I scurried behind them as they marched along the shore. They trooped for miles, remaining closer to the river.
They ignored me as I followed them across long stretches of beach with steep cliffs on one side, around clusters of driftwood logjammed after high water, and through networks of dense brambles that scratched my bare arms and legs and solidified my bad hair day.
Eventually, they left the river and entered a cave at the base of one of the cliffs.
The creatures’ leathery wings brushed the sides of the tunnel, and the gelatinous pink goo bobbing around on the crest of their heads scraped the ceiling. They moved effortlessly, as if they made treks like this on a regular basis.
Kemir dangled on the stick between them. He hadn’t said a thing, and I wasn’t sure if it was due to the effect of the drugs, because he was unconscious, or because he was peeved I’d ignored his order to head downriver and find his brothers.
These creatures had drugged him. Paralyzed him. Hurt him.
I wanted to rip their heads off.
Once we reached our destination, I needed to keep the birds from doping him further. Then, I imagined, he’d be able to shift into his dragon shape and rip their heads off himself.
My heart thundered in my chest, because the tunnels I rushed through were creepy. I jumped at each drip and cry echoing around me. Who knew what I’d encounter at the next corner? After my too-close ridder-encounter, the carnivorous bugs on the beach, and these huge birds, it wouldn’t surprise me if I ran into a T-Rex.
Damp, damp, and more damp. In dire need of a good sweeping, if the crunches underneath my shoes was anything to go by. But then, what did I expect in the center of the Earth? A palace?
I snort-whimpered, because Kemir had promised me a lair-palace. Now, I might never see it or share it with him. Funny how you didn’t miss something until you’d lost it. I stifled my sniffles with my fist.
The lead bird grunted and picked up speed, his talons clicking on the stone floor. The others clambered behind him with Kemir swinging on his pole.
Maybe they thought a good run would leave me in their claw-footed dust.
No way would the birds outdistance me. Little did they know that I ran in road races to raise money for charity. On any day, I was good for at least 10K.
Something squished underneath my shoe. Grimacing, I shuddered and strode faster. Good thing I didn’t have a flashlight, because I had a feeling the crunching and mooshing underfoot came from small dead creatures.
Where were they taking Kemir? And why did they want him?
If only I could go back in time and hold him once more. Tell him that I was considering staying here with him as his mate, whatever that entailed.
Even if it meant I’d have to play cavewoman. It wasn’t that hard to cook on an open fire, was it? Lots of people enjoyed barbeques. And sleeping under the lunar bug-stars? I was open to camping.
The ground sloped downward, and the birds went faster.
Panting, I stayed close behind, riding their leather-feathered butts, watching out for the occasional emitted poop. Yuck.
Without the blue bugs lighting up the passage, like the ones I’d seen clinging to the ceiling near the river, it was dark in here. Frightening, too, because I was following the birds like I had a plan, but, in reality, I didn’t know how I’d get us out of this horrible situation.
But nothing was scarier than my worry for Kemir.
After trotting for what had to be at least twenty K, because my lungs were raging and my leg muscles were spasming, the birds carried Kemir from the tunnel and out into a large, open cavern.
I stopped in the opening and gaped around. Jungle vines draped down the walls, and tiny birds and butterflies hummed and wove through the greenery, sampling pollen from large, yellow and white flowers. At least the blue bugs liked it here, their luminescent glow making it possible to see. A branch of the river flowed through the room, a mass of sluggish water.
The ground was covered with rubble made up of rocks, sticks, brambles, and broken pale-pink round things that looked like fractured egg shells. And too many bleached white sticks that I didn’t examine closely, fearing they were bones.
Wide stone spires stretched up toward the ceiling, at least thirty of them, scattered across the open room. And, at the top of each post sat a nest constructed of sticks and mud.
The lead bird tipped back its head and chittered loudly, as if announcing, honey, I’m home.
