The Dragon's Mate

Chapter 62

Hunter says, "forget it, Emerald he won't stop." The humans behind Emerald have completely stopped chanting as Hunter staggers to his feet free of the spell. Seeing him stand renews Rowan's rage, his face distort and his grip on the dagger grows stronger as he says, "that face, the same face as the man who tortured me, who killed everyone I ever loved. I WON'T LET YOU LIVE!." Rowan lunges for Hunter again but this time he is free, Emerald thinks, 'if I let Rowan attack Hunter, he'll die.. he's wrong, but he is also a traumatised slave, and he should live long enough to learn the error of his ways.' Rowan is seconds away from hurting Hunter as Emerald feels Hunter's Dragon prepared to defend himself as she yells out, "ROWAN!," thinking quickly Emerald grabs Rowan by the collar before he can attack Hunter as he says, "What are you-!," he moves to stab her instead as Hunter calls out, "Emerald, look out!." Emerald is much faster as she disarms him and slams the brunt handle of the dagger against Rowan's skill, his knees buckle, he sways and then hits the ground hard as everyone stares in silence. Hunter asks, "Emerald... are you OK?." Emerald turns to Hunter replying, "yes, I did not want to do that but...." She closes her eyes trying to suppress the frustrated tears from rising however she soon hears a loud sound as her ears ring piercingly and her vision blurs in the throne room which erupts in an explosion, larger and louder than she has ever experienced. 

Emerald soon opens her eyes to see the flames and destruction around her as she says, "what the...." Cole calls out in a taunting tone, "Emerald... come and out plaaAAAYY....". Emerald feels her blood run cold as Cole's terrifying, taunting voice rings out in the thick smoke, sounding like its coming from all corners as Emerald thinks, 'I don't see Hunter, I can barely see anything at all.'  Emerald says, "Cole...show yourself, Coward!." Cole appears saying, "Coward? My feelings are hurt." Another explosion rings out, only this time it blows the thick smoke away as Emerald tries to leave however stops when she sees Cole standing before her, her sword held to Hunter's throat. Hunter says, "Run.." Cole says, "you know she won't do that, no matter how much you beg, little brother." Emerald thinks with a worried expression, 'Hunter cannot fight, he's too weak from the dark magic used on him.' Emerald spots a large violent-looking axe a few feet away as she moves to grab it when Cole notices this saying, "nice try but one more step and I cut his throat." The sword digs deeper into Hunter's throat as Emerald freezes and slowly raises her hand where Cole can see them. Cole says with a smirk, "that is what I thought." Hunter says angrily, "Get off of me-!." Hunter fights Cole with all his might but it's no use, Cole slices a deep cut through his shoulder and pain rips through both Hunter and Emerald. Emerald screams out, "Agh!." She drops to her knees gripping her own shoulder before looking at Cole asking, "Cole... what exactly do you want?!." Cole replies, "you are asking me what I want? You.." Emerald is stunned by Cole's response as he begins to laugh menacingly and before shifting into his Dragon form and roaring. Hunter says, "RUN!," Emerald has no time to consider doing anything else as she turns to run but it's no use; Cole's tail whips out of the darkness, wrapping around Emerald's body as she yells, "NO!." Cole flaps his powerful wings lifting her in the air as Hunter calls out, "EMERALD !!!" Emerald closes her eyes gathering her strength and summoning her powers to her but as quickly as it comes, it is taken away as Cole thrashes her like a rag-doll as she thinks, 'Oh my God!' 

Emerald squeezes her eyes shut feeling helpless to the power, the speed and the sheer strength Cole has over her as she thinks, 'is he going to shake me to death or...?.' Emerald's worst fear is confirmed as Cole raises her high in the air and hurdles her toward the ground as she thinks, 'he's going to crush me.' Hunter again calls out, "Emerald!!," desperate to help her Hunter hurdles something through the air as Emerald catches it as she sees it is the sword. Hunter says, "Cut yourself free, NOW!." Emerald is second away from slamming into the ground as with all her strength, she raises the sword and swings it down over Cole's tail, slicing it clean in half. Cole transforms back into his human self before screaming, blood spraying from his wound as Emerald falls free from his grasp, landing in Hunter's arms. Hunter holds her asking, "are you OK? you did it, Emerald." Cole's eyes widen with anger and fury as he says, "you bitch!."  Emerald and Hunter both look at Cole to see blood seeping down his back as she says, "I am sorry, Cole did that hurt?." Cole angrily says, "I will show you the meaning of the word, 'hurt'". He stumbles towards her, his arm outstretched as she says, "you might want to stop the bleeding first," Cole grimaces as Emerald and Hunter about to smile when something huge slams into them as Emerald says, "What the-!," as she returns back to reality she sees Hunter is pinned by a group of Cole's men. Emerald says, "Let...Him...Go," Emerald's eyes turn dark and dangerous as she moves toward Hunter as he struggles desperately beneath their impossible weight but a cold hard grip on Emerald's arm stops her.