Free Loving Two Dragons (Awakening Cycle Part 3) (BBW Dragon Shifter Paranormal Romance) by James D Horton

out of me in a single whoof. I gasp, my lungs scream for air but are unable to take any in. The need to breathe overrides any pain.
    Another foot lands hitting my thigh, then my gut again. I double over bringing my hands up to cover my head. A thin wheeze of air slips into my lungs relieving the burning but allowing the pain of the blows to come through.
    "Stop!" Brant says.
    I can't straighten up. A stabbing pain in my ribs, burning with every breath I take. Curled in a fetal position I look over at Logan. He strains against his bonds, the veins on the side of his neck bulge, the chains move of their own accord, tightening more and more. I shake my head at him as tears flow. I can't see him in so much pain.
    "It's okay," I whisper.
    "It very much is okay," Marathe says lowering into my view.
    She smiles as revulsion fills my stomach with acid. Bile rises in my throat, so close and I'm helpless.
    "Get them all ready to move. I can't open a portal in the Green's temple. It's time to go home and claim my throne."
    Her throne? Panic floods through me and I look at Logan. There’s confusion in his eyes and he shakes his head.
    I'm pulled to my feet and Logan is loaded onto a four wheel cart not un-similar to a wagon for a child but scaled to hold a man. Brant wraps an arm around me keeping me on my feet. He follows the wagon and we're led through the dimly lit tunnels of the Green temple.
    Stone grinds on stone and a massive door slides down into the ground. Sunlight streams in as its seal is broken. My eyes burn at the brightness of it causing me to see stars. I blink rapidly trying to clear my vision. Each breath hurts, each step jars me, my eyes burn, and none of this overwhelms the emptiness in me. This pain is nothing compared to what I deserve for failing to protect my daughter.
    I stumble. The ground races towards me but Brant catches me. I can't get my knees to lock and hold me up. There's no point in going on. As soon as he sets me up right I fall again. He grabs my legs and lifts me easily into his arms to carry me. I try to struggle because I feel like I should but I can't summon the will to put out that much effort. I just can't see the point in fighting anymore. The bitch has won.
    We're marching across a clearing in the jungle. Large sections of the ground are charcoaled as if recently on fire, even some of the trees we march towards are burnt. The odor of the recent fire is heavy in the air. I note everything without really processing what I'm looking at. There’s a loud pop. Marathe must be opening a portal to take us where ever she wants us to go.
    "STOP THEM!" Marathe screams over the sounds of battle engaging.
    I lift my head to see what's happening. Brant sets me on the ground and draws his sword. He turns one direction and another but doesn't leave my side. I try to find out who is attacking who but all I can hear are the sounds of steel on steel and the occasional pop or fizzle of magic. Brant looks down at me then back at something.
    He bends down and picks me up in a single motion and runs. I scream feeling my throat tear as I pour out all my pain and rage in that single, primal sound. He doesn't stop, bending his body over me and running. Suddenly everything is black and we're falling then he stumbles and I'm falling for real landing hard on a cold stone floor.
    Shuffling sounds as I roll over to my knees. I force myself to rise up, to face whatever new threat is here. There’s the portal we must have just come through. From it comes flying Logan, cart and all, still bound in his chains. He's followed by Archer, then Remy, Sarissa, and then Lou!
    As soon as Lou steps through Remy motions and the portal closes with a pop. Archer steps towards me, his sword still drawn, and puts it straight to Brant's throat. A trickle of blood flows.
    "Who are you?" Archer says his voice low, dangerous.
    "Brant," he says his hands up in the air, palms open.
    "Why are you here?"
    "Time to switch sides. My Clan is being