The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate novel Chapter 70

Chapter 70: Stop Being an Excellent Shot

An arrow missed her throat by an inch. The next one missed Velkaris’s eye by less, just as Tiberon’s voice entered her mind.

King Tiberon: Eron and Zenith are en route. Do not engage with primaries.

At this rate, if she followed Tiberon’s orders, they’d be fucked.

Serena was about to disobey a direct order from the King, and she’d already made peace with it.

"Not with my dragon." She pushed herself up, to stand on Velkaris’s back. A bow and arrow made of gold magic formed in her hand. Lightning flashed just as she fired two ice arrows.

Then there were two flashes of blinding white light.

Two shockwaves.

Serena fabricated parachutes on Eron, Zenith, their riders, and spotters just in case they were hit in the blast.

Velkaris dove, catching her. This time, she landed standing on his back.

They veered right, meeting Zenith in parallel flight.

Lieutenant Taren Calder, Zenith’s spotter, held up an extra set of bows and arrows. He tossed them to her.

Taren: The glow from your bow was visible to the naked eye, even from the castle.

Serena: Thank you.

Edward: No, thank you for saving our asses there. Where are these explosions coming from?

Serena: It’s happening every time a fae is hit. Two spotters were aiming at Velkaris on both sides.

Then she winced at her own stupidity. She just broadcasted that she’d gone against orders. Even if Tiberon was already aware, he couldn’t turn a blind eye.

As commander, he would need to address that.

She closed her eyes for a second and swallowed just as his voice slid into the mindlink.

Tiberon: Truebond Veil. That is your response when tailed. Not engagement. Not shielding. Disappear. I will not repeat myself.

Serena: Understood.

The truth was she didn’t even consider that. Even though they’d done it twice it wasn’t her go to instinct yet. And Velkaris wasn’t thinking it either in that moment.

"Now we know," Serena said to Velkaris patting him.

Hyran’s voice sounded in her mind next.

Hyran: The explosions are called Black Detonation. When death is inevitable, Dark Fae detonate outward.

Serena: How do I prevent that?

Hyran: Stop being an excellent shot.

Serena laughed out loud at that and shook her head.

Eron’s presence hit like a wall, black and vast. She felt Tiberon and Dex’s identical energy. She didn’t react or look at Dex and it took concerted effort.

Wait... that didn’t make sense.

Dex was on Eron and not Velkaris? Spotting for King Tiberon and not commanding?

That meant he was compromised in some way or injured. Those would be the only two explanations.

He didn’t elope with Agnes after all. Wonderful. At least she could attend their wedding now. Agnes would wave from the altar and throw the bouquet. And Serena, being the well-adjusted person she was, would catch it with a smile.

She shook her head, refusing to let that affect her focus. Whatever Dex did was his business and she had bigger fish to fry than that.

An arrow cracked against Velkaris’s scales.

Right. One thing at a time.

They moved in a triangle formation. Serena and Velkaris were the tip.

King Tiberon: Lock and fire if you have a shot. Be ready to shield.

Water dragons appeared from the clouds on both sides. They opened their mouths in unison.

Gold bloomed until a sphere sealed around Eron, Zenith, and Velkaris. As soon as the boiling water power-shots hit the shield, it cracked on impact. But it gave them enough time to dive.

And, like the concussed rebel she was, instead of ducking, she stood and fired two ice arrows back to back.

Bullseye on a rider. Bullseye on a spotter.

Two flashes, two blasts. Gold orbs were layered, cracking in sequence. Everyone was still flung from their dragons.

Velkaris knew the drill. He flipped, dove, caught her, and threw her up before the others had even righted themselves.

She landed standing.

King Tiberon: Recovered. Status.

Serena: Recovered. Water dragon with no riders tailing.

Edward Wyncrest: Recovered. Weapons were lost in the blast.

King Tiberon: Fabricate bow and arrows for Taren and Dex. Zenith, wide arc clear of the area.

Edward Wyncrest: Copy.

King Tiberon: We are approaching the water dragon tailing you, Serena. Dex is going to try to control it. Be prepared to shield.

The water dragon opened its mouth.

Dexmon called out to it, both aloud and through the mindlink. It didn’t sound like his voice at all. Serena didn’t have time to dwell on that.

Serena: I need cov—

Edward: Approaching parallel.

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