“She’s here to assist with a new establishment we’re opening. Nothing more.”
Sylara’s laugh was sharp as broken glass. “We can sense there’s considerably more to it than retail consultation.”
“I don’t need to divulge personal information beyond what’s relevant to your concerns.”
Kalis moved with lightning speed, crowding Evelina until she had to crane her neck to meet his intimidating stare. “Yes, you do. And you’d better start telling the truth, or there will be serious consequences.”
“I’m not threatened by you.” Evelina’s voice carried regal authority despite their disadvantageous position.
“You should be.”
The air suddenly shimmered with otherworldly energy. Sylara’s form began to blur and expand, bones cracking and reshaping as crimson scales erupted across her skin. Within seconds, a sleek red dragon towered over them, her razor-sharp claws digging gouges in the cobblestone street.
Terror flooded Isla’s system as the massive creature fixed her with predatory focus.
This is really happening. I’m about to be eaten by a dragon.
Evelina must have sensed her fear because suddenly the older woman was shifting too, her elegant human form dissolving into something magnificent and terrifying. Her deep blue scales soon caught the afternoon sunlight as she positioned herself protectively between Isla and Sylara’s snapping jaws.
Kalis transformed with brutal efficiency, his golden dragon form launching into the air before diving toward Evelina with murderous intent. The two dragons collided with earth-shaking force, their roars echoing off the surrounding buildings as civilians screamed and scattered.
Isla pressed herself against a stone wall, helpless as she watched Evelina struggle against two opponents. The older dragon fought with desperate courage for several minutes, but the odds were impossibly stacked against her.
I have to do something. But what can a human do against dragons?
Suddenly, a thunderous roar split the air as a massive shadow fell across the battle. Isla’s heart lurched as she recognized the molten green eyes. Damon’s obsidian-scaled dragon form descended like divine retribution.
The battle was swift and brutal. Damon’s raw power and protective fury overwhelmed their attackers, sending them fleeing into the sky with various injuries. But when the smoke cleared and the dragons shifted back to their human forms, Isla’s relief evaporated.
Evelina was bleeding heavily from a jagged wound along her ribs.
“I’ll get help—” Isla started forward.
“No.” Damon’s voice cut through her panic with absolute authority. “No one will assist us here. We’re outsiders whojust injured the Alpha’s primary enforcers. We need to leave immediately.”
His green eyes met hers, and she saw something that made her breath catch—not just concern for his aunt, but genuine fear. This powerful, controlled man was afraid, and that terrified her more than the dragon attack.
“I’ll shift back. You’ll need to help Evelina onto my back and maintain pressure on the wound during flight.”
Isla nodded, adrenaline sharpening her focus. She watched Damon’s human form blur and expand until the massive black dragon crouched before them, his intelligent eyes never leaving her face.
With strength she didn’t know she possessed, Isla helped the injured woman climb onto Damon’s broad back, positioning herself behind Evelina. She pressed one hand firmly against the bleeding wound while gripping Damon’s ridged scales with the other.
“Hold on tight,” she whispered to Evelina, though she wasn’t sure if it was reassurance or prayer.
Damon’s powerful wings caught the air, lifting them skyward with surprising gentleness. As they soared over the endless ocean toward Everflame Isle, Isla could only hope they’d make it home before Evelina lost too much blood.
Please let her be okay.
FIFTEEN
DAMON
The wind beneath Damon’s obsidian wings carried the metallic scent of blood and the salt spray of the ocean as he powered through the sky toward Everflame Isle. Every powerful stroke of his wings sent tremors through his massive dragon form, but he maintained perfect control despite the chaos raging in his mind. Evelina’s weight pressed against his back, her breathing shallow and labored, while Isla’s small hand pressed firmly against his aunt’s wound.
She’s losing too much blood.
The thought hammered through his consciousness like a war drum, threatening to shatter the iron control he’d maintained for a century. But beneath that immediate concern lurked something far more disturbing—the memory of that moment when Isla’s terror had exploded through their mate bond like white-hot lightning.
