City of Magic: The Complete Series by Helen Harper (book club recommendations TXT) 📕

ignored the evacuation orders and stayed put.’ I waggled my finger. ‘That’s a hell of a lot of people we have to compete with. The sooner we get out there and get the supplies we need, the better.’

‘Okay, yes, you’re right.’ Lizzy yawned again and pushed herself up off the floor, where we now had to sit because her bunyip form had destroyed all the deckchairs. ‘I’ll go find my shoes.’

I drained the last of my glass and got up, feeling incredibly woozy. Perhaps the whisky hadn’t been such a good idea. All the same, it had provided a pleasant numbing effect. It would make our shopping trip more interesting, if nothing else.

I poked around, finally locating my jacket, then I called up after Lizzy. ‘Hey! Come on!’

There was no answer. Normally, that wouldn’t give me any cause for alarm but, given what had happened to her earlier, it made my blood freeze. I cocked my head, listening carefully. There weren’t any sounds of snarling or wanton furniture destruction. Crossing my fingers tightly, I tiptoed up the stairs. Please don’t be furry, I prayed. Please be Lizzy.

When I reached her bedroom and spotted her lying face down on her bed, her arms and legs splayed out in a very human fashion, I finally breathed out again.

‘Lizzy?’

There was no answer. I edged over and carefully lifted her onto her side so she’d be more comfortable. She didn’t so much as twitch. I put my hands on my hips and watched her for a second. Now she was resting properly, she actually looked at peace. No doubt she needed the sleep. I grabbed her duvet and covered her with it. ‘Sweet dreams,’ I whispered.

Whether Lizzy was dead to the world or not, I still had to get supplies. We had no idea what was going to happen next. It could be anything – at this point, all bets were off. The only thing I knew for sure was that without food and water neither of us would last very long. I had to get to the supermarket before every looter in the vicinity had the same idea.

The Wilsons, who lived three doors down, had an eleven-year-old son. Annoying as he was, and although he seemed to spend his free time ringing my doorbell and running away, he did possess a bike. I’d have too much on the way back to use it but if I could ride it to the supermarket, I’d cut down my journey time considerably.

I peered in through their darkened windows, establishing that they had indeed been evacuated along with the rest of the street. Then I hopped over the gate into their garden and grabbed the bike.

Unfortunately for me, it had been constructed for an eleven-year-old boy instead of for an adult. When I sat on it, my knees were virtually up to my ears but it was the best option I had. I shrugged and started to pedal. At least the tires were pumped up.

The streets were eerily quiet – and very dark. Most of the street lamps had been smashed and very few buildings showed a glimmer of light from inside. Looming shadows from piles of rubble and overgrown trees slowed me down. Still, the surroundings were deathly silent so it was clear the army had evacuated more people than I’d thought. Beyond the few stragglers like myself, maybe the entire city was empty now. The thought was rather exciting.

I spun to the left, performing a quick wheelie the like of which I’d not tried since I was eleven years old. I reckoned I’d have managed it if it hadn’t been for the gigantic shape that passed overhead. I skidded and promptly fell off.

The shape flapped round. Before I could haul myself up from the ground, two beady eyes as large as footballs blinked at me. ‘Hello. I’m a dragon.’

I swallowed, my eyes travelling down his massive body. He was definitely male. His penis was massive. And very wrinkly. It was that little detail that made me decide I wasn’t hallucinating. ‘Er … yes,’ I managed. ‘I can see that you are indeed a dragon.’

It had never occurred to me that a dragon could grin but this one certainly could. ‘Watch this!’ He pulled back his head and opened his mouth, giant jaws revealing the sharp teeth underneath. I genuinely thought he was going to swallow me whole. I raised my hands in an instinctive bid to ward him off – but then he arched his neck and blew a jet of flame into the night sky. ‘Cool, huh?’

It probably wasn’t wise to disagree with him. Besides, it was rather cool, given that I wasn’t yet being eaten or roasted alive. ‘Yes,’ I nodded vigorously.

‘That bicycle is far too small for you,’ he told me. ‘You should get yourself something else. I’d offer you a lift but I can’t stop. I’m on my way to save the world.’ His long tail swished from side to side. ‘Someone’s got to.’

His words were like an icy bucket of water. I forgot to be scared and got to my feet so I could speak to him properly. ‘Save the world?’ This was too much of a coincidence. ‘Wait. Do you know Madrona?’

He snorted. ‘The annoying faery? Yes, I know her. She’s fortunate she knows me.’ His voice deepened further. ‘I am Liung the Lawless and I am the only one who can stop the other mad faeries from destroying us all. Well,’ he amended, ‘destroying all of Manchester.’

I wasn’t entirely convinced that this Liung fellow was all there but he had mentioned faeries. ‘We’re still in danger? What’s going to happen next?’

‘Nothing!’ he crowed. ‘Because I’m going to stop it all. Don’t worry, little human.’ He blinked at me. ‘Are you human? You seem to have a lot of magic about you.’

‘Magic? But…’

‘I have to go!’ he trilled. He rose up into the air.

‘Liung!’ I yelled. ‘Liung the Lawless! I need you to speak to me. I need…’ My