Movement to my right caught my attention. I saw Gear running half naked from where he’d just landed and shifted into his humanform.
“Nadine!” he was screaming. I knew he’d seen the commotion from above, but he must not have seen it all or was in denial. OhGod.
With things relatively calm for the time being, I spun on my mate and flapped dangerously close to hisface.
‘You should have let me give myself up! He has her now and it’s your fault!’I shouted, although I didn’t really meanit.
His deep green dragon eyes lookedpained.
‘Keegan, Nadine, Dom, and everyone took a pact when you were talking with Isaac that if Ardan pulled any shit like that, we wouldn’t let you give yourself up. It’s clear he wants your power, needs it to defeat Isaac and go through with his pure race plans. We all agreed one life wasn’t worth it compared to all ofhumanity.’
I tipped my head back and roared into the sky, letting the fire pour out of me at the same time. He was right from a logical standpoint. If I had given myself up to save Nadine, Ardan would probably have me split open back in Ireland right now, siphoning my power until I was drained of every drop. Then he would defeat Isaac and kill all of the skyborn, taking outhumanity.
‘I’m sorry,’Logan saidfinally.
I huffed, feeling my anger calming now that the immediate threat hadpassed.
‘I didn’t mean that. It’s not your fault,’I told him. I couldn’t blame him for protectingme.
‘It’s okay,’was all hesaid.
‘Let’s get going. We have no time to waste,’I told my mate, ready to fly off to Ireland, whatever direction that mightbe.
‘Let’s land. I have a plan,’he told me, and starteddescending.
I wanted to argue, to tell him we didn’t have a moment to waste, but the truth was, other than storming Ardan’s castle, lighting him on fire, and saving Nadine, I didn’t have a plan. I decided to hear him out, and if his plan didn’t involve saving Nadine and barbequing Ardan, I would just leave and fly there by myself if I hadto.
We landed and shifted, finding our clothes and haphazardly getting dressed. Gear was devastated, standing there next to Keegan, hands shaking as he stared off into theforest.
Dee and her tree pack stood behind Keegan as our pack stepped up behind me. I saw Sophie open the door to the hut and peek out, Casey pushing past her to come outside and see the damage. For now the threat was gone, and we were safe but it was only a matter of time before the rest of Ardan’s druids showedup.
“Alright! Here’s what we’re going to do,” Logan shouted. It was one of those rare times he outranked everyone and took charge withoutasking.
He motioned to my mentor. “Isaac, do you think Rufus would take in Dee’s pack and help protect Lynn’s family andCasey?”
Isaac nodded. “Withouthesitation.”
Logan gave him a nod. “Then that’s the plan. Dee’s pack will immediately get on the bus to stay at Rufus’ house in Lake Tahoe. He’s an alchemist and skyborn friendly. Keegan’s pack will immediately get on a private plane with us. We finish this. We will get Nadine, kill that son of a bitch Ardan, and this will all beover.”
Dee nodded, okay with the plan, and looked to Keegan. Keegan nodded back and it was done. That simple. How we were going to charter a last-minute private plane I had no idea. But I did know we had bricks of gold lying around, so I was sure we could figure itout.
Logan’s plan immediately put me at ease. Lynn, Baby Lily and Casey would be safe, and we were going to getNadine.
“I want to go,” Casey groaned behindme.
I spun to face her. Tears were welling in her eyes, but she wore a determined frown. Reaching out, I took hold of both of her shoulders. “I’ll tell you what. Sophie and I will train you more, and when you’re seventeen, then you can go on druid-killing missions with us,okay?”
She smiled, but it was quickly replaced with a look of sadness. “IsNadine…?”
“She’s coming back—alive,” I told her quickly, and she nodded. “We allare.”
I couldn’t emotionally handle one more dead friend. I just hoped I hadn’t lied to Casey, and that we would all be coming backtogether.
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Chapter 10
The flightto Ireland was beyond awful. To know that an evil man had someone close to you, was going to hurt them, and there was nothing you could do but sit there … was horrible. It must have been how Logan and everyone else felt when I’d beentaken.
