On the Accidental Wings of Dragons (Dragons of Eternity Book 1) by Julie Wetzel Page A

caught. Maybe he could get out of the cabin while the man wasn’t looking. Then he would find his way to Daniel. Daniel would know what to do.
    “It will take the birds several hours to reach your brother,” the man’s voice said.
    Michael suppressed the hiss rising in his throat. He did not like this musky man.
    “Why don’t you sit down and have something to eat? The stew should be about done.” The man crossed to the hearth, where a pot hung over the fire.
    Now would be a great time to bolt for the door. It was open, but he couldn’t tell who the man was talking to.
    “Sure,” a woman’s voice answered.
    Michael froze. He knew that voice. She was important. One of the chairs at the table scraped out. A scent hit him as she sat down. Mine! He crept out so he could see her. Carissa. Memories slammed into him. She was hurt. She was missing a scale. He had to protect her. She was sitting in a room with a man that may have turned him into a dragon! All sense ran out of him as instinct kicked in.
    Michael launched himself out from under the bed and scrambled up the side of the chair and onto the table. Dragon claws rocked for climbing. He placed himself between Carissa and the man, fanned out his wings, and hissed at the danger in the room. He would protect her with his life!
     
    ***
     
    “Why don’t you sit down and have something to eat?” Darien said as he stepped through the door. “The stew should be about done.” He crossed over to check on the bubbling pot.
    That was the best idea of the evening. Now that messages had been sent to all the possible places her brother could be, Carissa could relax. And why hadn’t Darien joined the twenty-first century? Was a phone too much to ask? How about a normal stove, at least?
    “Sure,” Carissa answered. Tucking up her borrowed robes, she pulled out a chair and sat down. Maybe she should check on Michael before she ate. The poor man was not having a very good day. The sound of claws on wood grabbed her attention just before a flash of white blocked her vision.
    Carissa and Darien both froze. Five pounds of angry dragon quivered on the table between them, hissing at Darien. At least Michael was awake and moving.
    Slowly, Darien stood up from the pot and looked at the dragon, checking out his posturing.
    The tips on Michael’s wings rustled in warning.
    Darien smiled at Carissa. “Definitely brooding.” He lowered his face until he was eye-level with Michael. “Listen, little one, I’m older and bigger than you, so calm down.”
    Carissa rolled her eyes as Michael hissed again. “Stop antagonizing him.” She slipped her hands up under Michael’s wings to hold him back. His muscles were all bunched up, ready to attack. “It’s all right, Michael,” she said, trying to soothe him.
    The little dragon’s tail thrashed back and forth as he stared Darien down.
    If she didn’t do something fast, he was going to launch himself at Darien. Oh, that would make a fine mess of this already-fine mess. The end of his tail thwapped into her arm, and she grabbed it up. She stuck the fringy end in her mouth and chomped down.
    Michael jerked in a silent yelp and twisted to glare at her.
    Oh, that got his attention. “Michael!” Carissa snapped. “Down, now!”
    The little dragon froze.
    She hated ordering him around like that, but he was out of control. His crystal-blue eyes were more feral than anything. Had she made a mistake not killing him while he was asleep? Please let him be all right. “Please calm down. Everything’s fine. You’re safe.” She watched the wheels turn in Michael’s head. Please, oh please let him be in there.
    A snarl curled Michael’s lip as he turned back to look at Darien.
    “That’s Darien. He’s here to help.”
    Michael tuned back to look at her again. His mind still processed her words, but he tucked his wings down.
    Well, that was at least a start.
    “It looks like he may retain at least part of his mind,” Darien commented.