Page 83 (1/2)

The dragon launched again, this tiht between the planetarium and Shedd Aquarium As it landed, I could just make out the silhouette of Sorcha on its back, planted at the base of its neck like a cowboy, her blond hair flying

The dragon landed atop the aquariu down the sides, where they crashed on the ground

And then it turned our way

"I got this," Catcher said, pulling in enough power to make sparks fly across his skin "Come atthe do Water splashed into the air as it burst the tanks below The dragon shrieked and trained its reptilian eyes on us, squawking as it dipped into a deep descent

After ainto an orb He wound up, pitched it forward, and it streaked like a star across the night It hit the dragon’s driver’s side haunch But instead of wounding hile, launching back at us nearly as quickly as he’d thrown it

"Hit the deck!" Catcher yelled, dragging the heround

The fireball flew above our heads, exploded behind us We looked up at the s

"Shit," Catcher said "I guess that’s not going to work"

"What the hell happened?" I asked

"The scales are reflective," Catcher said "Magic bounces off"

Itfor its attitude, either YOU CANNOT HURT ME

It was less a sound than a ru in the air, a deep bass note somehow split into words that we could understand

"Holy shit," Lindsey said, staring open above us, looking for a spot to land "Tell me someone else heard that"

"Say hello to the Egregore," Ethan said, and glanced at Catcher "What do we do now?"

"Maybe we can’t hurt the dragon with fireballs," Catcher said "But we can hurt the rider"

I could tell he was getting tired His foron, even if protected fro sparks, turned directly into one of Catcher’s blasts

The shot hit Sorcha in the leg, and she screaon screa sound Then it flapped its wings, lifted into the air, and disappeared into fading darkness

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

SCALES OF JUSTICE