Page 39 of Selected By the Dragon Alien
Understanding dawned in Yuric’s eyes. “You’re going to face them alone?”
Ellion nodded, already feeling the dragon stirring within him. “A dragon is harder to hit than a fortress. I can move faster, strike harder.”
“That’s unwise,” Yuric protested, even as another blast rocked the fortress. “There are more ships out there.”
“Fewer than there would be, thanks to you,” Ellion corrected with a grim smile. “And a dragon’s fire can do a lot of damage.” He turned to the Hecron warriors at their stations. “Power everything down. Don’t give them a target.”
As the fortress’s systems went dark, Ellion strode toward the exit. His scales were already beginning to thicken. “Keep your warriors safe and save the Terians, Yuric,” he said. “They have turned hard and cruel over the centuries, but there is hope for them, if the Axis don’t destroy them. I’ll handle the ships.”
Before anyone could argue further, Ellion sprinted down the corridor toward the main doors. His bones began to crack and shift as the transformation took hold. By the time he reached the courtyard, he was no longer a male with wings, but a massive purple dragon, ready for battle.
With a mighty roar that shook the mountain itself, Ellion launched himself into the sky. The Axis ships hung there like dark stars, looming over the settlement. A few had landed. They weren’t ready for a dragon. It was time to show the Axis what he could really do.
TWENTY-SEVEN
Turi stood at the edge of the settlement, her heart hammering in her chest as she watched the Terians around her. They were shouting, their voices rising like thunder. “If the journal is authentic, we must have a meeting,” one Terian cried, waving his arms. “And an accounting from the Axis.”
Another Terian chimed in, “What of the overseer himself? He is the first one who needs to speak to us.” The panic in their voices bounced off the walls of the settlement, sending a chill down Turi’s spine.
Yet another bellowed, “I’ve doubted the Axis’ divinity since I was a child. Our suffering is too great.”
Suddenly, a loud roar filled the air. Turi looked up, her eyes widening as ships burst into the sky, dark against the brightening morning. Blasts of light shot out from the fortress, clashing against the ships like fireworks in reverse. The air crackled with energy, and Turi felt a tight knot form in her stomach.
“Ellion,” she breathed. It felt as if the air had been ripped from her chest. “He’s up there.”
“We saw him leave the fortress,” Ara said behind her, still an indistinct shadow.
“No, it’s him,” Turi said. “I know it. I just…feel it.” The thought of him battling above made her stomach churn. She could hear her own heartbeat pounding in her ears, drowning out the chaos around her. Turi squeezed tears from her eyes and took a deep breath, the metallic taste of fear filling her mouth.
The ships moved through the smoke, dodging some blasts and firing back at the fortress. Her hands trembled. “Please be safe,” she whispered under her breath. She could picture Ellion, brave and fierce, but what if—
Just then, the ships broke free from the fortress, their sleek forms glistening in the sunlight. They turned towards the settlement, engines roaring. Turi’s heart raced even faster. She could hardly breathe. The fear wrapped around her, tightening even more.
Turi’s gaze darted from the ships to the Terians rushing around her. “What do we do?” one of them yelled, his face panicked.
“Get inside! Hide!” Another Terian screamed as some of them sprinted toward the nearest building, footsteps pounding against the ground.
“Stay calm!” Turi shouted, but her voice was swallowed by the chaos. Another group of Terians huddled together, fear etched on their faces, as they looked up in despair.
Just then, she felt a familiar hand grip hers. It was her mother, eyes wide with worry. “Turi. My brave daughter.” She pulled Turi into a brief, hard embrace. “He’s come for you. Look!”
Above them, a deafening roar shattered the air, making Turi jump. Her head snapped up, and she gasped as a massive dragon swooped low. His scales glinted like polished armor. Fire erupted from his jaws, bathing the nearest ships in bright orange flames.
“Look out!” someone shouted, pointing at the fiery destruction.
Turi’s heart squeezed as the dragon, swift as a shadow, darted between the ships. With a flick of his powerful wings, Ellion spun around and unleashed another torrent of flames, melting through the hull of five ships in one furious strike. Turi’s heart swelled. The dragon was magnificent, but he was also facing terrible odds.
The ships, despite their size, struggled to fight back. They returned fire, but the dragon danced around them with such grace, as if he were playing a game. Turi clung tightly to her mother. “He’s come for all of us,” she whispered as the heat from dragon fire and burning ships swept over her skin.
“Back up,” her mother said, and they moved from the open square to press against the outer wall of the Riests’ home. Determination glinted in her mother’s eyes. “Whatever happens here, know that I love you, Turi. I always have.”
She squeezed her mother’s hand. “I never doubted that, Mother.”
Suddenly, amid the chaos, a metal door swung open on one of the landed ships, which had been overlooked during the battle in the sky. A figure emerged, catching Turi’s eyes. The male was imposing, dressed in a dark uniform that shimmered ominously under the sunlight. Metal covered the lower part of his face. He strode directly toward Turi, gaze riveted on her. There was no doubt that he knew exactly who she was. “Engage security protocol,” he commanded to his guards, and they powered on their weapons. His speech had a mechanical tone.
Turi’s heart raced as he and his guards closed in on them. Their expressions cold and unyielding. She felt her mother tense beside her. “Go inside,” she said to her mother and Ara, who was well hidden in shadow. “Now.” She pushed her mother away, toward the door, and faced the huge, terrifying male whostopped and loomed above her. “Inmate 224-E.” He cocked his head, his voice devoid of emotion. “So you are the one who has caused us so much trouble.”
Without warning, he reached out and grabbed Turi by the neck, lifting her slightly off the ground. A gasp escaped her lips, and panic slashed through her heart. The guards closed in, keeping watch on the surrounding Terians, their presence making it clear that there would be no fighting these beings.