to get there. It wasn’t as if she could shift into a dragon and fly beside her dragonman.
~~~
The second they were outside the cottage, Bram’s dragon finally broke free inside his mind and roared. Protect her. Hold her. Don’t let the hunters find her.
I’m trying.
Now, do it now or I’ll make you do it.
STOP. If you take control, you might hurt her.
Never.
“Bram? Are you okay?”
Evie’s voice broke through his thoughts. The split-second distraction allowed him to stash his beast to the back of his mind again. “It’s my dragon. I don’t know how much longer I can keep him back. His usual restraint and logical brain are gone.”
“What can I do to help? Anything?”
He pushed gently against her lower back. “Just keep walking and talking. I’ll have to let him out to shift into my dragon form, so I just need to contain him until we reach the takeoff area.”
“We’re traveling by dragon? How? I somehow doubt you have a saddle or harness I can just strap on and ride you like a giant, flying horse.”
Despite everything going on, he smiled. “Even if I did, I don’t think I’d trust you with the reins.”
She slapped his chest with the back of her hand. “Be serious and tell me.”
His dragon was trying to force his way out again. He grit his teeth and said, “While carrying a dragon-shifter in human-form is rare, it does happen. Especially when a dragonman or woman is injured. We have a large basket with handles to carry them. You’ll step into the basket and I’ll pick you up with my talons once I’m in the air.”
“A basket? You mean like the ones used for a hot air balloon?”
Clever lass. “Yes, it’s very similar. I hope you’re not afraid of heights because this is the fastest way for me to take you to safety.”
Even in the faint light of the moon, he could see her wry look. “Just don’t play tricks and ‘drop me’ so you can catch me again. I’m not a fan of roller coasters, and I may be sick all over your dragonhide.” She frowned. “What color dragon are you, by the way? I’m supposed to mate you, yet I have no idea.”
His inner beast poked out. Let me take over and show her. Words are not enough. I will protect her.
With a growl, he forced his dragon back again and squeezed Evie’s soft sides. Even through her cloak, he could feel the warmth radiating from her body. The touch helped him to focus. “Blue. I reckon you could call it a cerulean blue, which is the best kind.”
Evie’s voice was light. “I don’t know about that. I always fancied the purple ones myself.”
Blue is better. Let me show her.
Stop it. We’re nearly to the takeoff area. Let me explain more to our female so she isn’t afraid of us.
Quickly. There is danger everywhere while we remain here. You may think you can protect her, but a dragon can do it better. I am stronger. This is a fact.
Shut it. “Evie, under normal circumstances, I love when you tease me. But right now, love, I’m close to losing control. Every time you mention how another dragon is better, it drives mine a bit crazier. Until you’re safe, we need to feed his ego. Can you do that?”
She leaned against him and his inner beast’s attempts to break free lessened just a tad. “Then make sure he knows that while it’s a bit selfish of me, I’m glad you’re the one taking me to safety. I know it’s odd considering I only met you the other day, but whenever you’re near, I feel safe.”
The words warmed his heart. “I feel the same way, lass, and once all of this is over, I plan to mate you in front of the entire clan so I never have to let go of you.”
“Bram.”
Squeezing her tightly against his side as they walked, he picked up his pace. It was going to be hard enough to leave her in the morning. He’d best treasure what time he had. After all, he would do whatever it took to rescue wee Murray from the dragon hunters, even if it meant leading a team himself on a raid. There was always a
~~~
The second they were outside the cottage, Bram’s dragon finally broke free inside his mind and roared. Protect her. Hold her. Don’t let the hunters find her.
I’m trying.
Now, do it now or I’ll make you do it.
STOP. If you take control, you might hurt her.
Never.
“Bram? Are you okay?”
Evie’s voice broke through his thoughts. The split-second distraction allowed him to stash his beast to the back of his mind again. “It’s my dragon. I don’t know how much longer I can keep him back. His usual restraint and logical brain are gone.”
“What can I do to help? Anything?”
He pushed gently against her lower back. “Just keep walking and talking. I’ll have to let him out to shift into my dragon form, so I just need to contain him until we reach the takeoff area.”
“We’re traveling by dragon? How? I somehow doubt you have a saddle or harness I can just strap on and ride you like a giant, flying horse.”
Despite everything going on, he smiled. “Even if I did, I don’t think I’d trust you with the reins.”
She slapped his chest with the back of her hand. “Be serious and tell me.”
His dragon was trying to force his way out again. He grit his teeth and said, “While carrying a dragon-shifter in human-form is rare, it does happen. Especially when a dragonman or woman is injured. We have a large basket with handles to carry them. You’ll step into the basket and I’ll pick you up with my talons once I’m in the air.”
“A basket? You mean like the ones used for a hot air balloon?”
Clever lass. “Yes, it’s very similar. I hope you’re not afraid of heights because this is the fastest way for me to take you to safety.”
Even in the faint light of the moon, he could see her wry look. “Just don’t play tricks and ‘drop me’ so you can catch me again. I’m not a fan of roller coasters, and I may be sick all over your dragonhide.” She frowned. “What color dragon are you, by the way? I’m supposed to mate you, yet I have no idea.”
His inner beast poked out. Let me take over and show her. Words are not enough. I will protect her.
With a growl, he forced his dragon back again and squeezed Evie’s soft sides. Even through her cloak, he could feel the warmth radiating from her body. The touch helped him to focus. “Blue. I reckon you could call it a cerulean blue, which is the best kind.”
Evie’s voice was light. “I don’t know about that. I always fancied the purple ones myself.”
Blue is better. Let me show her.
Stop it. We’re nearly to the takeoff area. Let me explain more to our female so she isn’t afraid of us.
Quickly. There is danger everywhere while we remain here. You may think you can protect her, but a dragon can do it better. I am stronger. This is a fact.
Shut it. “Evie, under normal circumstances, I love when you tease me. But right now, love, I’m close to losing control. Every time you mention how another dragon is better, it drives mine a bit crazier. Until you’re safe, we need to feed his ego. Can you do that?”
She leaned against him and his inner beast’s attempts to break free lessened just a tad. “Then make sure he knows that while it’s a bit selfish of me, I’m glad you’re the one taking me to safety. I know it’s odd considering I only met you the other day, but whenever you’re near, I feel safe.”
The words warmed his heart. “I feel the same way, lass, and once all of this is over, I plan to mate you in front of the entire clan so I never have to let go of you.”
“Bram.”
Squeezing her tightly against his side as they walked, he picked up his pace. It was going to be hard enough to leave her in the morning. He’d best treasure what time he had. After all, he would do whatever it took to rescue wee Murray from the dragon hunters, even if it meant leading a team himself on a raid. There was always a
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