Page 61 of Consumed By Fire
We are more alike than either side cares to admit. I know that now.
We fly in silence for half an hour. I watch the mountain grow nearer and nearer. Not long now and I’ll be on my own.
There is a loud screech from behind us.
“Fuck!” Dagger says under his breath, looking out the window.
“There is a dragon behind us,” Gavin says. “It is fast approaching.”
I can’t help the smile that grows on my face.
Octane! It has to be.
It doesn’t take long before a huge black and gold dragon is flying next to us. He screeches, moving into our line of flight, his talons outstretched like he’s going to pluck us from the sky.
Gavin screams, veering to the side. “What the hell! Who is that? A riderless dragon! I need to call it in. This is bad…real bad!” he shouts, making me wince.
“No!” Dagger and I call in unison.
“Don’t do that. We know him,” Dagger says. “It isn’t what you think. He’s in full control, I swear it.”
“He can’t be!”
“He is!” Dagger insists. “This particular dragon does not turn feral. You don’t need to call it in. Stay calm, please.”
“Whoa,” Gavin says when Octane flies back into our path. We hover on the spot in a kind of standoff. “He’s going to kill us.”
“He won’t!” I say.
“What should I do?” Gavin’s voice is a little high-pitched. “I don’t like this one bit.”
“Let’s not panic,” Dagger says. “I should have known he wouldn’t fall for it,” he mutters to himself.
“We need to land,” I gasp, my eyes on the magnificent dragon before us. My heart goes nuts in my chest. I’m feeling every kind of emotion.
Relief, happiness, frustration, fear, and apprehension. I’m feeling all of them, and all at once. I can’t stop smiling, though, so perhaps happiness is right up there, even though I know that Octane is going to be all kinds of mad.
I look over at Dagger and see warring emotions on his face, too. Anger, frustration, determination, and then resignation. He sighs. “Gavin, take the chopper down to that clearing over there.” He points to the spot in question.
Gavin nods, immediately reacting to Dagger’s urgency. He turns the chopper and lands it half a minute later.
Octane lands next to us. He has shifted by the time the engines wind down.
Gavin is pale, his hands tremble. He doesn’t take his eyes off Octane.
“Stay here,” Dagger tells the human.
“Oh…I intend to,” he says. “Please don’t take too long.”
We jump out. I want to run and throw myself into Octane’s arms, but I’m not sure how he will react. His eyes are bright. His jaw is set. His muscles are bunched. He’s never looked more beautiful or more dangerous.
“Let me explain,” Dagger says as he walks over.
Octane pulls back, and his powerful fist connects with Dagger’s face, causing his head to snap back. A look of shock spreads across the male’s features as Octane’s arm recoils for another blow.
“Wait!” I yell, but it doesn’t help the situation.
Octane pummels Dagger a second time. This time, the male staggers back, blood gushing from his nose, which looks broken.