by Ruby Dixon
“What? No!” She looks startled. “But it’s my fault he’s here, so I feel responsible.”
“We can’t save him,” I tell Emma with a shake of my head. “If we let him loose, he’s going to attack everyone and everything. Dragons are dangerous—”
“You think I don’t know that? My family died because of dragons! Well, except for my dipshit brother.” She puts a hand to her forehead and makes a sound of distress. “Okay. How do I save him? How do I make him not crazy?”
I stare at her. “Emma…there’s only one way to make a dragon un-crazy. You know how.”
Her face turns bright red. “You know what? Scratch that. We’ll figure something else out for Zohr. Right now we just need to get you out of here. One thing at a time.”
“Okay,” I breathe. “Tell me what to do.” In the distance, I can hear the dragons roaring, and I smell smoke and fire. Be safe, Dakh.
His thoughts are nothing but a jumble of flame and anger.
Emma paces, hugging her arms to her chest. She thinks for a moment and then races back to my side. “Here’s what we do. I’ll lie on the floor and pretend to be unconscious, and you can scream for the guards. When they come in and check on me, try to take the gun from at least one of them and we’ll wing it from there.”
“What if they both come in at the same time?”
She wrings her hands. “I don’t know! We’ll figure it out. Do you have a better idea?”
“I can barely think straight,” I tell her. I’m still groggy from the drugs.
“I wish we could flip it and have you on the floor, but they won’t care if you’re still unconscious.” She twists her hands again and then gives her body a nervous shake. “Let’s just do something before we second-guess ourselves into being found out. Hurry. They still think I’m checking in on you.” She moves to the floor and lies face down, then gives me a thumbs up.
“Okay,” I whisper. I can do this. I can do this. Call the guards in. Steal a weapon. Figure shit out from there. No problem. I head to the door and pause.
“Hurry,” Emma whispers. “We can’t let Dakh land or he’s screwed.”
God. She’s right. I can’t keep wasting time. I suspect that Dakh’s sanity hangs by a thread, and the longer I stall, the more I risk his life. I send a surge of affection to him. I love you, I tell him. Just in case this all goes south.
My fire, he replies, sending back his own fierce surge of love.
All right. No more fucking around. I glance over at Emma one more time and then give a little scream. I bang on the door. “Help!”
I can hear the guards moving on the other side. “What do you want?” one calls through the door.
Uh, this isn’t working like I planned. “The girl that came to bring me food…she’s dead!”
“Dead?” Emma whispers. “The fuck?”
“I don’t know,” I hiss back. “Shut up!”
“Dead?” The guard calls through the door.
“Yeah,” I call nervously. “She handed me my food and then just fell over. I think she OD’d on something.” Actually, that sounds pretty good to me. Lots of people OD on cheap-ass drugs as an escape from fort life.
“Goddamn it,” I hear a guard mutter, and then the sound of the lock in the door turning.
This is it. I hover, worried, as the door swings open. I take a step back as a short, stocky man covered in tattoos pushes his way inside. He’s got an assault rifle in his hands and gives me a dirty look as he steps past me to stand near Emma, who’s doing a great job looking dead. She’s facedown on the floor, and I can’t even see her breathing.
A second later, the second guard starts to come in through the door, and I panic. If both of them come inside, we’re screwed. I don’t know what to do. As I see the gun barrel of the second guard move through the doorway and his hands on it, I take a risk.
I fling my weight against the door, slamming it shut.
The guard bellows in pain, and I can hear the crunch of bones as his hand gets caught in the doorjamb. The gun clatters to the floor, and I snatch it up, scrambling back a few feet.
The other guard whips around, gun in hand, and we have a standoff. I’m pointing my gun at him, and he’s pointing his gun at me. My eyes are wide and I’m full of panic, but I can do this. They need me alive. “Drop your weapon,” I tell him, my voice trembling.
“Fuck that,” he tells me, incredulous. “You drop your weapon!”
