Page 45 of Fate of the Fallen

Not again.

Mutts were everywhere. Even more than I first realized. I called out to her again, but there was no diverting this mission of hers.

Not when I was certain she’d imposed her own experiences, her own emotions and loss on this little girl who was about to lose her mother.

An arrow whizzed past and I dodged it at the last moment, hearing another half a second later. Things were heating up and I tried not to think of what an ugly turn they’d taken. Tried not to think of how, in a matter of seconds, our night had gone from the extreme high of a successful rally, to … this.

Just beneath me, Beth moved at top speed, hurdling obstacles in the underbrush, pushing as hard as she could to catch up to Evangeline. If I hadn’t known the measure of her loyalty before, I would have now, seeing how she was nearly as desperate to end this chase as I was.

This had to end.

And fast.

I focused, keeping an eye on Evangeline through the trees, seeing only her silhouette as she gained on the intended target. A target I prayed she never reached. If she did, if the soldier wasn’t willing to relinquish the woman … it wouldn’t end well.

Bright light to the east made my eyes dart that way, spotting the distinct outline of wings engulfed in flames. My guess was that Dallas had noticed me and came to see what sort of trouble I’d gotten myself into. Another set of eyes was a good thing, someone to help me take on whatever andwhoeverI had to.

She was so incredibly stubborn. I understood she had the best intentions, but sometimes I hated the depth of her nobility, the fact that she seemed to lose all sense of self-preservation when it came to someone else being in need.

I turned toward her again, noting that, now, mere feet separated her from the two on horseback. If I landed just right, I could come down on top of the soldier and wrangle him to the ground.

If …

It felt like a missile torpedoed into me, blasting the broadside of my ribs, causing flames to explode outward from the blow. It only took a second to realize the dragon I’d seen barreling toward me wasn’t one I knew, wasn’t Dallas coming to help me stop Evangeline.

Hence this violent attempt to take me down.

Our bodies—mine and that of this traitorous dragon loyal to the Sovereign—rolled through the air, neither’s mass unyielding to the other’s as earth and sky tumbled around us. The moment I got my bearings, my fist connected with his face, and with the second it took him to recuperate, I was able to glance down, hoping I’d see Evangeline, but … only darkness.

With my attention averted to search, the rogue dragon landed a hit of his own, connecting with the side of my face. However, the groan he let out right after was a clear sign he’d underestimated me. I’d always been resilient, maybe even more than the average shifter, but since being brought back, that strength had increased.

Without a second to spare, I gripped the fist he’d just broken against my jaw and crushed it in my palm. His voice rang out into the night, and with a swift headbutt between his eyes, I was able to knock him unconscious. His lifeless body plummeted, freefalling to the ground at high speed.

I scanned the underbrush in a panic, hoping to spot Evangeline or maybe Beth still chasing after her, but there was nothing. Only a feeling—our tether. It was still strong, so that brought me some sense of relief just knowing she was still alive, but I wasn’t satisfied not having eyes on her.

‘Evangeline, stop.’

I hoped to reason with her when I wandered inside her head, but she resisted.

‘I can’t just let them take her, turn her into a mutt, or … worse,’she reasoned. ‘Did you see the look on that little girl’s face? She’s just a kid. She needs her mom, Liam.”

It became abundantly clear she wouldn’t budge. My only choice was to find her and help her take down the soldier.

I dropped lower, just above the branches, weaving among them when I decided to land. The light of my flames illuminated the area and I had a glimpse of her now. Just barely.

Beth caught up, matching my speed.

“I tried, but she’s too fast,” she yelled.

It was true. Adrenaline and pure determination, had made Evangeline impossible to catch. Or it may have been something else. Descendants were among the most powerful shifters on Earth. Until now, she’d fallen short of her nature, the scope of her abilities. Whatever was awakening within her had seemingly triggered her inner strength to emerge as well.

Hence the reason shewas gaining on her target while Beth and I were losing ground on ours.

A loud thud rang out, and then the distressed cry of a horse echoing off the trees. Up ahead, bodies tumbled on the ground and I knew she succeeded. The seconds it took me to reach the brawl were pure hell, wondering if she’d fair well against one of Sebastian’s minions. We made it about halfway when I realized someone was missing—the woman. My fleeting guess was that she’d counted the distraction a blessing and sprinted toward her husband and child the moment the soldier was focused on someone other than herself.

Evangeline had done it. She’d created the diversion she intended to in order to free the woman. While I was certain there would be an ecstatic little girl leaping into her mother’s arms in a moment, I wasn’t sure any of us would be so pleased with this outcome.

“She’s got him pinned down!” Beth announced.