Page 15 of Shifter Mate Magic
“But if he gets to Kotoyeesinay, we can’t touch him.” That was the loud man.
“We’ll petition the town council. He’s gotta pay,” the woman growled. “Don’t cross the border or hurt him on glade lands, or they’ll hurt us worse.”
The truck crested a hill, then began a steep descent. Trevor downshifted to keep the truck under control.
“Is it, uh, against the shifter code to tell me what’s going on?”
“No, but I have no idea why they’re chasing me.” Trees rose up around them as the road curved into what looked like a forested valley. It looked inviting and forbidding at the same time. “I didn’t do anything else to the two that jumped you like I wanted to.”
The woman’s voice came back on. “Watch out for that Jeep with the turret. Morgan got a whiff of lynx when they passed us. None of ’em can drive for shit.”
“The Charger just blew past us. About five more just made the turnoff.”
“If they’re after our bear,” growled the woman, “they’ll have to stand in line.”
A powerful wave of magic flowed over the truck and through Trevor. Reality wavered, and suddenly, he felt like he’d walked into a tuxedo affair buck naked, with everyone giving him the once over. The real world snapped back in time for him to hear Jackie gasp and curse. He’d forgotten to warn her about the border effect. He’d also forgotten to tell her his aunt’s instructions.
“Jackie, we have to ask for sanctuary.” He downshifted again, then spoke loud and clear. “I am Trevor Hammond, and I ask the Kotoyeesinay glade for sanctuary.”
She cleared her throat. “I am Jacqueline Breton, and I ask the Kotoyeesinay glade for sanctuary for me and my unborn daughter. And for Trevor.”
He couldn’t tell if their words had an effect. The road narrowed around a hairpin turn that took them around a thirty-foot-high boulder.
“Uhm, I think that rock just waved at you.” She sounded dubious.
“Could be. A couple of the rock giants take shifts as sentinels.” Another hairpin turn, this time in the opposite direction. He remembered this part of the road because it seemed to defy real-world geometry. He’d found it best not to think about it, and just go with the flow.
They passed through a time-weathered formation that looked like a rough-hewn gouge in the mountainside. Suddenly, they were in a valley that spread down and out before them like a sculpted ocean of boulders surrounded by green and purple wildflowers. The town of Kotoyeesinay nestled in among tall trees in the far end, looking cozy and sleepy in the afternoon sun.
“That’s amazing,” breathed Jackie.
Trevor eased up on the accelerator. “We should be safe—”
The truck jerked like a bucking bronco. He tightened his grip on the twisting steering wheel and fought to stay on the road. Another jerk, this time with the sound of tearing metal.
Jackie peered into her big side mirror. “Fucking hell! It’s Roehm’s Jeep. They just harpooned my motorcycle and pulled it off the back of your truck.”
Trevor punched the accelerator. The engine roared in response, and the scenery almost blurred. In front of them, the road seemed to widen and lengthen, as if to give him room for a race.
“Those morons just ran over…” She rolled down the window and twisted in her seat to look back, then turned to look at him. “Er, I think a dragon just scooped up the Jeep like an eagle taking a rabbit.” She shook her head. “If I’m not hallucinating.”
“You aren’t.” He let the truck slow as he pointed up ahead, where the motorcycle dangled from the Jeep clutched in the bronze-colored dragon’s talons. “The glade takes security very seriously.”
He slowed to an even more sedate pace as several more metallic-hued dragons rose and flew over them. He expected the others from Roehm’s gang were about to get a similar welcome.
“I hope dragons are bulletproof. Roehm likes to shoot things.”
The road curved and inclined gently to the northwest, toward the town. “He’s a real piece of work, isn’t he?” Trevor stole several quick glances at Jackie’s profile as she stared straight ahead, toward the decorated wrought-iron arch over the road that spelled out the name of the town in ornate letters. She looked scared and worried. “You’re not alone. I’ll be with you the whole time.” He poured every ounce of resolve he possessed into his words. No matter what happened, his place was by her side.
She glanced at him, startled, then shook her head. “It’s still weird that you know what I’m thinking.” She smiled briefly. “But I like it.”
Once past the welcoming arch, he slowed to the speed limit as Glade Road became the town’s main thoroughfare. “No point in going to Shepherd’s garage now, I guess. How about we head straight for Town Hall?” He pointed toward the three-story building that rose above the town’s roofline.
“Yes. Let’s get this over with.” She blew out a noisy breath. “I don’t want anyone else hurt because of me.”
Trevor ached to hold her, to tell her what she meant to him, but he didn’t think she’d believe him. They might be temporarily safe from their immediate pursuers, but they weren’t even close to being out of the woods. And in a golden elf glade, the woods could be deadly.
Well, so could he. He’d promised her not to do something stupid and get himself killed, but he damn sure intended to protect her with everything he had, because she was everything to him.
