Page 56 of Draven
"Not now," I thought, gritting my teeth as I fought to suppress the urge to transform.
But the beast was relentless, scales spreading across my arms and legs in a silent protest.
"No," I whispered in despair, knowing that giving in to the dragon's demands could have dire consequences.
If I shifted now, Doyle might end up as a casualty.
Just when it felt like the dragon would burst forth from within me, Belladonna uttered another spell, pointing a finger in my direction.
In an instant, the dragon's presence receded, leaving behind only empty silence.
I stared at Belladonna in shock, my mind reeling with questions. What had she done to me?
Run, I thought in panic. With Doyle still draped over my shoulder, I broke into a sprint, my muscles straining against the weight as I propelled myself forward.
Every step was a struggle, but I knew I had to put distance between us and Belladonna before she could conjure another sinister spell.
Her mocking laughter echoed behind us as we fled, spurring me on even harder.
"Run, dragon. You won't get far. I'll always find you...you and those you ever care about," she said.
As I headed for the parking lot, my mind reeled.
The realization that Belladonna had somehow severed my connection to my dragon sent a shiver down my spine.
What kind of magic was she wielding? I reached out desperately, searching for the familiar presence of my dragon within me.
Sure, the two of us were locked in a battle for control now, but he’d always been a part of me.
There was a moment of panic, a fear that I would find nothing but emptiness where he once resided.
But to my immense relief, I felt the faint flicker of his presence, still there but muted, as if pushed into the depths of my being.
She hadn't taken that from me at least, but the knowledge that she could wield such power over me, over us, filled me with a sense of vulnerability I hadn't felt in a long time.
“My truck’s over there,” Doyle whispered, his words snapping me back to reality.
Relief flooded through me at the sound of his voice. He was conscious, albeit weakened, but it was a promising sign.
I fumbled through his pockets until I found the keys, then carefully assisted Doyle into the backseat.
What did we need next? A first aid kit, I thought, beginning to search his truck.
"We'll deal with my injuries later. Grab your motorcycle. We can't afford to linger," he wheezed, his breaths labored.
Concern tightened my chest, but I nodded in agreement.
Without hesitation, I retrieved my motorcycle and loaded it into the back of Doyle's truck, securing it as best as I could.
With Doyle settled and my motorcycle secured, I slid into the driver's seat, wasting no time in starting the engine.
As we drove away from the cemetery, the adrenaline coursing through my veins masked the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm me.
Belladonna's threat echoed in my mind, a reminder that she wouldn’t stop hunting me or those I cared about…until I was hers to control again.
I shook my head and pressed down on the accelerator. For now, my priority was to put as much distance between us and her as possible.
As we left the town limits behind, the tension that had gripped me began to ease slightly. But my relief was short-lived when I turned my attention to Doyle.