With her hand in his, K' Druam runs as fast as his human legs can handle, every fiber of his body burning with exertion.

The tower is almost within reach.

His dragon screams against his skin to be let out, to spread its massive onyx wings. How easily it could have gotten them to safety. But with the centuries circling the land, he would've been spotted immediately.

He had broken the most sacred law among his race: He had fallen in love with a human. To further the offense, she's carrying his babe, the first hybrid in the eons his race has existed on this earth—a creature that will not be allowed to cross the border at the ultimate cost.

There is no other way.

As if the gods heard him, a thunderous rumble rolls through the kingdom. "We must hurry."

"K' Druam," she says. The stillness in her voice makes him stop and turn to her. "What's going on?"

"The walls. They will rise from the earth, sealing us in. As long as we are on the other side of the tower before it happens, we will be safe."

Her hands go to her belly, protecting the babe that is still no bigger than a human fist. "What's going to happen to everyone else?"

He looks into her brown eyes, the same warm orbs that have never failed to calm the beast within him. "The humans will go about their lives. The walls will not affect them." He stops himself before continuing.

"And the others?"

He presses his lips gently on her forehead. "Trapped. The walls will be impenetrable to magic."

"For how long?"

"I do not know. These towers are said to possess a power not even the Elders can control. Once called upon, it cannot be undone." He runs his thumb along the scar splitting her cheek. "You care for them, even after all they have done to you?"

"This is because of us. We can't just leave them behind."

"Our deaths will not change what is to be. The walls are coming. I will not stay only to lose you, Cassandra."

She grips his chin and turns his face in the direction from which they had come. "We are not running. This is our home. These are our people. We stay and figure out a way."

His dragon bellows beneath his human skin, returning the war cry of its mate.

"The tower, K' Druam. We have to get to the tower."

The earth quakes again, its force so strong it knocks them both off their feet.

He scrambles to her and sees the blood spilling from the cuts along her arms and legs.

"I'm fine," she says quickly. She pushes herself up and pulls him forward.

The wall erupts from the ground before them justas they reach the tower. Finding no door or latch, they run their fingers along its surface, searching for a way in.

~~~

A/N: This story was originally published as a standalone book on March 29, 2020 for the Walls and Towers contest.