” I mutter, wiping my sweating palms on my jeans before tiptoe out of the room.

My heart is pounding in my chest, making my lungs ache, but force the pain and emotions aside, I can do this, I just have to figure out how I can do it. This place is a dam maze and a fortress. The only way I can think to get back to my mom is to follow the stilling heat and dry air.

The only issue is how I make it all the way down there before getting seen or caught.

My back is pressed to the cool stones. As I peek around a corner when I see no one, I scurry across and speed my way down deeper. Then I feel it, the water calling to me.

The pounding of it on the mountain rock and the way the water in the air fuels my strength. I need a way down and a way out. One where I won’t be seen or followed. I need to jump.

I sprint down the hall, drawing closer to the water that hammers down like a beat on a drum, begging for me to come to it. It is like my soul knows where I need to be, what I need to do, and it listens.

“Stop!” I hear someone calling out, but I don’t take the time to discover who, or rather what, is calling for me as I throw myself forward and the water dances over me with a thunderous power.

The world beneath me falls away into the white rustling of water and rocks as I trust the water to guide me. It seems like I fall for forever, my heart in my throat and my muscles tensed in fear of what I may actually find at the bottom. I hit something hard; the wind knocking from my lungs with a grunt and suddenly my body burns under me and I’m ripped from the water on the back of a massive beast.

Fear rips through me as I gasp and try to force myself to stand in search of a way off. The dragon growls deep in its chest, making the whole of its back shake as if an earthquake were shaking the earth. I stumble onto my knees, holding on tight as it turns and dives straight for the earth.

I can feel that pull of the mate bond where Merikh tries to break through to me, no doubt feeling ny erratic emotions in spades. I keep him from breaking in knowing that right now I have nothing to say to him, no news that will keep him safe at the moment. So instead I go with the gut instinct to cling to the scales of the massive beast, holding on with every ounce of strength I have.

1 pinch my eyes closed as we speed down toward the ground, bracing for an impact that never comes. After a second I force one eye open and I gape at the way the earth consumes us, steam and waves of heat rolling toward us until its wings extend, catching the air with a whistling speed as we slow. It ducks down, sliding into the very area Terian had led me out of once before, explaining it was for a dragon’s entrance.

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III

Г

I slip off the side, thiudding in the cement ground on my ass and wincing before I stand. The beast looks at me before shaking its head and suddenly a cloud of embers ignites and shrinks before me, revealing Terian, bloody and bruised.

“Why the fuck did you jump off of the fucking cliff into the waterfall?” He hisses.

“Where the hell else was I supposed to go?” I scoff at him, looking around to make sure no one is coming.

“I was fucking calling for you as you ran away.” He grits out in anger, stepping closer to me. him, and he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of silver iffs.

My eyes grow wide as I stare at

“You were hours late,” I remind him. “I assumed shit went sideways, and I was improvising”

“Just put those on,” He murmurs, his eyes scanning everywhere as he hands them to me and I glance at them.

“Why?” I ask skeptically.

“Because I need to use you to get in the dungeon to get your mother out.” He grits out through his teeth. “I get that trust is hard, but I am a dragon of my word. I will get you out of here.”

I swipe the cuffs from him, hissing as it burns my skin, and I place them on.

“Good enough?” I ask, showing him the slightly loose cuffs, and he nods.

“Works for me. Let’s go.”

He places his hand on my back, pushing me along. We make it to the first door and knock, waiting for someone to answer. They seem shocked to see him roughed up, but they don’t question him as he shoves me through the door. And down the massive dark hallway.

A few guards pass us, bowing their heads to him in respect before turning to each other and clearly discussing his appearance.

“Is that why you were so late?” I ask him, looking over my shoulder.

His stoic eyes meet mine and then he looks forward, like he has no intention of sharing what happened with me.

“Are your people ready?” He whispers after passing another guard, who stops and watches us suspiciously. “Yes,” I whisper back.From NôvelDrama.Org.

“Good.” he seems relieved. “It’s time for them to make their move.”

-Merikh–I call through the mindlink, waiting for his response.

-Tell me you are ready and safe–He says, sounding relieved.

-I am safe, for now. It’s time–I tell him.

-Well, that is good, as we have already started. I couldn’t reach you, so I may have expedited the plan-

I smirk to myself, shaking my head. Of course Merikh didn’t wait, I should have expected as much. I love him for his impulsiveness just as much as it frustrates me.

-Be safe–I tell him and I can feel his confirmation before he blocks me to focus on what he is doing.

Teiran takes me to the same cell area and my breathing hitches when I see Jennifer there, returning my mom from a torture session. She berates her as she whimpers and suddenly she delivers a hard kick to her chest and I feel my heart explode with a rage I can’t control.

III

“Leave her alone!” I scream at her and she spins to see me, surprise on her face before it morphs into a vicious grin.

“I guess the king didn’t find you as special as Giselle thought he would, huh?” She teases and I lick my teeth, trying to remember I am supposed to be captured.

+90%

“He feels she is a threat, not that I disagree,” Teiran says, sounding bored and suddenly Jennifer breaks into a fit of laughter.

“Oh, shit,” she cackles, slapping her hand on her thigh in giddy excitement. “Who fucked you up?”

She steps closer, reaching out with her hands still soaked in my mother’s blood to touch his cheek. I watch as he shies away from her touch and she smirks.

“It was your dear old dad, wasn’t it? That’s why you didn’t fight back. Your hands are clean, not abrasions. Man, you are lucky he didn’t kill you this time for your constant fucking up.” She sighs before she slides her hand down his bruised cheek and waves a cheeky goodbye.

I watch him as he pretends to open the cage and check the coast is clear. Then he moves to the cage where my mother is and opens it, lifting her as she cries out in pain softly, her eyes swollen shut and her collarbone is bruised and bloody. My heart sinks as I tear the loose cuffs off and touch her hand, leaning forward.

“It’s okay, mom, I’m getting you out of here. I promise.” I whisper, then I look at Teiran. “Now what?” I ask him

He looks around, and then he presses his lips together. “Now we wait.” He says calmly.

“For what?” I ask, growing irate and nervous.

“The healer.” He says simply. “We need him too.”