It was slow, at first, a gentle shower. But the intensity picked up quickly, turning into a torrential downpour.
“Brambleby! Stop playing around, let’s go home!”
I stepped out of the woods, approaching the churning river. It was then that a flash of green caught my eye.
There. Out in the middle of the water.
He thrashed against the current, his head barely above water, his wings soaked and sodden.
My tiny dragon was drowning.
And I couldn’t swim.
That didn’t matter, I would save my baby no matter thecost. I didn’t even think—I simply whipped off my cloak and prepared to dive into the water.
If he was going down, I was going down with him.
I braced myself for the biting cold of rushing water.
I crouched to spring.
A band of steely shadows slipped around my waist, stopping me in my tracks.
“No!”
CHAPTER 39
Shade
My wife was going to throw herself into the water.
She was going to take herselfaway from me.
I couldn’t let it happen.
My shadows felt her frantic flight through the woods before I saw her, and of course, I followed.
I would follow her to the ends of the realm, if she asked. And even if she didn’t.
She was so panicked; she didn’t even notice my pursuit. She was chasing a small black cat; one I had the strangest urge to look away from.
My shadows slipped around her body easily. Naturally. Like they belonged on her skin.
I shivered at the sensation.
I held her where she was, not allowing her to recklessly throw herself into the churning water.
She thrashed against the restraint. “No!” she screeched. “Let me go!”
“I’m not going to let you drown yourself in a rushing river, Ginger. What are you doing?”
I stepped out of the shadows of the trees, approaching her. She was flushed and frazzled, rain soaked, but as lovely as ever. Her eyes darted around wildly, and she clawed at her shadowy restraints.
The effort was futile.
“Brambleby,” she huffed.
My stomach twisted. “Your little beast?”