Furious cheeps were followed by multiple smaller bird heads peeking over the sides of the nests. At any other time, I’d be oohing and ahhing, because they were darn cute.
Now, I wanted to drive my fist into their faces, because their big black, hungry eyes were focused on Kemir.
This situation didn’t look good.
I hefted a rock, determined to protect Kemir, even though I’d already proven these birds couldn’t be wounded with fire or sticks or stone.
But I had to do something.
The birds carrying Kemir lowered him to the ground at the base of one of the bigger spires. He lay facing me, on his side, unmoving, his eyes closed. His arms were still strapped over his head to the post, and his ankles remained linked on the other end.
Since the birds had ignored me, even when I screamed or threw things at them, I rushed over and dropped down onto my knees beside Kemir. I stroked the thick hair off his forehead, then trailed my fingers down his cheek. My heart warmed because I was near him, even though our situation was dire.
What if he died before I could put together a rescue?
He inhaled sharply and his eyes opened, focusing slowly on my face. His gaze cleared, and he looked up at me with so much pain creasing his face, it stole my breath.
“We don’t have much time,” he said. My heartrate eased a tad, because, if they’d recently drugged him, he wouldn’t be able to speak in more than short bursts.
His heavy glance took in the birds who fluttered around, greeting each other with wing smacks and sharp cheeps.
A few had climbed up the sloping ramps that encircled the tall, bird nest spires and were clucking to their young.
Others stood clustered near the small river, peering into the water. One made a guttural sound, and its neck shifted. It flapped its stubby wings and croaked, looking up at the ceiling, before it leaned forward. A massive glob of shiny, dark brown and gooey gook erupted from its mouth—beak—shooting into the water.
In seconds, tiny ripples appeared along the surface, as if multiple creatures quickly converged on the ostrich vomit.
The waiting birds shrieked as if they’d been invited to a feast. As the ripples increased to a thrashing churn, the birds descended, snatching up shiny white, squirming worm-like things from the water. I grimaced as they ate the skinny fish that had long, pointed teeth and big fins on their backs.
They resembled anemic piranha.
Swallowing deeply, I held back my gag. In this world, projectile vomit from me might draw more unwanted attention than the white fishies.
I shuddered and focused on Kemir. “Tell me what I can do.” I hated feeling helpless, but how could I save him from creatures I couldn’t harm or kill?
I attacked his bindings, but the threads wouldn’t loosen. They didn’t part, and no matter how hard I picked at them, they felt as if they’d solidified into nylon cement. When I attacked them with a sharp rock, I didn’t even make a dent. They were impervious to everything, much like the birds who’d bound Kemir.
A bird squawked and rushed me, pushing me away from Kemir. So, he was afraid I’d somehow find a way to loosen the ties?
When the bird strode away, his feathers fluffing, I returned to Kemir’s side.
“The drugs are wearing off,” he said. “Not enough for me to shift, but enough I can think. But they’ll soon give me more. They can’t afford to let me regain use of all my senses.”
I waved to the birds stalking around, hoping they wouldn’t notice me talking to Kemir. “What are these things?”
“Morkets. Descendants of kelenken, a kind of giant, flightless, predatory bird. Also known as terror birds.”
With their sharp beaks and even sharper talons, I could see why.
“They also left the Earth’s surface and migrated below ground ages ago.”
I’d thought the dinosaurs extinct. Maybe my concern about running into a T-Rex wasn’t so far-fetched, after all.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
I blinked. “Why?”
“For not keeping you safe. For not paying attention.” A half smile curled his lips. “You’re distracting. Not that I’m complaining.”
I stroked his shoulder. “You’re pretty distracting yourself.” My feelings for him were so raw and new, I wasn’t sure I could formulate them enough to speak about them. But I hoped he knew that my chest ached at the thought of losing him.
“What will they do to you?” I hated asking, because I had a good suspicion, but I couldn’t stop the question from popping out.
“They’ll keep me this way for the rest of my life.”
