Then I clenched my eyes shut and braced myself, ready to swallow the incoming pain.
An aerial shriek pierced the sky, like the air-splitting dive of a peregrine falcon but a hundred times louder. The ground shook as if struck by a meteor, and a powerful gust of air buffeted me. I grunted, clawing the ground to avoid being bowled over by the hurricane-force wind.
When my eyes snapped open, a golden-yellow dragon stood before me—wings unfurled, spines fanned, tail lashing—and amber eyes blazing with righteous fury.
18
Saffron
My heart pounded.My throat felt raw with heat as I panted raggedly, swallowing down the flames that threatened to overflow from my teeth. My claws pushed down on Kaskian, pinning him in place like a lion stepping on a mouse.
Rorik lay by the nearby brush, his powerful body collapsed on the ground. The fresh red blood was stark against his white fur. A cold shudder ran beneath my scales. It wasn’t hard to figure out where it came from, and who the culprit was.
Kaskian squirmed beneath my paw, trying to break free of my furious grasp.
I didn’t care. I was furious.
“What makes you think you can attack my mate?” I snarled.
Rorik was already staring at me, but his eyes flashed at the final word.
Kaskian grunted. “I didn’tattack—”
“Shut the hell up. I see the blood. I know it was you.”
He was damn lucky I hadn’t gone feral. A less restrained dragon wouldn’t have stopped. The only reason I did was because I’d frightened Rorik once before. I wouldn’t do it again.
“Saffron,” Rorik rasped. His eyes rounded as he got to his feet.
He’s fine. He’s okay,I repeated, forcing myself to stay calm.Mostly.
I released Kaskian and rushed to Rorik. My body curled around him in a protective ring, and I licked the wound on his cheek. He blinked in surprise.
“Is it bad? Does it hurt?” I asked, licking him again. When he didn’t respond instantly, I groaned. “Oh, Holy Drake… How many fingers am I holding up?”
Rorik shook himself out of a daze. “Er… No, yes, and none.”
Relief washed over me. If Kaskian had concussed my mate, there would’ve been hell to pay, but Rorik seemed stable enough.
I sighed, pressing my forehead into his thick fur. His sweet scent filled my nostrils. My frayed nerves dissolved into familiar comfort.
“My bear. My mate.”
“Saffron,” Rorik murmured. He sounded genuinely touched. “I…”
“Hello? Can someone get me out of this dump?” Kaskian snapped, looking around angrily.
I didn’t know who he was talking to. The camera crew, maybe?
I raised my head like a cobra to glare at him. “Trust me, you’ll be kicked off the island shortly.”
Kaskian glared back. I hadn’t hurt him physically, but I’d definitely hurt his pride.
Too fucking bad. Mess with a dragon’s mate and you get our wrath.
As if summoned, Jade sauntered out from the woods and snapped his fingers. A gaggle of staff members surrounded Kaskian, escorting him away as he complained all the while.
I noticed that Jade looked particularly annoyed.
