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toward a stack of crates where Argram had hung.
    An instant later, a large beast rushed in, its soulless eyes fixed on him. Each hard thump of its massive feet promised more pain to come. Rings around its neck, wrists, and ankles, lighter than the rest of its fur, were sure signs of maturity for the Erritrols. This creature was quickly becoming an Ikabrol. Evan shuddered. It was young, but it would be just as ruthless as any Ancient. “Where is the bitch?” Its fists clenched at its sides.
    Evan didn’t dare avert his gaze. If he so much as glanced in her direction, it would find her. “She’s gone.”
    The iron fist struck fast and hard, taking the breath from his lungs. The impact severed the last of the already frayed rope, sending Evan sprawling on his back. The beast took a step toward him, growling, its teeth bared, nothing but pure hatred shining in its obsidian eyes, ready to tear into Evan’s flesh. Its eyes grew wide, then a thin wheeze came from its parted lips before it slumped to the floor with two blade handles sticking out from its back.
    Brienne wasted no time loosening the ropes at Evan’s wrists, freeing his arms at last.
    Ignoring the pain engulfing him, Evan pulled her close, lifted them both from the ground, out the door and into the night sky.

Chapter 5
    Brienne’s throat constricted, making it hard to catch her breath. She had used this method of travel all her life, but Evan moved so fast she couldn’t establish any landmarks. Everything below them was a blur of dark green, grey and black.
    “Where are you taking me?” She turned her head to look at him. Pain darkened his pale blue eyes. The damage to his face and body made her want to scream. Dried blood plastered his dark sable hair to his scalp. Fury roiled inside, not only hers, but the dragon’s as well. Closing her eyes, she tried to block the sight of his injuries, if only for a few moments so she could think.
    “Far from this place.” His velvety voice slid into her mind, easing into it as though it had always been there, as if it belonged.
    Aware he wasn’t at full strength, Brienne gathered power, adding it to his. “I can take over. Just tell me where you want to go. Save your energy for healing.”
    Heat emanated from his body, cocooning her, making her want to snuggle closer. His warm and spicy scent alone made her tingle and her pulse race, until it was all she could do to keep from running her tongue down his neck to have a taste. It would be so easy, too. Opening her eyes, she saw the bounding pulse on the long column of his neck. A little nip, one swipe of her tongue, and she would have more fodder for her fantasies, but nothing had changed. She had a mission to complete, and he had to go back to Avalore.
    “No need. We’re already there.”
    Had he started descending, she would have noticed they had been about to land, but he had been going higher. The howling wind whipped the hair from her braid to fly around her face. Her cheeks stung and pinched with the cold. When she opened her eyes, the highest peak of the Golme Mountains loomed straight ahead. She didn’t need to see any landmarks to know where she was. No other summit was high enough to produce the sluggishness pressing down on her.
    She had to admire the tactic. It was a smart move. It would take days for the Erritrols to climb so high, if they could at all. Unfortunately, she and the frigid temperatures at this elevation were not compatible, and unless they had provisions of water and a warm place to rest, she knew sickness would be upon her soon, not to mention that Evan needed a place to recover from his injuries.
    A fine tremor shook her as the cool air leached the warmth from her exposed skin. “I can’t stay up here. I’m going to freeze to death.” The soft clacking of her chattering teeth accentuated her point.
    His gaze shot down to hers before lifting to the mountainside again. “I will not allow you to be uncomfortable.” Even as he spoke,