“Tied up and drugged?” How could he live if he couldn’t eat or move?
And there was my answer.
“I’ll stop them,” I said firmly, rubbing his side. I wasn’t sure how, but I’d find a way.
“You can’t. Once caught by the morkets, a dragon is doomed. This has always been our death sentence.”
“They’re going to kill you.” My heart twisted. I couldn’t let this happen.
“Slowly. They’ll leave me here. Once I’ve passed…” His gaze cut to the nests, and I knew, without him speaking the words.
They’d feed him to their young.
“Why are they ignoring me?” I’d think they’d see me as a potential food source, as well.
“They’re not truly ignoring you.”
Okay, so that was extra creepy. A shiver fled down my spine at the thought they were watching my every move.
As if to reinforce the idea, a bird stomped over and shoved me away from Kemir again.
Don’t touch the produce, he might as well say.
“No one ever said they were smart,” Kemir said, after visually assuring himself I was okay. I tip-toed around the bird and approached from Kemir’s other side, but didn’t go to closer when the bird loomed with an open beak and flapped its wings.
“They’ve got food enough now for their young, for a brief span of time,” Kemir said. “But once they’ve finished with me, they’ll remember you. They’ll track you, hunt you down. Which is why you must leave now.”
“I’m not leaving you. I’m going to stop them.”
Hopefully, they didn’t understand our language.
“How can you do that? You’ve seen they can’t be killed. They’re impervious to weapons. Even dragon fire doesn’t touch them.”
I studied the birds, looking for any hint of vulnerability, but with their leather exterior, their long claws, plus their formidable size—three times my own, it seemed hopeless.
While I couldn’t see how I could defeat them, there had to be a way. Sometimes, it didn’t take the biggest weapon to defeat an enemy.
A girl just needed to use her brain.
Frowning, I contemplated my options, which felt limited. Me strutting my plus-sized lingerie model moves would likely be ignored, like everything else I’d done so far.
“You have to go,” Kemir said, nudging his chin toward the entrance to the long cave tunnels. “Follow the passage back to the river then stay along the shore, walking with the flow of the water. Eventually, you’ll reach my valley.”
Was this a way I could save him? “How long will it take to reach your friends?”
One shoulder slightly lifted. “Days, but I’ve got plenty of time.”
His fake grin didn’t fool me. He knew he didn’t have days to wait for me to reach his people, beg for help, then rush back here to save him.
No matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t cross that distance quickly enough to make a difference.
“Alert my people,” he said. “If you’re fast, they’ll get here in time. Remember, they can fly.”
What choice did I have? If I stayed here, seeking a weapon that might or might not defeat the birds, I’d be too late for any other option.
“I’ll do it,” I said, despite my fear of leaving him.
When the bird turned away, I dropped down beside Kemir again. I placed my cheek against his and savored the feeling of our skin touching, hoping I could hold on to the memory for a lifetime.
Because I might not make it back in time.
Scooching closer, I kissed him. Our first, and hopefully not our last, kiss.
His mouth moved underneath mine, and his tongue zipped along the seam of my lips, pressing for entry, which I granted.
I moaned when our tongues met, teasing and stroking. I’d never imagine a kiss could be so wonderful, seductive, shattering. If only…
I drank him in with desperation rising like a beast inside me. Ferocious. Eager to protect the one I loved.
Because I knew right then that I did love him. It was fast, but it was real.
Stomps behind me told me birds were approaching, prepared to push me away. Or to drug him again.
How could I bear to watch as they shot him full of chemicals that would keep him paralyzed? He’d slip away from me, to a world where I couldn’t follow.
But there seemed to be no way I could stop this from happening.
As a bird pecked at my sleeve, then harder, at my arm, breaking my skin, I stroked Kemir’s face, cupped his cheeks and kissed him one more time.
I stood, and two birds shoved me aside, as if I was a simple pest.