“Umm, no.” I keep my hands on it, and my finger itches near the trigger. “I’ll shoot you if I have to. Azar’s not going to care if you’re alive, but he’s sure going to be pissed if you kill me, because that tanks his plans.”
He continues to stare at me, but he’s not moving. I can see hesitation on his face.
At his side, Emma gets to her feet and puts her hands in the air. When I give her a confused look, she winks at me. “Please don’t shoot,” she begs, sounding pathetic. She turns to the guard. “She made me work with her! She said she was going to have her dragon eat me if I didn’t do what she said.”
Need some fire and scary dragon action right about now, babe, I call out.
The building shakes with a blood-curdling roar, and fire crackles along the windows. Oh, wow, he’s really close. Time to use that. “I’m going to have him kill all of you if you don’t listen up,” I say firmly. “Drop. Your. Weapon.” I point my gun at the man in the hall, who’s cradling his busted wrist, and gesture. “You. Join them.”
He moves over to the others.
The guard with the gun hesitates and then lowers the muzzle.
“You,” I say to Emma. “Bring that to me.”
She grabs it out of the guard’s hands and moves to my side, handing it over.
“Both of you, into the bathroom,” I say, nodding at the small room off to the side. “Go.” I glance over at Emma. “You’re going to be my hostage.”
“Please don’t take me,” she begs, sounding tearful enough that I almost second-guess myself.
“Go lock them in,” I command her. Heck, I sound pretty boss even to my own ears.
She jumps to do my bidding and locks the two men into the bathroom, securing the door behind her. The moment she turns around, she gives me a silent thumbs up, mouthing “Yessss!” She races to my side, and I hand her the second gun, and then we head out of the room. Emma pauses to lock the hotel room door, latching it on this side. “That should slow them down for a few. That was awesome, Sasha. Good job!”
“Let’s not celebrate yet,” I tell her warily. “How do we get to the roof?”
“This way,” she tells me, pointing down the hall.
We race to the stairwell, and outside it sounds like chaos. I can hear the crackle of flame, can hear the sound of guns firing and things crashing to the ground. Dakh roars over and over again, and I can hear another roar in the distance.
“Hurry,” Emma pants as we race up two flights of stairs, and then I pause, breathing heavy. I’m still dragging from the stuff they gave me to knock me out, and hauling up the stairs feels like trying to run through water. But I nod at her and plod forward. I’m close to Dakh. Close to my love.
I am waiting for you, he tells me. His thoughts are triumphant, a mixture of rage and anger and joy. Come to me!
On my way, I tell him, clinging to the railing as I try to make my legs move faster. Don’t leave me!
Never. Never never. I will burn this world to the ground before I would let you go.
Is it weird that such a violent statement makes me want to weep with joy? Because it does. I can’t wait to see him and then this awful nightmare will be over. I drag myself up another few steps, panting.
You are close, he soothes me. You can do this. I wait for you.
“Here! We’re at the top!” Emma cries as she heads up the next landing. “Come on!”
Finally. I’ve never missed elevators so much. I use every last bit of my strength and push forward while she waves me on.
When I make it to the
landing next to her, she grabs the door handle. It clicks. “Oh no,” she breathes, and then jerks on the handle again. “It’s fucking locked! They locked it! No!” She bangs on the door, frustrated. “We’re so close!”
Bullshit it’s locked. I’m not about to let a door stop me from getting to my dragon. “Step back,” I tell her, lifting my gun.
“No, Sasha, don’t! It’ll ricochet—”
“You got a better idea?” I ask her.
Her eyes widen, and she stares at me, then races down a few steps. “I’m taking cover!”
“You do that.” I wait for her to get a safe distance away, then close my eyes and pray I don’t make a huge mistake. I open them again, find the trigger, and let loose.
It’s like the bullets leap from the gun. It fires off several rounds before I even realize it, and they slam into the metal, gouging holes where the door handle used to be. I drop the gun and then grab the door handle, pulling on it. Something snaps, and then it creaks open.
Wind rushes inside, along with cool night air.
We’ve made it to the roof. “Come on,” I call to Emma.
