And I wait with Theodora and Willow.
The forest feels unnaturally still and silent.
Snowflakes tumble down in the soft gray light.
My hand stays on the grip of my pistol, Willow and Theodora at my back. The dragon inside me likes that. I’m protecting them. Her.
Fuck.
Willow was so wrong. I truly do respect Theodora, how can I not? She’s ready to put her life on the line for those in need.
Whereas, I can’t even save my sister.
And as for love?
I should have seen it from the start. Dono and Wes certainly did. But I was more concerned about my Elite status and her being a dud.
That she’s lower class, dresses like a ragamuffin and had an unlit spark isn’t even a fraction as important as her goodness, her light, and her compassionate nature.
Yeah. My feelings for Theodora Wilson are confusing, but also undeniable.
A low, guttural thrum of an engine vibrates through the ground.
—Incoming—
Donovan is further down the track so lays eyes on the vehicle first. —One Jeep. Two guards in the front—
—On my mark—Feniks commands.
The Jeep rounds the bend, headlights cutting through morning gloom. It’s not slowing down for the roadblock. Two hundred yards, one hundred, then a moment of realization.
—Feniks, they’re not going to stop—
—If they don’t…I’ll shoot out the tires…but they’ll have more time to fire back—
I glance back at the girls. The Jeep keeps going, bouncing straight over the fallen tree limb.
—Wait, Feniks, I’ve an idea…—
And then I shift.
Shooting up into the sky, then straight down again.
I land on the roadway, twenty feet in front of the vehicle. It slews to the right, and I can see the wide eyes and open mouths of the two in the cab.
The tires squeal, churning up the snow and earth as it off-roads. The smell of hot brakes and exhaust fumes washes over me as I open my jaws and aim a burst of fire onto the ground just in front of them, forcing the driver to swerve again.
Shit, it’s heading towards a huge, solid pine tree. We need the vehicle intact.
I throw my body in the vehicle's path and soften the speed of the impact. And yes, this dragon form can feel pain.
Fuck.
The Jeep comes to a juddering halt.
The passenger is slumped to one side, silent and probably dead.
The driver groans, pinned in place by the steering column.
