“Crest Wing,” the taller of the two of them says.
“Firested.”
“You’ve left your toy inside,” the other one says.
There’s a cracking of bones next to me. Fuck. Evander shifted through his clothes. And I’m the hothead?
Both the Firested shift. My dragon bursts from me. Skin to scales. My tail smacks a parked car across the road in the process, and it tumbles over into a fucking ditch. The four of us shoot into the sky. Up above the clouds. Evander’s throwing fire at the two of them. He’s leading them away from Raine. Away from the village.
The two Firested are focused on Evander, their red wings flapping in the air.
Get Raine. I’ve got this. Evander’s tail smacks the darker red one across his face, and the Firested tumbles across the sky before surging back up into the air.
I flip around and dive to the earth. I pick up Raine’s scent coming from the back of the bar. Three figures run down the block.
I shift before my talons hit the road. “Raine,” I yell and take off after them.
Raine skids to a stop. The wolf guard drags her a few inches before she realizes it’s me. I’m sure I’m a sight. Smoke trails out of my nose. My dragon’s still at the surface of my skin. It itches so much it burns. The mark on my right arm tingles.
“Stop,” Raine says. The wolf lets her go, and Raine runs to me. “Are you okay? Are you?” Her little hand lands on my arm. Peace zips through to my bones.
“Yes.”
“Where’s Evander?”
“He’s taking care of things. Let’s get you home.”
Raine looks back at her sister.
“Wren can come too,” I say. “The bodyguards can pack your things.”
“No one’s touching my things,” Wren says.
“I . . . It’s Wren’s birthday. I . . .”
Fuck me. I’m the one who told Evander we have to give her space. “It’s?—”
“I’m fine, Raine,” says Wren. “I’ll get our things and meet you at the castle later. I’ve already had a wonderful birthday with you.”
“You’re sure?” Raine asks her sister.
“It was memorable for sure. Yeah, you and your naked boss...” Wren turns to me. “Wait, how are you taking my sister back to the castle?”
I can’t help but smirk. “Car.”
“Well, put some clothes on or you’re going to stick to the seats.” Wren smiles.
“It’s safe to go back to the bar?” Raine asks.
“Yes, Duchess, it’s safe,” I say.
Raine takes my hand and leads us back to the bar. But instead of going in, she heads to a small cinderblock shed in the back. “Mary, it’s safe.”
The door opens slowly. “Bloody hell. That’s the most scared I’ve been in my life. I thought I was going to be burnt to a crisp and lose my pub too,” an older woman says. “You.” She points a finger at me.
“We will pay for all damages and loss of business tonight.” It doesn’t take much to connect the empty parking lot to the fact that Evander and I were coming to pick up Raine.
“Yes, you will.” She holds out a hand, and Raine helps her over a set of croquet mallets.
