Page 32 of Enchanted Queen

And then the other dragon was there, under my right arm, and swimming us both faster to shore.

The trapped dragon took one slow step, then another. He was wheezing and gasping, again such a human thing to hear coming from a dragon. And then finally, he laid on his side in the sand, taking big inhales of air into his massive lungs. On his side he was as tall as I was. And in the sunlight, he looked like a creature of nightmares, quite honestly.

“We did it,” I grinned.

The trapped dragon turned his head toward me.Thank you, Prince of Wylan.

I gave him a nod. “I never got either of your names.”

Kian,the trapped dragon responded.

And I’m Savanna,the other added.

We walked the rest of the way to the shore. I saw Emric was now there, down at the beach, as were the rest of the party we had flown with. Behind them had to be close to fifty winged shifters as well as numerous humans.

As the water finally hit my pants at my knees, I felt relief. I had been close to burnout back there. Closer than I’d like to admit. I took a moment to grab my knees and breathe long inhales back into my lungs.

I heard a beat over the sound of the waves, soft at first. Then louder.

It was the shifters. They were stomping their right feet. Hooves. Paws. Whatever they had.

Slowly, more joined in, the stomping beat growing louder and louder. It was a bit eerie how they all understood the cadence and could hit the beat exactly at the same time. Having been to many plays and orchestra events as an heir to Wylan, I knew for a fact that it was difficult for a crowd to do so well.

The human Enchanted were next, stomping to that beat that only they all apparently understood.

I was close enough to see Emric give a shrug and join in. That had me standing back up and grinning.

And then the stomping went from dull to undeniable. Humans. Enchanted. Shifters. All of them were stomping to the beat. A crescendo.

Though I was close to burnout, my magic flared in my palms and raced up my arms. Was my magic trying to warn me, or was it... being revived with whatever this was?

“What is this?” I whispered to Kian and Savanna.

I instinctively knew it was the dragon to my left from her tone, Savanna, who responded simply,Victory.

And then just when I thought the stomping could not possibly get any louder, the dragon queen shattered the air with a roar.

CHAPTER11

Queen Esta took to the skies, making a wide circle above our heads, above where Kian still lay soaking in the sun and air. The rest of the shifters began to join her, forming one big circle.

If I had any doubt these shifters were warriors, this would have torn it to shreds.

All the shifters but one took to the skies. Malachi trotted over to me pressing his large nose against my still wet stomach.

Now that was a show of good faith,he said, and I could hear laughter in his voice.

I shook my head. “That wasn’t why I did it.”

He nudged me harder.I know. Which is why it makes it all the more effective.

“Who did this?” I asked quietly as I instinctively reached out to pat his forehead, he was a horse after all. “Why would anyone use iron netting on your remaining shifters, your best protection?”

Malachi snorted.I don’t honestly know the answer to that. There has been unrest recently. Shifters being treated as a lost species.Malachi turned his head slightly.Hang on. The queen is giving orders.

I waited patiently.

What felt like minutes later, he offered,She is sending Whit and a few others to investigate. She wants to speak with Kian and Savanna herself.