CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The airpops.
Wind rushes around me and a pair of arms close across my chest.
I’m snatched away from danger right before I would have hit the rocks. Water splashes up and around me as silver wings cut through the waves and droplets kick into the air like hateful diamonds.
I recognize Ryuji’s wings beating at the edge of my vision as he soars so fast with me that the air once again leaves my chest and my ears fill with pain.
I barely have time to process the fact that he scooped me out of harm’s way—despite being the one who dropped me—before we reach the large, rocky outcrop at the left-hand end of the beach.
He slows down only marginally before dropping to the rocks and letting go of me.
I wobble on the spot, crouching low to regain my balance, conscious of the battle still raging farther down the beach.
I’m also acutely aware that the keeper is running toward me and will reach me within seconds.
There’s no hiding these wings from anyone now.
“Veda!” His roar breaks across the distance as he leaps from the ground, punches a dragon in the face on his way past, and transforms midair.
Black scales rush across his body, which remains humanoid in shape, while inky wings burst from his back and his features become furiously reptilian.
His appearance is now that of a dragon shifter far bigger than any of the others, including Ryuji.
My focus quickly returns to the Dragon Master, who has taken up a battle stance only five paces opposite me, his feet planted right at the edge of the rocky outcrop and his hands lifted and ready to defend himself.
His focus is divided between me and the keeper, but it’s me he should be worried about.
My wings are wet. The top of a wave literally ran through my feathers right before Ryuji scooped me away from the water.
I’m bedraggled. Exposed. And anger is seething within my chest.
“You dropped me just to catch me?” I launch myself across the distance between Ryuji and me, retracting my claws in time for my fist to collide with his face. “Fucking asshole!”
His arms are up, but I’m surprised when he doesn’t try to block the blow or even retaliate against it.
I take advantage of his sudden reluctance to hit me and aim another punch at his face, the force of which should push him off the rock.
This time, he catches my fist. Or attempts to. It turns out that without the advantage of flight, he’s no stronger than I am.
I punch through his hold and clip him on the chin.
If my claws had been extended, I could have sliced his face apart.
The only reason they aren’t is because he didn’t let me fall and I need to know why. Once I have my answer, well, then I’ll decide if my claws should come back out.
“What sort of game are you playing?” I snarl as he steps to the side where he can retreat a few steps while still facing me.
He rubs his jaw, his fingertips grazing across the cracked scales, and sucks in a sharp breath. “You broke my skin.”
“More than once,” I remind him since I rammed my claws into his sides before. “Maybe I would have survived the rocks too.”
I’m surprised when he nods. “Maybe.”
That’s when the keeper lands ten paces to my right, folding his wings away and watching me warily.
His voice is thick with fury, but I hate that there’s a hint of uncertainty in his tone that I’m sure is caused by my wings. “My Veda?”
