“Ellie,” I whisper, looking down at the baby.
“Yes. If she says Lucky is coming, then it means the dragons aren’t safe and we need to warn them.”
“But they’re dragons,” I whisper. “Won’t they just fight? Can the scientists really do anything to them?”
It might be ignorant, but I honestly don’t know what big, giant dragons are going to be up against when it comes to a bunch of scrawny little scientist nerds. Unless the scientists have a bunch of weapons, the dragons will simply breathe fire on them. Won’t they? Can’t they just demolish them with a single breath?
And that’s when I realize the scientists must have a weapon.
They have a plan.
And they know where Fablestone is.
If the dragons aren’t prepared for whatever it is that’s coming, if they don’t know there’s danger lurking, then they won’t be preparing for an attack. They won’t be ready for an invasion. I don’t know what Lucky has planned, but it’s nothing good.
We can’t waste anymore time. We must go to Fablestone and warn the dragons. We have to find Cameron and tell him what’s happened. I still don’t know this dragon’s name, but I trust him, and I think that’s the most important thing. He’s saved me. He might be big and scary and a little bit overbearing and bossy, but he’s the best shot I have at helping the dragons.
“Now,” he says, and I follow him outside.
“What happens next?” I ask him, and then he shifts. I’ve seen him shift twice already, but I don’t know if this is something I’ll ever get used to. He changes into his dragon form and then the dragon man kneels down before me.
You are mine, a little voice whispers in my head, and my entire body stills. Where the hell did that come from? Why would I think something like that? He’s not mine. He’s not anyone’s. He’s just a man. I’m just a woman.
And we’re just about out of time.
Somehow, I manage to climb onto the man’s back. It’s awkward and strange, and a little bit uncomfortable, but we manage to make it work. Once he’s satisfied that I’m not going to fall off of his back, he leaps into the air and he begins to fly.
The first rays of the dawn light are beginning to show, but I don’t pay attention to any of that. Daisy seems unfazed by what’s happening, and I’m guessing that she’s flown with her shifter parents many times before, but that’s not the case with me.
With me, this feels new and fresh.
With me, I feel like anything can happen.
We soar up and then down. The dragon stays close to the trees, which seems smart. It seems like we’ll be less likely to be seen. He flies in the direction of the stone tower, and then as soon as it comes into sight, he turns, and we’re off in a different direction. He does this several times, this changing of directions. I’m not sure whether it’s to keep someone off of our tail or if there’s another reason, but eventually, I start to lose understanding of which direction is which way.
All I can think about is the hope that I suddenly feel.
Now that we’re actually going to Fablestone, I don’t feel so fucking afraid or anxious anymore. I don’t feel like my entire world is going to end anymore.
No, right now I feel like suddenly, everything is going to be okay because this dragon is going to protect me and Daisy and Mocha and Frappe. He’s going to do whatever is takes to make sure we get there safely. He’s going to keep us alive one way or another, and then he’s going to help me save the dragon clan.
And we’re going to do it together.
Chapter Ten
Cameron
She.
Is.
Our.
Mate.
I’ve never been one to believe in dragon mates. To me, the idea of having a mate has always seemed like some fantastic fairytale that mothers dream up to get their children to sleep at night. Now that I’ve met Peggy, though, I’m starting to wonder if there’s some truth to the stories.
There’s just something about her that calls to me.