“STOP!”
The cry tore through him.
Mallory stumbled forward and put herself between him and the woman. Her face was bruised, her lip was split, and her eyes were bright with unshed tears.
“Jakob, stop, please!” she cried. “Meg is my sister!”
The words hit him like a physical blow.
Sister.
The missing piece slid into place with explanations for the tension in Mallory’s actions, the half-truths, and the fear she’d tried to hide. Now the text messages he had read made more sense. She was trying to protect them both.
Jakob froze mid-step. Dragon rage slammed against the walls of his control, furious at being denied and confused.
He looked at Mallory and the rage twisted into something worse.
Fear.
Because even now, it wasn’t ending here. He didn’t want to make Mallory choose between him and her sister. Fate wasn’t done taking from him.
He turned his head, confusion and fury warring inside his chest. The pause cost him his concentration on the situation.
“Jakob,” Mallory screamed. “Look out!”
He spun around to see one of the wounded raise up a rifle that pointed toward him. The crack of a gunshot split the air.
But the aim was off. Jakob spun back around when Mallory gasped, the sound sharp and broken, and her bodycrumpled. He lunged forward and caught her as her legs gave out.
“Mallory.”
Her gaze dropped to the red blooming across the front of her coat.
“Oh,” she whispered faintly. “That’s… not good.”
“No. No, no, no,” Jakob breathed. His hands shook as he pressed them to her wound. Panic clawed past rage for the first time. “Stay with me. Mallory, look at me.”
Her lashes fluttered, pain etched into every line of her face.
Behind them, Meg was already running and shouting for the remaining Ruecrags to scatter into the mountains. Within seconds, they were gone. Jakob didn’t chase them. He knew that Sven was close so he could deal with catching those who fled.
In the immediate moment, Mallory mattered more than vengeance.
He swore and scanned the terrain. She was losing too much blood and they were too far out. There wasn’t enough time.
“There’s no other choice,” Jakob said, voice tight with urgency. “I have to shift.”
Mallory frowned weakly. “Shift… what?”
He met her gaze and braced for the fear of her rejection.
“Trust me,” he said quietly.
Jakob stepped back and let go.
Bones reshaped. Power surged. Fire ripped through him but not from pain but release. The dragon burst free in a cascade of heat and shadow and his wings unfurled.
Jakob waited for her scream but it never came.