“Coming,” she yells back, and joins me at my side a moment later. She grabs my hand, and we race out onto the roof together.
49
SASHA
I gaze out at the night. Flames seem to be dancing everywhere, the skies lit up as the buildings nearby burn. Somewhere in the distance, a gun fires with a rat-tat-tat-tat, but it sounds distant. There’s no sign of Azar or his people. Either they’re still waiting for their trap or they’re retreating. I hope it’s the latter.
I come, my dragon tells me, and I tilt my head back, gazing up.
A moment later, the wind whips my hair about my face as enormous wings beat heavily, and Dakh lands on the roof beside me.
“Dakh!” I cry out, racing to his side. I put my hands on his muzzle and press my cheek to his snout. “Oh my God, I love you so much. You’re not hurt, are you, baby?”
No. Quickly, get on your saddle, he tells me. I want to get you out of here.
I look at his back, and sure enough, my saddle’s there. “How did you—”
“Boyd,” Emma calls out in a warning note. She freezes at my side, and her hands go in the air. “Don’t.”
I turn, and there’s a man on the roof. He’s young, with a baseball cap on his head and a scraggly beard. He’s come out behind me and Emma, and stands in the doorway of the stairwell, blocking any way back. He’s got a gun in his hands, and it’s trained not on me, not on Dakh…but on Emma.
“What the fuck are you doing, sis?” he yells out.
“Boyd, just put the gun down, okay?” she replies.
“You fucking humping on a dragon just like this slut?” He gestures at me with the gun, then trains it back on Emma.
Dakh growls. He threatens your friend. Shall I eat him?
I cling to Dakh’s nose. Don’t move. I don’t want him to shoot her. We need to wait until he’s distracted and steal his gun. I can’t let him hurt her. “Emma, come stand by me,” I tell her softly.
“No, Emma, don’t you fucking move,” Boyd calls out. “Or I’m going to fill your head full of holes.”
“Boyd, please,” Emma says desperately. “I’m your sister.”
“You’re a fucking traitor. I should have guessed.” He shakes his head. “Working against your own kind. My own sister. Who would have thought? It’s unreal. I’ll be doing the world a favor by shooting you.”
“Please don’t.” Emma doesn’t move.
Behind Boyd, a shadow rises. I stare in shock as another dragon glides through the sky, zooming in on the roof. A moment later, it swoops in, diving.
“Boyd!” Emma cries out, and then flings herself to the ground.
I turn and push against Dakh’s body, and his claws go around me protectively. I squeeze my eyes shut.
Snap. Crunch. There’s a wet sound and then the flap of draconic wings.
A moment later, there’s an exasperated feminine sigh. “Dammit, Kael, I am not kissing you if you’re gonna go around eating everyone. What the fuck, baby.”
That’s…Claudia.
I open my eyes in surprise. For some reason, I’d thought the dragon on the roof was the stranger Emma mentioned—Zohr—but in the darkness I can just barely make out a small female form seated between the dragon’s majestic shoulders. It’s Claudia. My friend. “Oh my God,” I whisper.
Dakh nuzzles my hair. I brought company. When I could not touch your mind because he made you sleep, I went to them. They wanted to help. I do not think this bad Salorian—this Azar—expected two dragons to show up. We have ruined all his plans. His thoughts are smug. Now climb on my back and let us get out of here.
Wait, I have to see to Emma.
I step away from my dragon and move to Emma’s side. Nearby, Kael lets out a burst of flame that might be the draconic equivalent of a belch. “Are you okay, Emma?” I crouch next to her, touching her shoulder.
“I’m okay,” she says in a dull voice.
“I’m so sorry about your brother—”
“Don’t be. He was an asshole.” She shakes her head and gets to her feet. “Boyd’s always been a shitty person. I guess I’m just shocked he would have shot me.” She rubs a hand across her forehead. “I should have expected it. And tell your friend thank you for saving our lives.” She looks over at Kael and Claudia.
“That’s what friends are for,” Claudia calls out.