Others stood on either side of Kemir, staring down, their beady lash-less gazes taking him in like he was a prime cut of meat. Tiny clicks rang out and darts shot from round red spots on the sides of their necks. The darts embedded in Kemir’s body.
Stooping down with fury driving my rage, I yanked them out and flung them at the birds. The small weapons bounced off their hides, and they didn’t spare me a glance.
But it was too late for Kemir. The light was already fading from his eyes.
“Go,” he said slowly. “Please. Help me.”
Trembling, I held back my sobs. “I can’t,” I whispered.
If I left him, I might never see him alive again.
“Please, Tanya.”
Nodding, I scraped my teeth along my upper lip. “I’ll be back. Please, hold on. For me.”
He blinked once, which might be his only possible movement, now that the drugs had sunk their claws into his mind.
As I whirled and raced for the tunnel entrance, I could swear I heard him whisper, “I love you.”
Chapter Eight
Kemir
I hated watching my mate leave me.
But it would be worse if she’d stayed.
While the morkets ignored her for now, they’d soon see her as the next meal for their young. I’d assured her they didn’t care what she did, as long as she left me alone, but this had only been a guess on my part. It wasn’t like any of my fellow dragons had lived through a morket encounter long enough to share insight into morket behavior.
Generally, we avoided their nesting areas and posted guards in towers around the perimeter of our valley to watch for attacks. A challenge on our city was not unheard of, though they usually captured the weak. And the unwary.
Like me.
Tanya picked her way across the bone-littered ground and climbed up the hillside, toward the tunnel entrance. She paused at the top and turned to gaze back at me.
I knew the anguish in her eyes meant caring, and seeing the affection on her face gave me strength. I’d find a way to bear this stoically, because I’d hate to see disappointment in my mate’s eyes.
“Go.” I pushed out the word, but only my lips moved a fraction. I couldn’t generate a sound.
But she must’ve known what I meant, because she stood there blinking f
or only a moment, before turning and disappearing quickly into the tunnel.
Dragon speed, my mate. With luck, she’d return with my warriors, before it was too late.
A rustling sounded behind me, plus rhythmic thuds, signaled two birds approaching. With their stubby arms, they picked me up by the stick I remained secured to. They carried me over to the river and held me above the water, chirping high-pitched calls, as if to taunt me.
Did they expect me to scream in terror? I wouldn’t, even if I could lift my voice enough to do it.
They dropped me down, until my back and legs were submerged in water, keeping my tied hands and feet well above the choppy waves, for whatever reason. Cool and refreshing on any other day, the swish of the liquid just made my heart slam with fear.
Pirra fish swarmed my body in a flash, their teeth snapping. Slicing. Making tiny cuts wherever they could reach, until the water around me must be stained bright red.
For some reason, the morkets seemed unwilling to kill me. But that didn’t stop them from wounding me.
Perhaps they wanted me to die naturally, hastened along by the fish. And from pecks on my arms from the other birds gathering around to jeer.
They pulled me out of the water and dumped me back at the base of the biggest nesting spire. Then trudged away, as if their work for the day was done.
My cuts stung. Burned. While I might not be able to move, I could feel. Exquisite pain flooded my senses. Just as my blood flooded the soil beneath me. It trickled down my thighs and dripped onto the ground, flowing downhill, toward the water.
I lay there for what felt like forever, but I knew only a few hours passed. My muscles cramped and spasmed from lack of movement, and my belly growled with hunger.
Unlike on the surface of Earth, days could not be measured here by the rise and fall of the sun. But the lunar bugs rested in approximately twelve hour cycles.
When their beams dimmed overhead, I realized dragon night had fallen.
I tried to sleep, but the throb from my cuts kept me on edge. I had no way of knowing if I was still bleeding, but I pushed aside the thought. There wasn’t anything I could do about it, even if I was.
My throat grew dry, and I’d just about kill for a sip of water.
HUNTED BY A DRAGON: Fated Dragon Series (Book 2 of 3) (DRAGON MATED) Page 5