Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 166(@250wpm)___ 138(@300wpm)
The men yelped and dashed to the center of the room to get away from the burning rocks. Sliding through the now unguarded opening, Argenis quickly knocked the men out. He took a few seconds to tie them together with their belts before moving on.
A glow of light appeared before him. This must be the final area. He searched for a trace of Ciel and could feel a tendril of fear. They had her enclosed in something. His anger threatened to overrule his strategic plan. Quickly, he controlled his emotions. She was safe.
Once again, he forced himself to stop and listen instead of rush immediately to her side.. Five men filled the area before him, scattered throughout the room.
“This doesn’t end well,” he called. There was no need to try to sneak up on them. They already knew he was there.
“We’ll make a trade. A million in silver coins for your mate,” one man answered.
“She is definitely worth that and more. Dragons are selfish creatures. They don’t part with treasures.”
“You will this time.”
The incredible bravado of that response almost made him laugh as his plan to deal with these kidnappers took a fatal turn. There was no way these men would survive today. “You are already dead. You just don’t realize it yet.”
Restless shifts of bodies answered him. Argenis didn’t wait long. He didn’t want them to regain their confidence. Wedging himself as far back as he could, Argenis shifted. Completely venerable in his position squished into the passageway, he concentrated. His scales gathered light from the room in front of him and magnified thousands of times over.
As the intensity grew, it filled all the spaces inside. Khadar would realize what was happening and get his men away from the opening, so they weren’t affected. Whatever they had restrained Ciel inside would protect her. If it could stop her thoughts from reaching him, it would stop enough of his light.
One by one, Argenis heard their hearts stop beating. When the last one ceased, he forced the glow to recede. Shifting back into his human shape, he raced through the opening and spotted the box where they’d secured Ciel. He dropped to his knees, quickly dealt with the locks, and threw the lid open.
Ciel huddled cramped inside the small space. With her arms stretched over her eyes, she’d obviously realized what was happening and shielded herself. Her heart rate and breathing were very slow. The tight seal of the locker had restricted the airflow as well. Obviously brought in through the tight passages in pieces and assembled there, the locker contained miniscule gaps in its construction that had allowed him to sense Ciel through the reinforced sides, but over time, she’d consumed the oxygen inside. Especially with panicked breathing.
Argenis knew he had barely gotten to her in time. Biting off a curse, he smoothed a hand over her hair. “Breathe, Little Sky. Daddy’s here. You’re safe now.”
She moved slightly, trying to get closer to him.
“That’s it, Ciel. You’re safe. Take a deep breath.”
“Daddy?” she mumbled.
“I am here. You’re okay now. Just breathe.” He gathered her into his arms, lifting her out of the confining box to hold her close.
When his hands felt the lump under her shirt, he quickly pulled reached a hand into investigate. “What in the…”
“It’s Silly. He was going to pop out and hurt them if they did anything to me.”
“I’m sure he would have taken on the whole group. Thank you, Silly for having my mate’s back.” Argenis pressed Silly into her arms before drawing her close once again. He kissed her temple as he rocked her slowly. Celebrating each movement she made, he gave her the time she needed to recover. When her hand clamped onto his shirt as if she’d never let him go, Argenis knew she’d be okay.
“I’ve got you, Ciel.”
“Could we get out of here?” she asked.
“Are you hurt?” He ran his hands over her arms and legs, mentally cursing the invaders at each of her gasps.
“I can walk. They didn’t break anything.”
Argenis saw red for a flash and forced himself to control his anger as she deliberately didn’t answer his question. He vowed that no one would ever endanger her again. When he was back under control, he spoke to her.
“Yes. I want you to follow Daddy’s instructions closely. It may be dark in some places,” he warned. “Stay close to me and we’ll be outside soon.”
“Yes, Daddy,” she agreed, nodding enthusiastically.
He could tell she just wanted to be out of the tunnel. Drawing her face forward, Argenis kissed her lightly. “I’m very proud of you, Ciel.”
“I knew you’d come. Who takes on a dragon?” she said.
Argenis was glad to hear some of the spunk coming back to her normal attitude. “Who indeed? Let’s go. Close your eyes.”
When she compiled, he stood with her in his arms. Carrying her away from the bodies scattered on the hard stones, he reached the doorway. They would have to go through that one by one. In each section, he lit the torches and extinguished them as they left, except for the one area where he’d bound his two attackers together. His light had finished them. Argenis guided her through that murky area without the torches to prevent her from seeing the men.