I feel a surge of affection for my friend. Dakh, can you tell Kael to tell Claudia that I’m not mad at her anymore?
She knows, he assures me. There will be time to talk about it later. For now, we must get you and your friend out of here. Kael says Azar’s men are waiting and will be arriving with fire spitters soon.
“We need to get a move on, Emma,” I tell her quickly. “More guys are coming with guns. You can ride behind me, and—”
“I can’t go,” Emma says softly. “Not if Zohr’s stuck here.”
He is guarded heavily, Dakh tells me. We will risk much if we try to save him, and even so, he will attack us if we free him. His mind is nothing but chaos. I try to reach out to him and he does not understand. He is still lost.
“Dakh says our lives will be in danger if we try to free him,” I tell her. “He’ll attack me and Claudia, and the dragons don’t want to risk it.”
She nods, her eyes sad. “I know. But I can’t leave him knowing that it’s my fault he’s stuck here.”
“Emma…”
“I know. It’s okay. I want you to leave me behind.” Her smile is brave. “I just wanted to rescue you. And once Zohr is free, I’ll get away from these losers myself. Until then, I need to stay.” She gives me a quick hug and then turns her back to me and points at the back of her head. “I need you to knock me out. Give my hostage story some credibility.”
“Are you sure?” I hesitate. I don’t want to leave her here, not if it means her life is in danger.
“I’m sure.” She gestures at her head again. “Be quick.”
I grab a nearby rock the size of my fist. There’s a huge knot in my throat. “This feels wrong, Emma.”
She gives a little teary laugh and sniffs. “What about this world has been right since the Rift happened? I’ll be okay.”
Hurry, my mate, Dakh urges. I can hear humans coming with their fire spitters.
I give Emma another impulsive hug from behind. “You’re the best of friends,” I tell her quickly. “And if you need help, you tell me and I’ll come for you. I promise.”
“I know,” she says softly.
“I’m sorry in advance,” I tell her, and then slam the rock into the back of her head.
She goes down instantly, crumpling to the ground, and for a panicked moment, I worry I’ve hit her too hard.
She breathes, Dakh tells me. Quickly, now. Climb on my back.
I throw the stone down and race to my dragon’s side. Within moments, I’m yanking on straps and fastening
Velcro. I have three straps left when Dakh’s muscles bunch underneath me. We are going, he tells me.
I’m not ready!
The fire spitters have arrived, he tells me, even as we launch into the air. Nearby, Kael lets out a thunderous roar and angles his body away, protecting Claudia as gunfire opens up. I cling to the handlebars and hunch low. Emma! Is she okay?
They will not harm her, he assures me. They shoot for you and for me. I should flame them all. His thoughts are filled with frustrated anger. But I will not fly close enough for them to get a chance to shoot you. We will go. Our revenge will come another day.
“All right,” I say softly, glancing down at the world below as we fly higher and higher into the air. It’s so dark that I can’t see Emma, and I hope desperately that she’s okay.
She made her choice, but it doesn’t mean I’m okay with it.
50
DAKH
There is no joy quite like the fierce pleasure of Sasha’s small weight on my back. She dozes in the saddle, slumped over the handlebars, and I hunch my shoulders higher protectively so she will not fall if her straps fail her.
Your mate is well? Kael asks. She suffered no injuries?
She is healthy. I thank you and your mate for your help.
I would have had to tie my mate down to prevent her from coming after yours once she heard she was taken. Kael’s thoughts are full of dark amusement and then grow sober. I do not like the thought of this…Azar. I remember Salorians, but only vaguely, and the memories I have are…not pleasant.
Neither are mine. But he cannot control us here. Do not touch your mind to his and you will remain free of him.
And if there are others?
Then we will deal with them. For now, I am going to focus on my mate and take her home.
Agreed. It is a problem for another day. He changes the angle of his wings in the sky, veering toward his nest. Do you wish to bring your mate to our nest for the evening? It is much closer.
I want her home and in our bed. She will want to visit your mate soon, I suspect, to talk.