Page 120 of Hero of Havoc

“Why do I get the feeling that it means you two are about to jet off on that dragon and leave me here to explain the situation to the others?” Teddy states, and I wince.

“Is that a bad thing?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“For you, of course not. For me? I just don't like being apart from you,” he admits, and it makes my soul ache for him.

“Do you think my mother is still on campus?” I murmur, uncertainty warring inside of me, and Teddy shakes his head.

“She disappeared pretty quickly, but there's no way in Hell that no one on this campus knows she's here. Someone has to be helping her, just like someone has to be helping Leonardo. This probably has something to do with the power outage. Again,” Teddy rambles, planting his hands on his hips as he cocks his head at me. “Are you even fit to fly a dragon right now?”

“That’s a good point. You have just experienced death. Again. Maybe we should head to the medical center first?” Baron offers, and I sigh.

“My body aches, but other than that, I'm absolutely fine.”

Reluctantly, Baron rises to his feet, extending his hand in my direction, and I press my palm against his as he pulls me toward him.

“I’m going to assume the clothing situation is Teddy’s doing?” Baron clarifies, and Teddy nods as I twist the waistband on the sweatpants in an attempt to hold them in place. “Thank you,” Baron murmurs.

“You don't have to thank me. She's my mate too,” Teddy grumbles, and Baron shrugs.

“Regardless, knowing we are all starting to be on the same page when it comes to taking care of her is very reassuring.”

“I want to make a comment that I’ve been on this wavelength a little longer than you, but I won’t. Instead, I’m just going to focus on the fact that it will be even more reassuring if you get the hell out of here so you can both get back just as quickly,” Teddy retorts, opening his arms to me, and I fall into his embrace, nestling my head against his chest.

I take a moment to breathe him in. Considering how bad this could have gone otherwise, I'm thankful to have him beside me.

He rubs my back soothingly, and the moment we break apart, Alaric lowers himself closer to the ground, extending his wing in my direction, just like last time.

I’ve only taken a single step toward him before a hand curls around my wrist, pulling me back for a soft kiss. Teddy consumes me, his touch grounding me before releasing me once more, and a second later, I find myself perched between Baron's thighs on Alaric's back.

My stomach twists in knots, uncertainty forever plaguing me as I glance down at Teddy, who peers at his device for a moment.

“Of course the others are calling me now so I have to explain it all over again,” he says with a sigh. “Go, before I change my mind.”

“About what?” I retort, and he gives me a pointed look.

“Princess, let me at least pretend to have some control here, yeah?”

I roll my eyes at him, and he winks as Baron leans in close, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear.

“Ready, Firefly?” Baron asks, delirium seeping through my bones as I try to figure out what on earth my life is right now, but I nod nonetheless. “Let's take to the skies, Alaric,” he orders, and I jolt as the dragon digs his claws into the ground before sending us shooting into the air.

My stomach twists just like last time, while a feather-light feeling brushes over my skin as I hold on tight. Running my fingertips across Alaric’s scales is soothing as I bask in the journey, the view going on for miles, every direction offering something more beautiful, and despite dying not so long ago, I feel safe again in Baron's arms.

This time, when we near the congregation, it almost feels familiar.

The rich orange, reds, and browns are mottled across the formed rocks as Alaric lands, nodding toward the open cave system.

Sucking in a sharp breath, my nerves threaten to get the better of me as Baron climbs down off Alaric's back first, extending a hand to me, but before I can interlock my fingers with his, Alaric darts inside with me still on his back.

I yelp. “Alaric, what are you doing?”

Panic swirls through my muscles, making them clench.

“Don’t worry, he'll catch up,” he states.

“I don't think it's the catching up I'm concerned with. It's the fact that you're running off with me. What the hell are you doing?” I insist, not feeling any sense of unease as the ground rumbles and the air shakes around us.

“He will want to see you alone.”