“Asshole,” she hissed and threw herself forward with all her might.
She took him completely off guard. He stumbled backwards, losing his hold on her wrist.
Alyx started forward again, determined that she'd never, ever allow herself to be captured again—but he easily caught up with her.
“Please,” he gasped when his hand clenched around her shoulder. “Wait! I'm not your enemy!”
“You're a fucking fire dragon! I hate you all!” she spat into his face—a face, she couldn't help but note even now, that was almost otherworldly handsome, with a strong jaw and a sensitive mouth, and warm eyes that were full of worry...
No!
Fire dragon tricks. Fire dragon magic. She'd never again allow herself to fall victim to these things.
“Be silent,” he hissed back, that strange look of worry still on his face. “They'll hear us!”
“I don't care.” She glared at him. “Do your worst, fire dragon. I'm not afraid of you. I'm—”
“Hush,” he said, and a moment later, his hand covered her mouth.
She made a muffled, indignant sound. Then she became aware of the echoing sound of claws on stone somewhere in the distance.
“Don't let her get away,” the stranger holding her shouted. “I saw her! She was heading up, towards the eastern tunnels!”
A distant roar came echoing down the small tunnel that had spit her out earlier. Then she heard the sound of claws again, from somewhere far above—this time the sound was getting softer.
Alyx's heart was beating fast in her chest. The stranger's hand still covered her mouth.
She couldn't think. He'd sent those dragons away. Why?
To save me? No way. He's one of them.
He probably wanted to claim whatever reward there was for her capture without having to share with his friends.
I hope I'm worth at least a handful of gold, she thought as she glared into the stranger's eyes.
There were flames still dancing in them—flames that promised warmth and security. Flames that promised rest.
His arm curved around her body, holding her tight and secure.
How long had it been since a man had held her like this, making her feel completely safe and loved...?
What the hell am I thinking? He's my enemy!
More dragon magic, probably. They'd succeeded in making her hate them. Maybe now they wanted to test if they could make her love them.
Good luck with that, she thought. Then she bit down on her captor's fingers.
“Ouch! What the hell was that for?”
The dragon grimaced, shaking his hand—on which the red imprint of her teeth could now be seen.
Alyx gave him a smug look. Maybe she'd lost, but she wouldn't go down without a fight. She wasn't the meek creature they thought she was.
“What do you think it's for? That's for imprisoning me. For torturing me. For using me as a guinea pig, as a servant, as your lab rat. But you know what? You can't keep your secret forever. Sooner or later, we'll find out that you exist. And you're all high and mighty here in your ugly little caves, but that won't last long when you'll have to face off with an F-15. Maybe you've got magic, but we've got fighter jets.”
The fire dragon was still shaking his hand with a hurt look on his unfairly handsome face.
How weird. He hasn't attacked me yet.