Page 19 of Fire Dragon Lover

The car swerved again.

Metal ground on metal in a sickening screech. Her captors cursed and hollered at the driver. The side door was ripped from its hinges by the offending vehicle, and on its release, Gretchen nearly tumbled out of the opening.

She tried to right herself when they swerved again, and she missed the seat and she barely managed to catch the handle above. A scream ripped from her throat.

“Jump, Gretchen!”

She looked behind her, finding Logan’s wide blue eyes. He held out his hand, steadied against his car as they sped alongside the kidnappers. Her insides did a somersault of relief, but they yanked her back inside before she could muster the courage. Gretchen clutched her stomach as they threw her into the seat and blocked off her exit.

Three shots rang out, catching one of them in the shoulder.

Her captors abandoned her for the fight as they returned fire.

Gretchen ducked down behind the passenger’s seat and she shook fiercely as explosive barrages ripped through the air around her. When would it end? The answer came with a jarring kick from the beater as it skidded off the road and into a ravine and effectively sent the contents of the vehicle tumbling, including her.

She screamed with renewed terror as she barely dodged limbs in the chaos.

Something struck the side of her head, sending her vision reeling. So, when the vehicle stopped tumbling, she was still spinning.

There was a groaning crack from above, the burst of shattered glass, then the sky was visible.

Gretchen took in a shuddering breath as dark claws extended towards her. Attached to them was a fearsome dark dragon it’s slitted blue eyes were wide with desperation. She didn’t have the energy to protest after the chaos. All that was left was woozy curiosity as it lifted her from the wreckage and let the smoking mess drop. Powerful wings kept them aloft, well above the street.

The dragon clutched her to its scaled chest before rising higher over the city.

She held fast in surprise and relief and her question was lost in the wind. “Logan?”

Twenty-Nine

Logan

Logan drifted high over the city on proud dark wings, clutching Gretchen to his breastbone. Her heart was beating wildly after the crash, but there didn’t seem to be anything broken.

He didn’t care who saw him like this, any longer.

They’d put his mate in danger, and he’d gladly weather the Draconis Fire’s indignation for this. She wassafe, and that’s all that mattered. On a lazy wind, they drifted until the city was behind them, and the evergreens overtook the horizon.

Twice, he circled, until he dropped into his private clearing, where he landed softly against the earth. Gretchen was so small compared to his secondary form, wide-eyed and speechless. He didn’t blame her. With all the care he could muster, he set her on the green and let the dragon uncoil from his center until he was himself again.

He was afraid to touch her but she looked beaten, flustered, and in desperate need of comfort. “Does anything hurt?”

Gretchen allowed him to check her head. “My head- just a little.”

“Is the baby okay?”

A laugh escaped her, and her precious gaze found his. “I didn’t know you cared.”

Her words injured him but he’d been so preoccupied with keeping her protected over the last few weeks, he didn’t fully grasp how aloof he’d been. Logan stroked her cheek. “Of course, I care.”

She leaned into his caress.

He sighed and wondered how things had gone so wrong between them. “I think you might have a bit of a concussion. Do you think you can walk?”

Gretchen nodded and accepted his help to stand. She steadied herself against him, but there was hesitation in her movements as if she wasn’t sure she could trust him. “Thank you for saving me- us.” She touched her stomach, like a reminder.

“You’re my responsibility. Both of you.”

She looked up at him and that moment seemed to stop time itself.

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