Hate by K.A Knight

My dragon takes over and I let him.

I feel the echo of my mate’s pain, her scream in my head covering the distance between us through our bond, and a roar of agony fills my animal at being helpless, at being so far away while she suffers.

I leave my car on the road as I smash my way through the woods, following her scent. More animal than man, no rational thinking, only the need to hold my mate. To see that she is safe and to destroy the souls of those who dared touch what is mine. I break through the witches’ protective circle like its paper.

I. Am. A. King.

They dare hurt her?

They think they have seen power and pain, death and bloodshed, but they haven’t seen anything yet. I will burn this world apart until I find her, I will bathe in their souls and hear their screams.

My animal and I agree with that.

The once sunny forest turns dark with the spirits and powers leaving my gaping mouth. It blots out the sun, wrapping around the trees and ground like a mist. All noise stops as every animal cowers, feeling my immense power.

I reach the place she was last and circle, her scent, her soul more prominent in this location. She was here for a while, as were others, and then they left...but not of their own accord.

Tire tracks lead through the mud, as does the dragging of feet. But only one set.

Who was with her? Where are they now?

Just as I think that, I see a flash to my right, bright white cutting through the darkness. I turn my massive head, snout open and rows of teeth flashing in warning at any who comes too close. My purple eyes shine through my own blackness, like lasers seeking out a target. Anyone to take out my frustrations on.

My spine ripples as my spikes come out, my scales locking down like armour. Another flash comes, this time near one of my wings on my left. Spinning in a circle, I lash out with my tail when I hear movement, and a grunt follows.

“Fucking dragons, what the fuck next?” comes a snarl, followed by a snort and the flapping of wings.

“Fallen, remember why we are here,” someone growls from the trees, and I find a horned man—if you could call him that—standing there surrounded by animals.

The wings freeze and a grumble comes before another man joins the first, his hair down to his shoulders, his eyes flashing black, and his feathery wings spread out behind him like a warning. He glares at me, arms crossed and face snarling.

A fallen?

A forest man...only one I know exists in this country.

But what does a forest god of old and a fallen have in common?

My animal takes back over, overriding all rational thought. He doesn’t care who they are, just that they are not her. My mate...Dawn. He roars and flaps his wings, taking us up and flattening the grass and flowers around us. His mouth opens, ready to suck out their souls and kill them.