Page 54 of Hero of Havoc

Baron keeps me from face-planting, crowding my space protectively as I brush my hands over my clothes, taking stock of my body as acid burns up my throat. Not that I mention it; I’m intent on playing it cool.

“We need to hide,” Baron breathes, pulling me into his side as he takes the few steps needed to face off with Alaric, and I lean into him, grateful for the help because without him, I would most certainly be on my ass right now.

“There’s no time,” Alaric states, and Baron snarls as the ground rumbles, forcing my gaze to finally take in where we are.

Orange and red dunes surround us, peaking high above as we stand nestled in the shadows below. The terrain is breathtaking, but it’s almost lost among the growing number of dragons that are landing around us.

I gulp.

“They’re beautiful,” I whisper, and Baron quickly stands between me and the view, shielding me.

“They can’t see you here.”

“It’s fine,” Alaric insists, and I cock my head at him.

“Explain to me why Baron is distressed over the matter, and you’re unfazed,” I murmur, and Alaric dips his head toward me, as if he’s about to whisper, even though his thoughts bleed straight into my mind.

“Baron is stressed because he’s never been here. I always return him home,” he explains, earning a grunt from the man beside me, but the gnawing feeling in my stomach twists tighter.

“And why didn’t you do that this time?” I breathe, fear poisoning my veins.

“Because they’re expecting you.”

My jaw falls slack as Baron snarls from behind me, but before either of us can respond, another horn blares through the air.

“Alaric!” Baron snaps, and the dragon huffs, smoke billowing from his nose as he leans close, his nose brushing against mine.

“Trust me. I would never put her in danger. Ever.”

I gulp as Alaric turns, his frame shifting enough to reveal an opening behind him. It’s wide enough for two dragons to walk in side by side, but everyone offers us a wide berth as Alaric keeps his wing extended, shielding us from the rest of the world.

“I trust you, Alaric; you know that. But you’re playing games I know nothing about, and that’s not how this works,” Baron mutters, and I’m silently thankful that he speaks his frustration instead of talking directly to his dragon through their mind connection. He’s choosing to keep me involved, and I need it when I already feel this overwhelmed.

Being lured into a dragon lair doesn’t feel like the safest choice right now, but I remain nestled between Baron and Alaric, inching through the darkening tunnel until a glimmer of light appears at the end.

It makes my jaw go slack as we step into a huge space. It’s like a colosseum.

As we enter the ground level, the dragons around us dart into the air, perching on higher platforms and looking down expectantly. It takes me a few moments to realize Alaric isn’t doing the same. Instead, he trudges toward the center of the area as his wing drops from shielding us.

The second he does, I’m overwhelmed with chatter.

I hiss, clasping my hands on either side of my head, but the noise only gets louder.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Awe.

I can hear every single dragon in this room, and it threatens to knock me to the ground.

Thankfully, Baron’s arm around my waist keeps me up, but when he senses my overwhelm, he lifts me off the ground, squeezing us chest to chest as he snarls.

“Alaric!” He cups my cheek. “Firefly, talk to me. Are you okay? What’s going on?”

It’s too much for me to think through.

“She can hear everyone in here, Baron,” Alaric says gently, and Baron’s hold softens slightly, but the protectiveness only intensifies. “When she has the strength to quiet them, it will stop,” he adds, making my eyebrows pinch in confusion as I shake my head.