Bonded by the Sea
Page 22
So, if he survived… Should I finish him off? I don’t have a choice.
“We must hurry!” Ines whimpered as the mist swirled out of nowhere. “Straight ahead.”
Kimberlton swore as a vision of the deed that lay ahead materialized in his mind.
Author’s Note
It’s my first romance novel and there is a whole room for improvement, I get it. With the next releases, I’m going to close the gaps in my writing. I wish to make it as engaging as it can be, and fun to read. I won’t lie, it could be a daunting process; writing and editing; but at the end of the day, when I press the publish button with a knowledge that I’d done all I could to make my readers excited - it’s an amazing feeling.
I’d love to hear from you, my dear readers. Please share your feedback with me. You can find my email and facebook page in the section: About the Author.
Love you 3000!
SNEAK PEAK: BLOOD OF DRAGONS (THE DRAGONS ACADEMY)
Fires danced as we fought. Local bandits had some way to go if they believed they could defeat us. I’d laughed in Rabbon’s face before my tight-lipped friend Rust punched him. There were only three of us, but we’ve survived the Wastelands for years. If a local gangster like Rabbon thought we were the easy prey, then he was one for a surprise.
Ruins around us burned as I unleashed my magical power of fire. It wasn’t anything spectacular. Simona who knew all about the magical power scaling stuff. She told me that I have the potential to reach level two. Not the most promising prospect in the world where the ten-levels standard has been accepted. None the less, whatever strength I wield now, it was more than enough. Rabbon and his thugs weren’t exactly magically talented folks. They used guns and threats instead.
We stood, three against fifteen. Four bandits already out of commission. Not killed. We haven’t taken anyone's life if we didn’t need to. This world has its share of the dead. The war has raged for thirty-six years now, and as far as I could say, there was no end on the horizon.
Rust moved beside me. Fast and efficient. His powers were supernatural, but even Simona couldn’t categorize them. Rust was as strong as ten grown men and faster than a galloping horse. But he couldn’t wield any magical power like me or shapeshifting like Simona. It didn’t stop him from being a hell of a powerhouse in my eyes.
Rust’s fists flicked between thugs faster than they could aim their puny guns. Simona didn’t usually fight. Her power was the greatest of the three of us. She could change into an enormous panther with pure white eyes. She was stronger than me and Rust combined, in that form. As Rust beat the crap out of the gang, I made sure that no one would take him down from a distance. The power of fire was suitable for both, close and distant combat.
“You’ll fucking regret this!” Rabbon yelled as he ducked out of the line of my fireball. His headband fell to the ground, but the long greasy hair didn’t even stir. I flipped him a bird and promised that the next time my power will hit the target and will burn the shit on his head.
“You’re in a high spirit today, Flare,” Simona murmured as she watched the one-sided brawl.
“I have a good feeling about today—” As soon as the words were out of my mouths, I wished to take them back. A horrible feeling dawned on me. Something bad was about to happen. My eyes snapped to Rust, searching for the source of the danger.
It didn’t come from Rabbon’s gang. A shadow zapped and landed between the fighters scattering them all over the place. In a split-second, Simona changed into her panther form. Her spine taller than me, though I didn’t belong to short people.
“Take Rust and run, Flare,” she growled.
“Fuck off,” I snarled back. “I won’t leave you behind, Simona.”
Her massive head turned my way, canines long as my fingers shone with an inner power, and I knew this was her way of smiling.
Meanwhile, Rabbon’s thugs screamed in agony as the shadow turned out to be one of the shadow hydra hybrids. This one possessed only one long sinuous neck thicker than my waist. Its razor-sharp teeth snapped at the survivors of its charge. Only seven thugs and Rust remained. Rabbon yelled something intelligible and bolted out of the yard, where he and his thugs had ambushed us a half an hour earlier.
“It’s level three. We won’t beat it.”
Guns fired at it, but their weak kinetic energy could do no damage. Shadow hybrids stood above conventional weapons. I hadn’t the slightest idea of how to kill it. And if Simona said, this thing was beyond our abilities then we should better run.
Things happened faster than my eyes could perceive them. Slashes and clatter, and suddenly the beast was down. Four extremely long and intricate spears protruding from its bulk.
