As we rose higher and higher, I held on for dear life. Soon we were level with the highest peaks of the mountains. We traveled over the range and, with the dragons’ supernatural speed, soon reached the other side, where the ocean met the steep cliffside Jeriad had spoken of. As we flew over water, even despite Jeriad’s assurances, I half expected the dragons to hit a solid barrier. Instead, we soared over the waves and headed toward the outermost boundary of The Shade.

I cast my eyes downward even as I focused on maintaining my grip—my palms had become sweaty from both the dragons’ heat and my nerves. Holding on wasn’t as easy as it should have been.

Now that I was scanning the surface of the ocean, I realized that there was more than just a single cluster of rocks near this island. I wasn’t sure which one Ben had been referring to. We just had to keep searching.

As we flew, I explained what was happening and what had happened, but as we moved closer in line with the Port, my voice faltered. I caught sight of a scene that chilled me to the bone. We had found the right cluster.

Chapter 24: Sofia

As the sound of the motor neared, Jeramiah cast a lingering glance over the three of us.

“It’s time for me to step out now,” he said, moving backward. “But I’ll stay nearby for a while to make sure things go smoothly…”

He turned to the witch and nodded. She planted a hand on his shoulder, and the two of them vanished.

Even while the vessel sounded like it was less than twenty feet away, I couldn’t help but wish that Jeramiah had left his parasol behind for my father and me. Our limbs were still rigid as ever, and the sun beat mercilessly down upon us from the cloudless sky.

I couldn’t see what state I was in—which was probably a good thing. Though as Derek, lying next to me, looked at me with worry, I sensed that my skin had begun to melt and peel. I was in more than enough agony for it. I didn’t know how many minutes or hours we had been lying here in total, but I was reaching the limit of my pain tolerance—which, through unwilling training over the years, was at a much higher level than most vampires’.

After all my father had just been through, this was the last thing he needed. He was suffering enough mentally to not be subjected to this kind of physical pain. My blood boiled at the thought of what Jeramiah had done to him. Like Derek, I had also held out hope that, if we ever managed to meet Jeramiah, he would be different. That he wouldn’t continue his father’s—and grandfather’s—legacy of malice and cruelty. Now it seemed that I’d hoped for too much. Far too much.

My thoughts froze as the growl of the engine died. Footsteps pounded over the rocks. Ten men came into view. They were dressed in black combat uniforms, their eyes obscured by dark shades. Clutched in their hands were shiny silver guns.

I looked desperately at Derek and then at my father, but we were as helpless as each other. The men closed the final distance between us and swooped down, gripping our limbs and hauling us over the sharp rocks. They dragged us to a boulder and propped us in an upright position.

The tallest hunter among them—and also the most slender in build—stepped forward. His eyes roamed the three of us.

“Derek and Sofia Novak, and Aiden Claremont, of The Shade. Is that correct?”

“You’re barking up the wrong tree with us,” I croaked. “Nobody on our island is a threat to you or any human.”

His angular jaw set firmly. “We have some doubts about that,” he said.

Swiveling to face Derek, he raised his gun and cocked it.

“No!” I rasped.

What followed happened almost too fast for my brain to process.

A mighty roar boomed down from the sky, so loud and fierce it made my hair stand on end.

The hunters froze and whirled around. Four magnificent dragons—Jeriad, Azaiah, Neros and Ridan, if I recognized them correctly in their beastly forms—soared toward us. Jeriad—who was leading the horde—widened his jaw and released a storm of flames. Fire blanketed the center of the islet, billowing dangerously close to us. The heat dried out my eyeballs and scorched my already fried skin.

Azaiah, Neros and Ridan joined Jeriad in releasing more fire, and soon I couldn’t even see the hunters through the blaze. I did hear their gunshots, shouts, racing footsteps, and splashes of water as they no doubt retreated for safety. As the flames began to lick but a few meters away from our feet, I feared that they would consume us before the dragons came for us.

But then Ridan and Neros burst through the wall of smoke and fire. Ridan arrived at my side first. His massive left hand closed around my body as he lifted me up while his right hand reached for Derek. Neros picked up my father before the two dragons’ wings beat heavily, raising us into the air. I was relieved that Ridan kept me lower against his body, beneath the shade of his broad chest. It felt like if my skin was tortured much more, it might become irreparably damaged.

Another round of lethal gunshots fired—one so unnervingly close, I heard it whoosh right past my ear. With all the smoke and flames, I could only just make out the outlines of Jeriad and Azaiah beneath us. My vision being hazy from all that forced sunlight didn’t help either.

“The eyes, Amaya!” Jeramiah bellowed from somewhere beneath us.

Oh, no.

“Hurry!” I panicked.

We had to get to the boundary before the witch reached us.

Through the myriad of chaotic sounds broke out a thundering splash. I caught sight of Jeriad’s giant tail thrashing in the water, while the rest of his body was submerged. He was clearly in agony.