Page 29 of Wild Bond

My blood went cold. “Was that a dragon?”

Skye quickly sent me images of dragonscales, blood, and what I thought was metal, all things she could scent. From what I gathered, she did smell a dragon, and the metal . . . I had no idea what that meant.

“It’s a dragon,” Rake confirmed, no doubt having gained much the same information from Naasir. “Go back to The Tower,” he commanded. “Naasir and I will go and investigate.” He didn’t even look at me as he spoke, still focused on the source of the sound.

“What? No! I’m coming with you.”

He did look at me then. “That’s an order, Rin.”

“But—” I protested, but he ignored me. Naasir flapped his mighty wings, and they were gone.

Skye was just as irritated at being left behind. We hovered in place for a moment as we watched them go, both fuming.

Then her head turned slightly back toward me. A slitted green eye met mine.

Follow?The single word came in the bond.

I nodded and bent down lower over her back.Follow.

I could have sworn her teeth flashed in a toothy grin before she faced forward and flew after them.

Skye and I caught up with the males just as they were landing in a space of trees near where the sound was originating from. Skye landed beside Naasir and lowered swiftly to the ground so I could slide off her back. Even so, it was quite a way down, and I stumbled a little when my feet hit the soft earth.

A large hand gripped my arm to steady me, and I glanced up to meet Rake’s hard gaze. “I thought I told you to go back.”

“You also said you wanted me to land,” I said. “I’m merely following your first order.”

His scowl returned, and I found myself wanting to reach up and smooth it from his perfect brow, and then maybe run my hands over the scruff on his jaw.

I mentally clamped down on that line of thinking and tried to focus on what we were doing—or more specifically, why we were here. “That dragon sounds distressed. What if Skye or I can help?”

He stared at me for a moment longer, then growled low, “Fine, but stay behind me.”

I nodded and did just that as we approached the clearing in the trees where the sound was coming from. Naasir and Skye were now both in their minor forms, each moving silently through the underbrush at our sides. I could feel Skye’s curiosity, but also her wariness as we reached the edge of the tree line.

My mouth nearly gaped in horror at the sight that met my eyes. A dragon lay in the tall grass at the center of the clearing. Chains covered its body and were connected to thick metal stakes that had been driven into the ground.

The dragon was male, about Skye’s size when she was in her natural form, and probably no more than a few years short of maturity. His brown wings were folded in and pinned to his back. His jaws were muzzled shut and his yellow eyes were rounded and wild with fear. In the dark, I could just make out how the dragon had managed to gnaw through part of the muzzle over his mouth, the metal black and charred in places, no doubt what enabled us to hear his distressed call.

I glanced over at Rake and saw his jaw flex, he was clenching his teeth so hard. The anger at the person responsible was evident in his eyes. I was just as furious, but also shocked.

No one captured or held a dragon against its will.

Ever.

Unless you were in combat or a life-threatening situation, killing or capturing a dragon was an offense punishable by death across all of Palasia, not just in Baldor. They were too valuable, too revered, and not to mention too powerful to disrespect in such a way.

“We have to free him,” I said to Rake, my tone urgent, though I was mindful to keep my voice down in case we were not alone in the woods. Whoever had captured the poor beast might still be nearby, and the young dragon was making plenty of noise as it was.

In the bond I told Skye,Keep an eye out for anything suspicious or anyone approaching.

I felt her acknowledgment. She immediately began to prowl around the edge of the clearing, her manner alert, and her watchful eyes glowing in the night.

I turned back to see Rake staring at the brown dragon before glancing down to Naasir. I knew they were communicating, because a moment later the black dragon grew to his natural size and boldly moved toward the chained dragon.

The much younger male whimpered at Naasir’s approach and seemed to shrink in on himself. His large eyes stared warily up at the larger, dominant dragon from underneath the chains, uncertainty and fear etched in every taut muscle.

I made to step forward, my heart going out to the distressed male, but a strong arm blocked me.

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