“It’s okay,” I tell her, even though it’s the biggest fucking lie I’ve ever told.
The lead guard raises his weapon, taking aim, and they open fire.
Drake starts shifting as soon as they do. His body expands, clothes ripping away as he goes into a partial shift. Scales burst across his skin. His muscles grow and stretch, his frame expanding but not quite getting to a full change.
We’re shielded behind him.
His body jerks as the bullets hit him. Most are repelled, but not all. Blood sprays from multiple wounds.
The screeches from above grow louder as a dragon descends at speed, making the operatives scatter. They dive for cover.
I’m unsure whether they are about to attack them or us. It’s clear the humans were not expecting the dragons, which gives me hope.
They’re the same ones I fought at the Vaccination Center. I recognize the one from flight school. Mist and her rider, Becca. I couldn’t bring myself to hurt them too badly, let alone to kill them.
I knocked Mist out; she would have revived soon after we left. I don’t recognize the green dragon. I ripped his wing so he couldn’t fly. Superficial wounds heal quickly. He’s proof of that. They both look like the picture of health.
I showed them mercy, and now we’re going to pay for it.
The dragons land, placing themselves directly between us and the security forces. Dust and debris explode outward from the impact. The ground trembles beneath my feet.
They’re protecting us.
“What is the meaning of this?” one of the combat males shouts, lowering his weapon slightly. His voice is filled with anger. “Why are you here? You’re interfering in a Mainland Security situation.”
“Why did you just open fire on them?” Becca asks. She’s sitting astride her dragon.
“That’s classified.”
“My dragon heard them surrender, and you opened fire anyway,” she calls out, her voice carrying across the clearing. “They are unarmed. Why are you shooting at unarmed Draig citizens?”
“You have no authority here,” the security male snaps. “This is none of your concern. You were told to stand down.”
“We’re not standing down.” Becca’s jaw tightens. She glances back at me, and there’s something in her eyes. She looks confused for a moment. “Grim didn’t fight us like a dragon gone rogue. There’s something going on here. Something that doesn’t add up.”
Drake is still in front of us, still in partial shift. He’s clutching his side, where blood oozes. He has a graze on his arm and another wound on his leg.
The security operatives advance as a collective unit, weapons raised once more.
“Stop right there, and lower your weapons, or our dragons will incinerate you,” the male rider on the green dragon booms.
“No! You stand down,” the combat male in charge barks at the riders. “We have the situation under control. You may leave now… Thank you for your assistance.”
The security forces don’t lower their weapons. They keep advancing, albeit a little slower.
“Move back!” Becca yells. “Right now!”
Mist rears up on her hind legs, her white scales gleaming in the fading light. She opens her jaws and blows a column of fire straight up into the air.
The heat is intense. I feel it even from here. Wren shrinks back against me, trying to make herself smaller.
The security forces stop. Several of them take involuntary steps backward, away from the wall of flame. A couple drop to the ground, screaming.
“There will be a hearing about this,” the lead security male shouts, his voice tight. “You are interfering with an official Mainland Security operation. There will be consequences.”
“You’re right, there will be,” the male rider on the green dragon shouts back. “There will be a hearing about why you opened fire on unarmed people. Why you shot a Council member. You can all leave now. We will bring Grim into custody ourselves.”
A tense silence falls over the clearing. Nobody moves. Nobody breathes.
