The dragon-shifter recovered quickly.
Now, they werepissed off.
The dragon rounded on me with searing hot white eyes of the hottest fire I had ever seen. They hit me with a backhand across my face and used their wind again to push me off the SUV. I crashed to the ground hard enough to feel my rib crack along with the pavement. A wall of dense air pinned me, pressing so hard against me that I could barely breathe, let alone scream.
Byrd! Hang in there! You are doing?—
Then, the dragon on the SUV ripped open the caved-in doors like it was paper.
My heart stopped.
I heard screams from inside, but I couldn’t decipher whose was whose.
But, they were cut off as I saw the dragon yank out someone with their massive claws.
Cody.
Another dragon, the one that had attacked Maisie, made a beeline for the SUV. They dove in and pulled out one of the others.
Quinn.
And then, they were airborne.
With Quinn and Cody in their clawed feet.
I didn’t know what they wanted with Quinn, Cody, and the other hunters. I was sure it was to protect their enchantment, given the reputation of hunters. If I were being logical and rational, I would understand.
Unfortunately forthem, I wasn’t that.
In fact, I couldn’t give a flying fuck about that.
They had my mate.
My world tilted. The fury boiled over and swallowed me whole, leaving nothing but my dragon.
I screamed—no,roared—so loud that it made the ground quake. The sound was beyond human, maybe even beyond dragon. It was fury and protectiveness all in one explosive bellow. My knees buckled as my power surged through every limb. My body glowed with radiant white light. My magic surged from me and wrapped around me in ribbons of dazzling enchanted crystal—garnet, citrine, jasper, peridot, larimar, sapphire, amethyst, and rose quartz. They spun around me before snapping into place to form a chrysalis. I shifted within, bones growing and reshaping into something massive and powerful. I shredded my human self, completely giving in to the creature that I was becoming. When the chrysalis shattered a few moments later, I was fully transformed.
Crowned with crystal horns and equally sharp spikes of stone going down my spine, my dragon roared. My opal scales gleamed like stained glass in the raining, fractured light of my magic. My tail whipped behind me, a long armored whip ending in a cluster of blade-like gems. In an instant, she was now in control. The four large, blade-sharp dragonfly wings at my back flared open, and I pushed off the ground in one great leap.
I’m coming, Starlight.
The wind sang against my scales as I soared higher after my target. Ahead, the two dragons flew at top speed with Quinn and Cody in their claws. I locked onto the dragon with Quinn. She had stunning golden-feathered wings that were broader than mine, and her form shimmered with a marbling of shades of cerulean blue, cloudy white, and streaks of gold just like the sky. Golden blonde curls ran down her back, which blended well with her feathers. Long platinum silver sharp horns protruded from her head, with her talons matching their color. There was something so familiar about her, but I couldn’t focus on it. Notwhen I could see Quinn struggling in her hold and feel her panic gripping my own throat.
No, I had to focus.
For the umpteenth time in my life, I wished I had powers that could work in the sky like my mother or father had. My mother would have blasted this dragon with her lava-breath, and Pops would have blown her ass out of the air. I loved my crystal powers, but they weren’t particularly useful right now. These dragons had literally swept the floor with my ass on the ground. They could manipulate the air. How was I supposed to fight back? What could I do?
You don’t always have to take things head-on, kiddo,Uncle Everett had said during our flight training after Quinn and I were done sparring.In fact, I think you should be smarter and more tactical than that. You have some fast wings. They are easier to maneuver and even faster than my own. Just like you did with Quinn, use that and your size to your advantage.
I watched the dragon holding Quinn. Her wings were beating double-time, the huge things practically fighting the wind. There was a distinct sway in her flight pattern. She couldn’t maintain her speed. She was struggling.
She’s fast, my dragon analyzed.But, she’s not used to carrying weight, at least not our mate’s.
Perfect.
I pumped my wings, beating faster than air could even catch. I was smaller in size, more nimble. Plus, my dragonfly wings could turn on a whisper. It was nothing to close the gap.
Instead of coming to a stop in front of her, though, I rose above her.
