Page 69 of Dragon’s Rogue

“What’s this?” he murmured drowsily. “It’s hot.”

“It is?” she said. “I have a tattoo there. Don’t know why it would be hot, though.”

“A tattoo?” That was strange. He could swear he’d seen every inch of her in his dreams, and he didn’t remember any tattoo.

“Can I see?” He was moving to look when he heard muffled steps in the hallway, and then someone pounding on his door.

“Zane!” Tyr shouted. “It’s Thorne. He’s gone after Rebel and Tempest. We have to stop him.”

The door flew open and Tyr burst in. In seconds Zane was on his feet, his dragon roaring through his human mouth. No other dragons got to look at his mate. Flame him!

Blaze yanked at the sheet to cover herself. “What happened?”

Tyr barely looked at her. “Sorry to interrupt your… whatever. That idiot Thorne obsessed all night about Rebel and Tempest having the Seals. His dragon finally lost it, and he took off to get them. Like, now.”

“Why didn’t you go after him?”

“Because he’s gone dragon!” Tyr snapped. “He’s got treasure fever, and he’s flying into St. Johns in the middle of the fucking day. It’s going to take both of us to stop him. Wherever Tempest and her sister are, he’s going to rip the building apart and drag them out in broad daylight, and carry them off in front of everyone. He might hurt her. Them.”

“Oh, fuck.” Zane turned to Blaze. “I’m sorry. Tyr and I have to go. Even if Thorne doesn’t hurt them, he could destroy half of St. Johns and out the rest of us as dragons. You stay here and—”

“Hell, no,” Blaze said. “I’m coming. You may need me for damage control. And memory-blurring spells for the bystanders.”

Zane’s desire to keep her safe warred with the logic in her statement. “Okay,” he said. “Tyr, go on. We’ll be right behind you.”

Tyr ran to the open window. It had no screen, and he leaped onto the windowsill and flung himself out into space. Zane heard Blaze gasp.

A huge shadow crossed the window as Tyr Changed, and then he was gone. Zane went over to the bed and grabbed Blaze’s shoulders, magically dressing her in jeans, t-shirt, jacket and boots. “Come on,” he said, holding out his hand.

Blaze shook her head, looking around the room. “Clothes from last night?” she demanded.

Zane pointed; they were draped over a carved chest at the foot of the bed.

Blaze grabbed up her jeans and pulled a brass pendulum out of the pocket. “Okay,” she said. “Are we flying?”

In answer, Zane swept her up into his arms and headed for the window. “Get ready,” he said.

Then he stepped up onto the windowsill, Blaze still in his arms, bunched his legs and jumped.

They dropped down, air rushing past them. He felt Blaze gasp again, and she clutched his arm, nails digging into his skin.

He probably should have given her more warning. Zane Changed to dragon and snapped his wings out to catch an updraft, then followed Tyr, holding Blaze close.

“Where are we heading?” Blaze asked.

I don’t know. I was just going to follow the mayhem.

“Well, let’s see if we can prevent it instead of following it, ‘K?”

He felt a tentacle of power snaking between his talons. She must be using her tracking spell. That’s what the pendulum was for, he realized.

I’m trying to decide if we should head for Rebel’s house, or the shop, he said.

“Spell says she’s at the house.”

Thorne might not know that.

“Yes he will. Anyway, Tyr will be at the shop.”