Chapter 28

TWENTY-EIGHT

Time slowed down. His vision narrowed to Turi’s face as she fought against the enforcer.

What was she doing here?

His thoughts were pure panic. She was supposed to be safe in the Skrac lands, away from all this. But the moment he saw her, he somehow knew she wouldn’t allow her people to face the Axis alone. And judging by the faces of the Terians, she’d managed to work some magic over them. The faces he saw were not all terror-filled, although there was plenty of that. There was defiance and anger, making him think that at least some of them knew the truth about what they were. And what the Axis truly were.

He would certainly not let her die now. His dragon fire felt like it would burn straight out of his throat. The urge to send forth a plume of flames was so strong he had to fight it back. Letting it out would kill Turi. He had to use another weapon and he had several.

In a sudden, intense show of power, Ellion shifted his massive body. He pinned his wings back and lunged forward, teeth bared. The guards scattered, getting out of his way. With one powerful move, he sank his teeth into the enforcer’s torso, piercing through his armor and digging into his flesh. The enforcer let out a pained grunt, but there was no freeing himself from the dragon’s grip.

Ellion ripped the male away from Turi, who sank to her knees coughing, and tossed him through the air. The enforcer landed with a thud in the center of the settlement’s square. Ellion could feel the eyes of every person—inmate and guard—on him as he stalked toward his prey.

He covered the male’s upper body with one paw, claws digging into the enforcer’s chest. With a low, rumbling growl, he forced out words through his dragon throat. It was difficult, but he had one thing to say to this being, who had undoubtedly caused enormous pain and suffering. “Enforcer 258, subset D, you are their inmate too.”

The enforcer’s gaze locked with Ellion’s and for one moment, fear and realization warred in the male’s eyes, the only thing left that could show emotion. But the dragon was without mercy. With one swift motion, Ellion sank his claws deep into the enforcer’s chest, ending his time as the Axis’ torturer.

Ellion watched Turi take in the demise of the enforcer with dismay. The last thing he wanted was for her to witness him kill, but she could breathe. She would live. With a cry, she ran across the square to Ellion. Her arms found his smooth, scaled neck and her touch made him throw up his head in triumph. He knew he was hot with pent-up dragon fire, but she didn’t seem afraid.

The guards looked at the enforcer’s lifeless body and then to the dragon’s massive form. Ellion spread his wings wide. He gave off waves of heat. For a moment, he just stood there, breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on the guards who did not look eager to engage with him.

Then, with a low growl, he turned his attention back to Turi. He forced out another word, even though it hurt to make these sounds. “Weapon,” he growled out, looking meaningfully at the blaster on the enforcer’s waist.

Understanding shown in her eyes as she plucked the unwieldy weapon from the dead male and pointed it toward the guards. “Drop them,” she ordered. “Now.”

Ellion knew Turi had no idea how to use that weapon, and he hoped she kept her finger off the trigger so she wouldn’t accidentally hit something. The Axis’ guards were not as intimidated, however. They held their ground.

“I’d do as she says,” said a familiar voice. Yuric came around from the back of the Riests’ building, holding a blaster of his own. A mass of Hecron warriors followed, surrounding the guards.

They did as she said. Yuric relieved the guards of their weapons, then gave Ellion a long, hard look. “Glad you never changed into this when we sparred.”

Ellion, unable to laugh, snorted out some smoke. But he wasn’t done. There were still several Axis ships in the sky that were, presumably, waiting for orders on whether to attack. With the array destroyed and the enforcer dead, they were likely in a holding pattern.

“Be careful,” Turi murmured to him. She’d felt his muscles tense and his gaze turn skyward.

He nuzzled her with his snout and rose to the sky. The other ships were not looking for a fight, either. They offered some resistance, but Ellion was only able to disable two of the ships before the rest took off for space. He watched them depart, feeling the dragon fire dampen and the urge to return to his regular form sink into his bones. He wanted to hold Turi. To feel her in his arms and take in her scent. His brave, powerful female.

He all but crashed to the square, where Turi rushed over to greet him. The transformation hit the instant his body felt solid ground. He shifted back to his common form, wishing there wasn’t an audience for this—and there was. The whole settlement crept out to watch his body contort and twist itself back into its original shape. He closed his eyes and concentrated on not falling flat on his face. He focused on the feeling of Turi’s soft hands on his back. Of her gentle voice whispering sweet words into his ear. His chest heaved as he looked up at her, sweat pouring down him, exhaustion making his limbs tremble. Vulnerable. Utterly exposed. “Turi,” he breathed before darkness took him. “My love.”