Hidden (Book 1) by Megg Jensen

fear. It was the last one that made her question him. “Are
you sure?”
    “Of
course I am. When I see Geoff’s son, I can’t help but think of Hazel and my own
little boys. This isn’t the ending I want for them. Even though going into the
fog scares me, I’m willing to do it for them. Staying here is a death sentence.
Who knows how many more people have been infected, or will be?”
    “What
if it’s already too late?” Tressa glanced back at the cottage as they walked away.
She couldn’t get the image of that little boy out of her head. Alone and scared, but so brave. Did he even have a chance
for survival?
    “It’s
not too late as long as people are still alive.” Connor didn’t need to convince
Tressa with his magic. She knew his words rang true.
    “So
it’s just the two of us, then.” Her heart fluttered a little. She’d spent a
year dreading it, had one night to be thankful she wouldn’t face it, and here
she was back again to apprehension.
    “No,
it’s the three of us.”
    Tressa
spun on her heel. Bastian stood in the path behind her and Connor.
    “You
can’t go with us,” Tressa insisted. “You have a family.”
    Bastian
pointed at Connor with one finger. “He does too. And you’re more than willing
to let him risk his life.”
    She
fought the urge to beat his chest with clenched fists. “Someone needs to stay
and protect the village.”
    “From
what? A plague? Just how will I do that?” Bastian laughed. “Yes, I’m sure the
sword I made will help with that. The truth is that my steel will do more
protecting the two of you than anyone in this village.”
    A loud
screeching ripped through the morning air. All three looked up into the sky.
Wings beat furiously from the broad body of an animal in flight, tearing
through the veil of fog.
    “What is that?” Tressa glanced
over at Connor and Bastian. From their bewildered expressions, they knew about
as much as she did.

Chapter Eleven
    The flying creature, covered in turquoise and gray
striped scales, hovered over the village square. Fire ripped out of its open jaws,
bathing the misty sky in orange. Villagers screamed, running for cover in
buildings or under trees. The beast strained, its neck gyrating in the air.
    Bastian
pulled the sword out of a sheath under his cloak. Tressa hadn’t even noticed
he’d been carrying it with him. If anyone saw, he’d be in trouble, especially
after his scuffle earlier in the morning. The beast let forth another fiery breath
and Tressa changed her mind. Bastian raced toward the flying lizard.
    “What
is that?” Tressa yelled to Connor over the villagers’ screams.
    “Don’t
know, but obviously it’s not from here!” He ran after Bastian.
    Bastian
waved the sword in the air, pathetically far below the beast. Connor threw
rocks. They hit the beast, raining down on the few shrieking villagers left in
the town square. It screeched at them, but didn’t come any closer, its wings
flapping hard. The wind rushed around them in circles.
    “Come
down here and fight!” Bastian bellowed into the air. He stopped swinging his
sword. Beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.
    Tressa
grabbed a nearby rope and motioned to Connor. He tossed her a couple of larger
rocks. She tied rope around them, making sure the knots were tight. Connor
grabbed the rock and hurtled it toward the beast. After four tries, the rope
looped over its back, dangling down to the ground from the other side.
    “More!”
Connor yelled. “Make three more, quickly!”
    Tressa
did as she was told, tying the rope as fast as she could. Bastian and Connor
tossed them up over the beast, its head whipping around violently as if
something far away held it in a leash.
    Connor
and Bastian each grabbed two of the ropes hanging from the beast. They yanked
hard, pulling it down, closer to the ground. The beast sputtered, its head
hanging down.
    Udor
stomped out of the village hall, waving his arms in the air. “Are you crazy? We
need to find a way to