“I have to find Carol!”
“You have to protect the dragon!”
His shoulder ached, but no more than the stabbing pains where Maggie was holding on to him for dear life. He shook his head, strangely woozy. “Someone’s attacking—”
“Yeah, and they just fucking shot you, dick, so take the baby inside!”
He looked down. Blood seeped from his shoulder, slowly, as though it was as reluctant to believe what was happening as he was.
There was a hole in his shoulder.
Only an inch or two from where Maggie was clutching on to him.
They’d almost shot her.
Ataahua shoved him back to the house, and he let her. Telepathic voices pummeled his mind as she slammed the door shut behind them.
*What’s happening?*
He touched his shoulder, winced, and broadcast what Maggie had shown him.*Didn’t see how many. They’re coming up from the beach.*
*The beach? Not the air? Who’s got eyes on them?*
Chloe’s voice came in staccato bursts.*Not birds. They look human. Scale-shielded. I’m going up on the roof to see more.*
*Scale-shielded?*Moss asked.
Ataahua made a frustrated noise. “She means they’re using shadow dragon scales to turn invisible. Come on! The safest place for her will be in the basement.” Luminescence ghosted over her eyes. “The safest place for you, too.”
Because if the kraken came out now, they were all doomed.
Maggie chirped weakly, her pulse fluttering against his neck. Who would attack a child like that?
He and Ataahua ran for the basement stairs. There was a bang, and all the lights cut out. Moss felt Mathis’s frustration like gravel scratching the inside of his head. *Why bother? They’re shielded anyway.It’s not like we can see them LESS.*
Shielded. Using dragon magic. Stolen dragon magic.
They’d been afraid the bird shifter’s people would come after them. This was something different. Wasn’t it?
Lance found them in the foyer, his eyes glowing green. Keeley was right behind him. “You’ve got Maggie. Thank god.”
“Any idea who’s attacking us?”
“Let me get a clear look at them and I’ll tell you.” He motioned to a band on his wrist. “Once I shield, you won’t be able to see me. Keeley, you and Maggie go to the safe room.”
“You think they’ll be safe with that bird woman down there?”
“She’s still sedated—”
A crash. The front door burst open. Nothing came through it. Lance cursed and vanished.
*Two of them. Take Keeley and—*
His words cut off with a jolt. Maggie screamed, and suddenly Moss could see Lance again, and two black-clad figures running towards them, guns raised. He reacted on instinct. Tentacles snapped out of him, grabbing the attackers and throwing them back out the smashed door.
Lance tapped his wristband and stared at him. “What the fuck was that?”
The numbness in Moss’s arm was giving way to a low, throbbing pain that promised to get worse the more attention he paid to it.
