Page 90 of Oath of Rebellion

She choked as smoke filled the air, the old tapestries blazing on the wall.

"Come on," Knox gasped, turning to look behind them.

The dragon's mouth was wide open as he drew in more air, gearing up for another attack. Eirwyn's heart jumped as Knox dragged her by the hand down the hall. She pulled air from the walls as she ran away, snuffing out the fire and trying to preserve as much of the building as possible.

The walls rattled and Knox jerked on the handle of the nearest door, but it came off in his hand. "Damn it," he grunted.

She hadn't explored this far down the hallway yet. The frantic fear pulsed through her like a living thing, making her sweat. Shadows and light swirled around her.

"What now?" Eirwyn gasped, turning to look around them as he shoved with his shoulder at the door. She desperately looked for a way to safety.

"It's not budging. Come on, back to the kitchen."

They ran toward the back through the hallway. A chandelier crashed to the floor in front of them, and they dove into a glass door to their left.

It shattered as they fell through. Eirwyn felt tiny scrapes and cuts sting her skin. Her heart raced, but she lay there groaning as she tried to catch her breath.

She'd been terrified in the forest with the spiders, adder, and all the things that could kill them. But this skeletal dragon was bigger than all the others, and its only goal was her death. She could feel it in her soul. Her eyes frantically looked around the room as she sat up.

Knox pushed to his feet and took her elbow to help her.

"Are you alright? I see a door. Come on," he practically yelled to be heard over the whoosh of liquid fire behind them.

She stood on shaky legs. One entire wall was nothing but floor to ceiling glass with several glass doors leading outside.

He gripped her hand tightly as they raced across the floor toward the glass doors. Frightened beyond measure, she ran, refusing to let go of Knox' hand.

The walls shook, and another chandelier crashed. Knox jerked them to the side and out of the way, knocking her to the floor once more as she screamed.

She landed, her head bouncing as she stared at the ballroom. A stabbing pain shot down her neck, similar to when Gastone had broken her clavicle as a kid. She blinked past the tears, pulling protective shadows around her.

In the center of the marble floor grew a giant tree with pink and white flowers. As she stared and Knox helped her up, she cried out in pain. But in the center of each flower was a golden apple.

She blinked past the tears, feeling her body go weaker from using so much magic to protect herself. Hope warred with fear in her chest.

She tugged on Knox' hand and pointed with her other. "Look, the apple! You need the apple!"

They ran to the tree, but the apple was just out of reach. "We can't get the apple and run from the dragon," he panted.

The floor rumbled beneath them, and the dragon's skeleton crashed inside, tearing out part of the wall. They had to widen their stance to remain standing as the floor shook with his every step. Eirwyn's hand grabbed Knox' shirt as he tugged her toward the doors.

"We'll come back for it. Hurry, outside where we can fight."

She shook her head and bit her lip, feeling the shakiness, the hunger clawing at her as she reached her magic limit. "No, give me a boost. Quick, while he's gathering more steam."

She wouldn't give in to fear. She couldn't stop. Knox needed the apple.

Knox linked his fingers together, and Eirwyn stepped into his hands, careful not to jar her injured shoulder. He lifted her into the air. She grabbed a branch to steady herself with one hand, holding her other hurt hand to Knox' head, and reached for the apple.

Just as her hand closed around it, she felt his mouth at the juncture of her thighs. His nose rubbed her clit, and she gasped, her hand tightening around the apple and jerking in surprise.

The apple came free from the tree, but the glittering gold shimmered in her hand. She brought it to her face, her mind blanking to anything other than the need to eat it. She forgot about Knox below. She forgot about the dragon intent on destroying them.

She opened her mouth. It was just so beautiful. She had to eat it and suck on its juicy flesh. Her mouth watered, she licked her lips, and then she bit it. A sharp, tangy juice rushed into her mouth, flooding her senses with pleasure.

A surge of magical energy shot through her, and Knox grunted. The floor shook with the roar of the dragon, and Knox lost his footing at the combined sudden movements. She screamed as she went sprawling onto the marble.

She landed on her arm with a bone-jarring crunch and hit her head. The combination of pleasure from the fruit and the pain in her head and arm made her scream. Her magic flared and flickered as she approached the Edge.