Escaping The Beast: A Darkhills Romance (The Darkhills Series Book 2) by Elizabeth Greene (young adult books to read TXT) 📕

time for Lucian’s fist to connect with its jaw, causing the creature to grunt as its head knocked backwards with the impact.

Damn Etienne was hard-headed. Lucian mused as he rolled under the beast’s thick neck to come up in front of Katherine.

He needed to be smarter with where he made his next hit, already his eyes were searching the heavily armoured body looking for a weak spot. The dragon’s oil slick coloured scales softened into a pale silver on his belly. If Lucian had to hazard a guess, he would say that the lighter the dragon’s scales; the weaker they were.

“Lucian, we need to get out of here. It won’t be able to follow us into the trees, it’s too huge.” Katherine spoke up from behind him, her hand grasping at his bicep.

“Go, take cover. I will find you after I have dealt with the dragon.” He replied before jumping out of the reach of one set of sharp claws and sliding beneath the other front leg.

Lucian released his own set of claws and sliced at the tender scales on the dragon’s underside. A pained screech let him know he had successfully distracted the beast enough for Katherine to get away. That, and the whip of his long spiked tail as it came around and flicked Lucian upward with ease.

The angry violet glare of the beast came into view as Lucian twisted in the air and attempted to avoid the poison-tipped talon on the dragon’s wing. He landed firmly between the shoulder blades of the creature, almost unscathed, a shallow gash across his torso stung with the acidic burn caused by the toxin. He would heal eventually, provided he fed soon.

“Etienne, the human is not your prey. Leave her now and we need not continue, persist and I will not hesitate to end you.” Lucian spoke to the dragon.

I will not give her over to you, Lucian, so you will have to do as you say, or at least try. The gravelly voice of the dragon spoke directly into Lucian’s consciousness.

It wasn’t the first time Lucian had communicated with the ancient creature, so the invasion into his mind was not enough to distract him. If anything by opening up a mind link, the dragon had given him an advantage. Lucian launched himself off the dragon and landed in front of it. He turned and gazed intently into the beast’s eyes, forcing his will into the dragon's thoughts.

“You will leave now, Etienne. I’d rather we didn’t become enemies, but I cannot allow you to take the human.”

I would be taking her away from your cruel intentions, vampire. Etienne replied.

My dealings with her are not your concern. Lucian responded, using the mind link to speak to the dragon as he burrowed down deeper into the vast abyss that was the mind of a dragon. If he kept him talking long enough, the dragon would fall under his thrall, allowing them some time to escape before he overcame the hypnosis.

She was running from your territory. She clearly has no desire to deal with you Lucian, I will not stand by and allow you to reclaim her against her will. Etienne growled at him, And get the hell out of my head. He boomed right before he swiped out with his front paw and sent Lucian crashing into a nearby pine with a crack of wood as the trunk splintered upon impact.

“Lucian!”

Before he could recover his wits, Katherine had sprinted out from the tree line and had thrown herself between the open glowing maw of the dragon and where he was slumped against the tree.

“Katherine, no!”

Lucian threw himself forward, taking her down onto the forest floor, covering her body with his own. Blistering heat slammed against his back, but not enough for him to be encompassed in flames. Keeping his weight over her, he twisted his face to see Etienne had raised his head and spat his white-hot flames, skyward. A lucky escape.

“Katherine, please do as I say and run.” He whispered harshly as he slid himself off her and pulled her to her feet. They didn’t have long before the dragon’s fire would rekindle.

“Not without you.” She grasped his upper arms to steady herself, her golden eyes burning with determination. Lucian didn’t want to enthral her, but he needed her out of harm's way while he tried to explain the situation to the dragon.

He gazed deeply into her eyes only to have his thoughts interrupted.

She defended you. Why? Etienne’s gruff, flame-infused voice forced its way into Lucian’s mind.

I don’t know but you must understand, I mean her no harm. Allow her to leave and we can continue this. Lucian spoke back.

If you do not mean to feed upon the woman, why was she running from you?

Lucian turned around to face Etienne as the dragon peered down at them both with a sceptical and distrusting look in his eye. Katherine tugged at his forearm in an attempt to pull him away from the beast. Her persistence in trying to get him away from the obvious danger caused a strange warmth to grow in his chest. He held out his hand to signal for her to remain behind him.

I wish I knew. I was wondering the same thing right before I was able to come after her. As you well know, these hills are full of dangerous creatures of which she has no knowledge. I only pursued her to ensure her safety, I give you my word. Lucian kept the dragon’s gaze and opened his mind to him, allowing him the opportunity to search for any deceit in his words.

The silence stretched between them. The frantic beating of Katherine’s heart from behind him pulled at his protective instincts. He wanted to calm her nerves.

If you will allow me to make introductions,

Lucian took hold of her soft, delicate fingers and stepped to the side, drawing her forward to stand with him.

“Etienne, please may I introduce Miss. Katherine Daxton. She is a guest within my home and