“Yeah, and he’s about to clear the area,” Lucien said. They watched as Brandt and the others of their clan in animal form, ran toward them, herding the few animals that were in their confusion running toward the water rather than away from it.
The shifters who were poachers and still standing — of which there weren’t many — froze where they were, looking up at the Dragon flying overhead.
Remi turned suddenly, dipping low, right on the treetops, and opened his mouth to breathe out a stream of fire that incinerated everything it touched. Remi circled back and made another pass, breathing another line of fire to be sure that everyone in his path was gone, or at least was burning, then he soared out over the swamp in pursuit of the boat carrying the three who’d gotten away. The sound of Remi’s fire roaring its way to its target four or five minutes later, followed by the sound of an explosion — presumably the boat itself — let them know, it was done.
Brandt, having shifted back to his human self, stood not too far away, his eyes on the sky.
Kaid’s Bear ambled back toward them with Bam not too far behind. Both shifted to their human selves and came to a stop beside everyone else. “The animals are headed in the right direction, at least,” Kaid said.
A naked, bloody Fox shifter walked toward them, his skin scorched, ashes clinging to his extremities as he made his way through what was left.
“Looks like he cleaned it all up,” Shaun said.
“Are you nuts, boy?” Maverik demanded, stomping through the ash and still burning bushes toward the group of them.
Shaun turned to see who Maverik was speaking to.
“Yeah, he’s talking to you!” Havoc snapped, keeping pace with his father.
“You, yeah, you! Shaun! When you’re told a Dragon is going to burn the fucking area, everybody that ran, and all the bodies, you don’t stay there or you’ll be one of the bodies!” Maverik yelled incredulously.
Brandt shook his head. “I didn’t think I needed to clarify that Dragons’ Fire will kill.”
Shaun grinned, his skin reddened from the heat and smudged with ash. “I ran. I just went back in right away to seeif I needed to kill anybody else. And why are y’all yelling at me anyway? You two didn’t even leave. I saw you hunker down to ride it out. I even thought, should I drag their ass out, or just tell Hellen they died on purpose?”
“It ain’t gonna kill us. We’re all immune to Dragons’ Fire,” Havoc snapped, like it was common knowledge.
Shaun’s smile dropped and his head canted. “Wait, what? How’s that?”
“We drank Daniel’s blood years ago. The kids drank it as kids — and didn’t even know we gave it to them for a long time. Dragons’ Fire won’t hurt us. You? You can die from it,” Kaid said.
Shaun didn’t waste a minute. He turned to Brandt. “How do I get some Dragons’ blood?”
“Won’t be from Remi,” Havoc mumbled.
“Nobody thought that it might be a good idea to protect the two newbies, here?” Lucien demanded.
“I’m not even as new as you and nobody told me!” Shaun said.
“We figured you both had the sense to stay clear today. Can we argue about this later? We need to go through the area and make sure there are no more traps set for the wildlife. Destroy what we do find, and then get the hell out of here,” Brandt said.
“Yeah, my people sent me about three miles north, but they were still near the general vicinity. It’s only a matter of time before somebody calls in a fire and they come.”
“Let’s make it quick, then have Remi set another fire, this one meant to last, not just scorch and go out. The smoke will call somebody to the area, you’ll be searching where they sent you originally, and they’ll find nothing but ashes here,” Kaid said.
Lucien nodded and walked away from Hellen without a word.
“Hey, where are you going?” Hellen asked.
“Check the water. Make sure there are no traps there for the gators and beavers and such.”
“I’ll help,” she said, starting in his direction.
He shook his head. “Don’t. I got it. You’re not aquatic.” He just walked away without a look back.
“What’s his problem?” Hellen grouched.
“You fucked up, Hell. Independence is one thing, but you don’t keep shit from your clan, and you especially don’t do that shit to your mate,” Brandt said, giving her a disappointed look before turning his back and following the others in the opposite direction to search for traps.
