Chapter 12

Falkon

G oing through my normal prison routine felt extra gray compared to the time I had spent with my mate. Every moment, all I could do was wonder when she could find time for me again. I'd dreamt of her all night long and woken up aching for her touch. To feel those small, soft hands wrapped around my cock, squeezing the two tips and then running down the bumps and curves.

It was driving me wild. Being apart was unbearable. But I knew that she had some things to do today that she considered very important. She didn't go into details, but she thought something was going on that she needed to address involving a guard. I'd encouraged her to fight her battle heartily and then tell me about it later. I'd enjoy hearing about her giving a tongue lashing to whoever deserved it. The thought of her tongue made me moan again. I needed it on me.

I was distracted from my daydreams when the guards dragged the new minotaur out of his cell unconscious. I wasn't too interested at first, but the shadow demon was lingering around and watching me. My heart beat faster. But instead of speaking he floated over to some sort of undead creature. He placed a hand on him before looking at me again, then they both disappeared.

A guard came over to me and smiled. A very rare occurrence.

"You've been granted extra yard time for good behaviour."

I had no doubt that this was the doing of my mate. Extra yard time on top of classes was very new, and I hadn't done anything to earn it yet. I followed the guard and sighed as the cool air hit my face. I stretched out. No sign of Lyla. A few monsters milled around. Those that I knew worked hard in the prison to rehabilitate and contribute. I didn't deserve this. But I'd been given it, and I would work hard to be worthy of it. Maybe this was my way to avoid dragon island and instead go to a work camp. Possibilities for me and my small mate flashed before my eyes. Maybe we actually could have a future together.

As I strolled across the yard, dreaming of all the things within my grasp now, the shadow demon appeared in front of me. His face, black as it was, was deadly serious.

"Ah. So, it's now then, is it?"

"I'm sorry. But yes."

"A distraction?"

"Enough of a distraction to attract as many guards as possible to this yard. Right now."

His voice was solemn. I pushed my will out to him. He wriggled for a moment, but then stopped and opened his mind. Flashes of what he had seen burrowed into me. Including my beautiful Sunbeam being caught in a small office with the warden. Monsters surrounding them. Claws and screaming. Death. I moaned with pain at the vision of my brightest love bent and twisted on the ground. Rage filled my belly.

"Now decide to do it."

The demon's voice pierced the haze of my emotions enough for me to hear. I decided to myself that I would do whatever it took to save her. I would create a distraction and destroy this yard. The vision flickered. Instead, Lyla and the warden ran and were several corridors away when the monsters reached the office.

I released the demon, and he sagged slightly. There had been no sense of deception in his visions.

"I must go."

I'd sensed one other thing in the mass of his visions. That the only thing he truly cared about in the world was in danger. A human he loved as much as I loved mine. It was as agonising for him to think of her hurt or dead. In that, we understood each other.

"Go and find her," I said with a nod. "I'll take care of this."

He returned my nod and vanished. I faced the yard of monsters. I didn't want to kill anyone, but, for my mate, I would. Even if it was all for her, I didn't know if she would ever forgive me for this. But she would be alive to make that choice. I walked to the center of the yard and roared my loudest war cry. Most of the monsters in the yard knew what that cry meant. A dragon was bringing death. They ran.

The guards looked at me curiously. Only one had a panicked look on his face. I gathered all the energy I had now. The energy that being with my love had given me these past couple of days, and I reached up and breathed all the fire I had at the metal wire covering the yard. The sound of the fire bellowing out of me shook the walls. It felt good. The power I held in that moment was intoxicating.

Within moments, molten metal began dripping down around the yard, and the guards ran to escape it. One guard took a shot at me. It pinged off my scales. I stopped to look at him, snarling. He yelped and ran. The hole above me was big enough for me to fly out, but I didn't know if that would be a long enough distraction. The demon had said I had to bring as many as possible here. So, I ran towards the wall and flung myself at it. The sturdy stones shook and then began to fall apart. One more hit and it collapsed. I ran to the opposite wall and did the same again. Monsters around me were running out of the holes. I didn't know whether they were taking advantage of the situation or just trying to get away from me. It didn't really matter. Only one thing mattered.

Guards were pouring back on to the walkways around the yard now. They had pulled on flame resistant boiler suits and were holding larger guns now. I looked them all dead in the eyes, one by one. They all flinched. One pulled out a megaphone.

"Stop now and we won't kill you. This doesn't have to end like this."

I looked at him. Power rushed through my veins. I could destroy this entire prison, and I wasn't even full size. Everyone would kneel before me. My Sunbeam flashed through my mind. The thought of her made me want to stop, but also made sure I couldn't stop. The shadow demon had made it clear I might live or die. I wasn't in enough danger yet to be at serious risk of dying. I thought of her face. Her golden hair. Her delicate kiss on my snout. There was nothing I wouldn't do for her. I roared again and let my dragon instincts take over. I would destroy every stone of this godsforsaken place.