Page 17 of The Dragon's Distraction

The words came out of me in a flurry of anger as I jumped up out of my chair and ran for the door to the office.

“I know. I’m going there now. Get to the therapists’ lounge, now.”

“No, I have to go to the yard.”

“What, no!”

The warden looked at me like I was mad.

“He’s my mate. Falkon, the dragon. I can calm him down.”

He sized me up for a moment.

“Ok, but stay behind the guards and get to safety if he won’t give himself up. Mate or not, dragons are dangerous.”

I nodded and ran out of the office, the warden behind me. I charged to the yard as fast as I could, shouting at every door to be let through.

This can’t be happening. What is he doing? He wouldn’t do this for no reason.

As I arrived, I heard gunshots firing, and a pained roar. A scream ripped out of me, and I thought I was going to be sick. Everything threatened to overwhelm me. I had to save him. I pulled myself up and pushed through the guards. They tried to grab at me. But I dodged through.

“Falkon!” I screamed as I saw his body down on the ground. His face lifted to me.

“Sunbeam, run.”

“No,” I sobbed as a guard finally grabbed my arm.

“Leave him alone, please.”

“Ma’am, he’s breaking up the prison. We have to stop him.”

I looked down at Falkon and my brain suddenly pushed through the panic, and I knew what was happening. I remembered what he had said and how he had looked at me. He would only do all this if he thought I was in danger somehow. That was what all of this was about.

“No, he’s doing this to save me. I promise, but I’m ok.”

The guard looked confused, and I shoved him away. Falkon was trying to stand again.

“Falkon, I’m here. I’m safe. Whatever it was, you succeeded. I’m ok now.”

I twirled around so he could look at me.

“Sunbeam, you are safe?”

“I’m safe. Stay down on the ground.”

“I don’t think I can get up again, anyway.”

For the first time, I spotted the blood on his side, oozing out of him. A cry ripped from me, and I ran down the steps to him.

“Ma’am?”

“Fuck off,” I screamed.

I reached him and collapsed to my knees, placing kisses all over his face.

“I’m here. We’re here together. Everything is ok now.”

Thuds rang out somewhere in the distance and the guards looked around, confused. A walkie talkie crackled. I moved to Falkon’s wound. It was large and looked deep.

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