Simona snarled. Rust stumbled back. Six thugs yelped and dropped to their knees. Rabbon was driven back into the yard. And I sensed a presence behind us. What was that? A monster of a third level killed in a matter of a nanosecond. How? The questions kept piling up, but at the moment I needed to focus. The next minutes would decide our future.
“Revert back to a human form, shapeshifter,” a voice behind us commanded.
Simona and I turned around and found an impeccable row of soldiers in red armors. Their faces covered by closed visors. Spears in their hands, ready to thrust them through our hearts, and shields to counter any attack that can come their way. Simona shifted back clenching her fists. In this form, her attributes were substantially weakened.
“Dragon Soldiers,” she murmured.
I’ve heard stories about them, appearing here and there, but weren’t they supposed to fight in the warzones against the Darkside? A chill ran through my spine. I hope this town didn’t turn into a warzone! It’s my favorite place. I knew all the small fries here. Some local gangs like this one that believed they can shut us down but paid them no heed. If some cretin has decided to ruin my world, I’ll get angry.
“Everyone, freeze or die.” The command was issued from the mouth of the soldier with a lieutenant’s insignia. His red armor had a small etched crest of the Great York City. The only place protected by the Holy Seal of Light in thousands of miles radius. The Darkness had no business there. Same as us. Such a place was stuffed with rigorous rules and power-hungry jerks. Our trio preferred freedom. As long as we’ve been avoiding the Darkside we were fine.
The straight row of the soldiers parted, and lieutenant stepped in front of them. Like everyone else, his face was covered by the helm’s visor. It didn’t stop a menacing aura radiating off of him. Simona hissed. Her thoughts must have matched mine. This man wasn’t a small fry. If such a monster was only a lieutenant. Gods help me. This entire Dragon Corps wasn’t a joke after all. My knowledge has been built on the stories heard all over the town’s taverns in the Wasteland. I’d discarded them as bullshit, now I wasn’t so sure.
“Are you belong to the Darkside?” lieutenant asked.
I heard thugs whimper. The presence of the Dragon Soldiers deprived them of courage. Another legend that has been spoken in the dark corners of taverns. In the presence of the Light, even the Darkness trembled.
I didn’t even twitch. In fact, the opposite. I was fired up.
“Do I look to you like a spawn of darkness?” I asked heatedly. I didn’t care who he was. A stupidity ticked me off to no end. A band of soldiers had ambushed a trio of teenagers fending off bandits, and he asked them if they belong to the Darkside? What the fuck was wrong with him?
Simona hissed a warning to me. She has played a leader of our little group, but if a time to step up came, then I was more than ready to take the reins.
“Darkness can take many shapes,” lieutenant explained.
“Then how can I know you aren’t the servant of a Dark Lord or whoever commands the Darkside?” I snapped at him.
The soldiers, who a moment ago hadn’t even seemed to breathe, now stirred.
“You stupid bitch! You’re going to kill us all,” Rabbon yelled from the corner of the yard. Rust darted his eyes all over the place. He w
as calculating his chances to get us out of this mess. Eventually, he shook his head. We were done for.
More books by Victoria Mercier
Lord of the Seas
Bonded by the Sea
Tears of the Pirates (January-February)
The New Frontier (March-April)
The Edge of the World (May-June)
The New Lord Rises (July-August)
The Academy of Dragons
Blood of Dragons (January)
Tear of Unicorns (February-March)
Flesh of Titans (April-May)
Forgotten Chains (June-July)
Darkness Unleashed (August-September)
Light Annihilated (October)
Trinity (November)
About the Author
Victoria Mercier is a brave mum from rainy Scotland who decided to challenge her fear and uncover her dreams. Fantasy worlds filled with absurdly hot males, head-scratching plots, and heart-pumping actions. But most of all, she wants to share her stories with others.
Email: VictoriaMercier3000@gmail.com
Victoria’s mailing list will be available in the next book called Blood of Dragons, which will be published at the beginning of January. You can learn about the new releases, discounts, and other fun stuff: www.fb.me/Victoria.Mercier3000
Please leave a comment if you liked the book. It was a pleasure and privilege of writing it.