“We have to dress you warmly because Sasha says flying can be cold for us. I think her scales keep her warm, but we need to wear extra clothes otherwise, our teeth will chatter.
Max realized he was prattling like a champion, a sure sign of nerves, and he clicked his teeth together and shut his mouth.
“Where is Shasha?”
“Getting ready. She has packed food for us since we’re going to fly to an island and stay there for two days. We’re going on an adventure.”
With Noel dressed in as many clothes as he could tug onto his brother’s wriggly body, Max led him downstairs. He bent to fit a pair of runners on Noel’s feet and picked up his day pack. It was bloody heavy, but Max didn’t complain. They needed this preparation, and it would be best if they kept to themselves as much as possible on the island. He led Noel outside.
Sasha walked stealthily through the shadows and appeared at Max’s side before he realized it was her.
“Two cars, containing sleeping reporters. If we hurry, we can disappear before anyone misses us,” she said.
Max’s stomach did an uncharacteristic swoop. He was nervous, which he hated to admit, but it was expected, right? He’d never seen a dragon—not in person. Heck, before today, he’d considered them a part of myth and legend. His stomach bucked again, and he forced himself to speak. “What do we need to do?”
“Stand back, so I can morph to a dragon. I’d hate to hurt either you or Noel by mistake.”
Max grasped Noel’s hand, and they stepped back against the side of the house.
“Is Shasha turning into a dragon?” Noel asked in a loud voice.
“Shush,” Max said and crouched beside his brother. “We have to be quiet, so we don’t wake the reporters sleeping in their cars. If they get a photo of Sasha, she’ll be in trouble. Okay?”
Noel gave a solemn nod, his gaze on Sasha. Max rose and turned to face Sasha too. Whoa! The woman was naked! For a stunned moment, Max gaped at her shapely body. She was crouching and stuffing her clothes into a cloth bag. When she stood, his eyes widened further. A bronze dragon tattoo covered most of her torso, and as he stared, the tattoo shifted on Sasha’s body and winked at him.
He must’ve made a noise because Sasha grinned and looked straight at him.
“My dragon says she told you we were gorgeous. Are you ready? Once I shift, I want you to climb onto my back and sit near my shoulders, just in front of my wings. Seat Noel before you so you can hold on to him.”
Max nodded, mesmerized by the golden—no, it was more bronze—dragon that was now waving at him and blowing kisses. He shook himself. “Where do you want me to put the bags you need to carry?”
“Leave Noel’s bag near my cloth one.”
Max darted across the lawn to place Noel’s pack with Sasha’s.
“Max, everything will be all right,” Sasha said.
Unable to help himself, he strode across the gap separating them, placed his hands on her shoulders, and gave her a quick but firm kiss. “Youaregorgeous,” he murmured. “Both of you.”
Then he was striding back to Noel and taking his brother’s hand. “Are you ready?” he asked Noel.
His brother grunted, his blue eyes gleaming in the scant light. His round face held eagerness and excitement, and none of the apprehension that clawed at Max’s belly. So many things could go wrong. He was placing a tremendous amount of trust in Sasha… Hell, from the start, he’d trusted her with Noel, and he needed to continue instead of letting fear get the better of him. But even so, there were so many variables at play. The reporters might see them and get photos of Sasha. Heck, pictures of him and Noel with Sasha would give his grandmother more ammunition. Then there was the fact he was leaving the house. His grandmother and her team of lawyers might take umbrage with his absence. And, finally, he didn’t know what to do for the best.
For Noel or himself.
Yep, the variables were doing his head.
Max hadn’t considered how Sasha would shift to her dragon form or what it would look like. He’d read books, seen movies that depicted the process for werewolves. This was not as he imagined. Sasha’s shift was fast and seamless. One moment a strikingly beautiful and naked woman stood before them, and the next, a bronze dragon. It had an immense body covered with bronze scales. A long neck and largish head. Sasha’s eyes were also blue with black slits instead of pupils. Intelligence gleamed from her, and she slowly flitted long eyelashes at him.
She crouched in front of him, her nostrils flaring. A tiny puff of smoke emerged.
Noel darted forward and stroked her hide, unafraid of the gigantic dragon. Shrugging inwardly, Max fitted his pack to his back and lifted Noel onto Sasha’s shoulders. He sat astride between two dangerous, gleaming spikes. Max clambered up behind Noel in an ungainly fashion.
In the next moment, they were off. Somehow, Sasha scooped up the two other bags in her talons. Her wings flapped, lifting them into the air. Noel released a chortle of pleasure. Max was more worried about the reporters seeing them, but all remained quiet as they flew away from the house.
In mere seconds, they were flying over the sea. The wind whipped their hair, and Max wished he’d thought to don gloves. Sasha had been right to warn them about the cold.
Holy Island soon lay beneath them. Scattered lights glowed from houses and buildings. They’d checked a paper map of the area instead of going online and had figured out the best landing place was the middle of the island. It would mean they’d need to walk to get to their accommodation, but given the hour, Max doubted many residents would be driving around to notice them.
