A Kingdom of Ruin (Deliciously Dark Fairytales 3)

Oh shit, I thought again. How’d you know we were arrow-proof?

If we can slam against mountain sides and land on rocks or get pummeled by a rock fall and not take any damage, what’s a measly arrow? To our body, anyway. I don’t have such high hopes about our wings.

Still, we flew on, nearing one of the villages now. My glance behind revealed dragons spanning out behind us, creating a V formation and spitting fire down at or enemies. What demons they missed, the wolves found. They ran through the trees like wraiths and around brambles with no problem, working with us as one cohesive force. I only wished I could’ve gotten to see how the graceful faerie warriors would’ve fit into our ranks.

Well, if we can’t blow fire, what the fuck good are we? I asked, frustrated. If only I had a dagger, I could at least do something.

We are doing something. We’re leading. Why don’t you talk to your invisible people and let me work?

It occurred to me that I hadn’t rolled out that bit of neurosis in…a while. I didn’t even know how long. And I didn’t want to now. I wanted to take control and do something rather than just sit around watch everything unfold.

Yeah, how does it feel, fucker? my dragon thought as the tree space opened up a bit.

She swooped suddenly, and if I’d had a stomach, I would’ve lost it. She nearly scraped the ground with her head as she clamped her jaws around a demon that was running toward the nearest village. The vicious crunch of a body between our teeth made me inwardly grimace, and then she was pulling up again. Our legs skidded against the dirt. The trees caught us as we lifted out of the dive, crackling and breaking as we barreled through.

Fire lit up more demons beside us as she shook her head and body parts ripped off. She flung the body and let out the largest, most triumphant, most vicious roar I’d ever heard. She’d finally been let out of her dark cage, and she was about to go fucking crazy.

THIRTY-THREE

FINLEY

My dragon veered left, toward the village, coming up hot on demons scattering for cover. She scooped up another and lifted into the air before ramming into the side of the first dwelling. Chomping the demon, she sent blood spraying across the ground.

Rise, her roar said, calling to the people of the village. Fight with us. Rise!

Demons ran out of not just pubs but houses, and our vision went red. She swooped down, hit the ground running, and started grabbing them at will, chomping and throwing and grabbing more. She stomped and kicked, flinging around her tail and hitting anyone she could.

Wolves and other animals ran down the streets, the villagers starting to shift. Teeth bared and hackles raised, they launched into the demons throughout the village and then ran toward the wood. Small, slim, seemingly young dragons rose into the sky around the village. Those had to be the kids, responding to my call.

Incite them, I thought, my purpose suddenly clear. Get to Nyfain, but as you go, summon them. Bring them to our cause.

My dragon jumped up before pumping our wings, getting above the rooftops and lifting higher into the sky. She made a slow turn, since she still didn’t know how to bank very well, then put on a burst of speed. Her roar filled the hearts and minds of the villagers, all of them running out, shedding their clothes in the streets, and changing into their animals.

Over the Forbidden Wood we flew, toward the castle but at a diagonal, aiming to hit the next village. I had faith Hannon would get to ours in time to help our people, and there wasn’t any time to circle back. Nyfain needed me.

Tamara flew at my wingtip with the rest of the Wyverners in tow, but Micah separated. Somehow my dragon instinctively knew, or maybe sensed from his body language, that he would finish up here and keep battering the demons in the wood. We had a lot of ground to cover and not enough people to do it quickly. I needed to get the rest of the kingdom helping.

I just hoped to hell I’d be in time.

Hadriel

Leala cracked her whip as we ran behind Hannon. She had practiced when we were in the dragon village and was now very good at it. It made me incredibly nervous.

But not as nervous as all the demons that randomly popped out from behind trees as we made our way to Hannon’s village. Wolves flanked us, growling and snarling. The alpha’s call for aid beat throughout my chest, yanking constantly at my wolf. Each time my wolf felt it, he struggled to break free and join the pack, to find our place and belong for once.