“Quiet.I’d hate to attract attention.”
Idiot.Surely someone had heard the gunshots.
“I have Keith.We are talking to the ship people,”Tawera said without warning.“They heard the gunfire and were making a plan.One of them peeked in the window and saw the man with the gun.”
“All right.Tell them it is my ex-boyfriend, and he’s known for his violence.He won’t hesitate to shoot if they get too close.”
Tawera fell silent, and Nyree presumed he was communicating the knowledge to the ship’s crew.
“Outside,” Ari gestured with the gun again.“Now.”
“We’re coming out,”she told Tawera.
“The security man has gone to get weapons.They thought it was a simple search and rescue, that Ari had become lost or had fallen.”
“Stand out of Ari’s sight.He’s likely to shoot you if he gets the chance.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“He wants me to fly him across the island,”Nyree said.“He seems to think I will take him without protest, but he hasn’t thought through the practicalities.”
“You could flame or drop him.”
“Exactly.”
“That’s what you should do.Walk with this Ari to a private area where the others don’t see you shift.Somewhere near the church.I can shift now.You told me the bullets would not pierce dragon scales.”
“Not easily.”
Ari nudged her in the ribs with his gun.“Why are you dithering?Move.”
Nyree sighed.“And go where?”
“Walk away from the settlement and turn into a dragon.”
Nyree bit back her protest and cursed at herself.This was all her fault.Through her stupidity in hooking up with Ari, she’d placed her family and friends in danger.Ari had discovered her secret and told others.He had proof, yet he’d bided his time.He’d made one mistake, though.Once she left the settlement, she could use her full dragon strength against him.At first, she’d panicked and reverted to normal behavior—pretending to be a weak human.He still thought he could best her with his physical strength.
Wrong.
She’d get him away from the others, and once he presented no danger to anyone else, she’d go all dragon on his arse.If she couldn’t beat him on the ground, she’d drop him on his head while flying over the mountains.She’d make sure he fell in a crevice where no one would ever discover his body.
“We’re outside now,”she told Tawera.“Make sure everyone knows he’s carrying a loaded weapon.He’s not afraid to shoot.”
Nyree pushed open the door and stepped outside.She spotted three men, but they took cover when Ari stepped out behind her, his gun visible.
“One of the security men is ex-army.He thinks he can shoot Ari from long range.They have a special gun that does this.Can you put distance between you and this man?They’re afraid of hitting you in error.”
“They’re going to shoot?”
“The security team said he caused trouble during the trip from South America.He apologized and told them he was ashamed of himself, that he’d drunk too much alcohol and wouldn’t do it again.He’s behaved since, but they don’t trust him.”
“But to kill him…”Nyree trailed off and jerked forward three steps when Ari shoved her.That’s precisely what she’d planned for Ari.
“Isn’t that what you intend to do to him?This way, he dies or gets injured, and you don’t have his death on your conscience.”
Nyree shot a glance at Ari.His expression held determination, but she didn’t think he’d hurt her since he intended to sell her.God, her mother, and Hana.If he’d hurt them…“All right.But let me try to talk him down again.Maybe he’ll listen to reason.”She doubted it, but then she wouldn’t have to explain dragons to everyone witnessing this drama.
“Ari, this is crazy.”
