His breaths emerged with a harsh rasp, his fitness lacking for this second flight of the day, but he flew onward on sheer willpower.If Ari killed Nyree or injured her, he’d never forgive himself.He soared over another hill, and his wings stilled, shock filling him at the sight of three dragons flying toward him.A black dragon like him, along with a red and a green.
He plummeted two feet before he remembered to flap his wings.Friend or foe?What did he do now?
“Tawera?”
His name slid into his mind, the tone containing power.
“Yes,”Tawera replied with caution.
“I am Manu.With me is my cousin, Hone, and my brother, Kahurangi.”
“How did you get here?”Tawera wheezed.
“Where is Nyree?”Manu asked.
“The Ari-man has her.He wants her to shift and fly him to a boat.I was attempting to intercept them.We didn’t want the humans to see either of us, but Nyree has gone silent.She is not answering.”
“You are not flying strongly,”Manu observed as he and the other two dragons soared at Tawera’s side.
“The curse has affected my flight ability.This way.”
“Can you make it?”Manu asked, concern in his voice.
“I must,”Tawera replied.“To save Nyree.”
“You like her,”Manu said.
“Yes, very much.”
“How much farther?”
“We’re almost there.We should see them at any minute.”Tawera kept pumping his wings, but exhaustion was taking its toll.He was sinking closer to the land.Relief struck when he spotted Nyree and Ari.“Nyree?”
“Tawera,”she replied.
“We’re coming to save you.”
“We?”A sliver of pain leaked through their mental bond, and fury propelled him onward as Ari struck her with the gun.They were now close enough to see and hear Ari’s shouts and orders.
“Change to a dragon and fly me to the ship.”
Nyree straightened, and confidence blazed in her.“No.”
Ari slapped her so hard she fell, and with his attention riveted on her, he didn’t notice the dragons silently hovering above him.Ari went to grab her, his plan obvious.He intended to beat her into submission.Nyree jerked from his touch and twisted her body, at the same time kicking out and striking his upper thigh.He let out a roar of pain and cursed.
Tawera seized the human’s inattention to attack by blasting him with flames.Ari roared and stepped back.His boot slipped on the loose scree, and he screamed in panic.His arms windmilled, and for the first time, he perceived the four dragons hovering overhead.Ari’s legs moved, but instead of saving himself, he lost his footing and toppled backward over a steep incline.There was a scream as he rolled and hit the studded rocks, then silence.
“The humans are coming,”Manu warned.
“Is he alive?”Tawera asked.
One dragon darted in the direction Ari had fallen.A minute passed before the dragon reappeared.
“If he’s not dead, he’s badly wounded.He has a broken leg at least, and blood has pooled around his head,”the dragon reported.
“We should go,”Manu said.“Tawera, with us.”
“Are Mum and Hana safe?”Nyree demanded.
