Page 25 of Red Fire

I grab his hand for a second before letting go. “Thank you. I can’t say how much I appreciate your help. You’re putting your life on the line to help me.”

He stiffens. “Get dressed, and then we need to leave. They could double back.” He turns away, taking a few steps. Creed clearly can’t take a compliment and words of thanks. He’s such a good guy. I would be in huge trouble without him. What am I saying? I’d be dead if it weren’t for him.

I go to the bush, grabbing my things. Creed stands to the side with his back to me to give me privacy.

What? Wait just a second!

His back. I cock my head, holding my jeans to me but not putting them on. I can’t quite believe what I’m seeing.

“Get dressed, Octavia,” he says in a low but urgent voice.

“There are no scratches on your back.” My voice is filled with shock. “You were scratched bloody a couple of hours ago. I saw it with my own eyes. You were bleeding. There’s nothing there. It can’t be.” There was crusted, dried blood all over his back when we went to wash. Now that the blood is gone…his back looks fine.

“I told you I’m a quick healer. Now, please, we have to go!”

I frown because I’ve never known anyone to be that good of a healer. There isn’t so much as a scratch left anywhere on his back.

I want to argue, but what would be the point? The memory of those creatures spurs me to action. We need to get away from here.

After removing my wet underwear, I put on a clean, dry set that was in my bag, shoving the wet garments into my pack. Then I pull on my jeans, followed by my socks and trainers.

“Done?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“I’ll need the empty bottles.” He turns and holds out his hand, his eyes dipping to my chest before he looks back at me, his jaw tightening.

Crap!

Why couldn’t I pack an exercise bra? I’m in a sexy red set. What could possibly have inspired me to pack that in the first place? Sure, I like my sexy underwear, but this is just plain silly out here. At least it isn’t see-through like my white set, but the bra is a push-up with half cups designed to give maximum cleavage. I might not have the body of a Victoria’s Secret model, but I know I look good in it.

I dig in the backpack, handing him two bottles. I note that he keeps his gaze averted. Then we go to the river. Creed often has his gaze cast to the sky. He looks worried, and I can’t say I blame him. I’m worried, too. We hurriedly fill the bottles, and then I climb onto Creed’s back. If I look really closely, there are a couple of very fine white lines to prove that I’m not going insane. Not only is he fast and strong, but he also has insane healing abilities. All great assets to have in the middle of a dangerous jungle. I’m not sure where I would be without him. Having said that, I think he was being overly optimistic when he said that we would make it. I don’t see how it is possible. I’m not a negative person, but I am a realist. I can’t see an outcome where I leave this island. I’m either going to end up as food for a hungry dragon or as a bride to a mountain man who would see me as something to own and breed rather than a human being.

I shiver at the thought, closing my eyes and trying not to panic – yet again!

“You okay?” Creed asks.

“I’m fine,” I lie.

12

Creed

That was a close call. Too close.

One mistake, and we’re doomed. One lapse in judgment, one moment of distraction, and all could be lost. Octavia is afraid, and rightly so. She is starting to doubt whether we will make it. It is a long shot, but we have to stay hopeful. At least now she knows that dragons do exist, since she saw them with her own eyes. She was petrified. What she doesn’t know is exactly what they were…what I am, too.

I should have told her.

I sigh inwardly. I should have told her what I am…what we all are. I have no idea of knowing how she will react. After seeing how shaken she was when she saw the dragons, after feeling her trembling against me, I doubt she’d react well to the knowledge that we are dragon shifters, that I am a dragon shifter.

I’m part animal. A beast. A base creature she is right to fear.

I couldn’t tell her. There was something holding me back. I’m telling myself that it was to keep her calm. I’ve only just started to gain her trust. I couldn’t risk it. I keep telling myself this, butI’m not so sure there isn’t more to it. Like the fact that I don’t want to see horror in her eyes. I don’t want her to view me differently. Although we can never act on it, I know that she is attracted to me. She doesn’t want to be, but she is. It feels good to have a female’s attention. I don’t want her to look at me with revulsion. It will happen if she knows. I know it will. Am I being selfish by keeping her in the dark?

Perhaps I am. I can’t be sure. One thing is for sure: she is going to find out. Whether it happens out here or when we reach the city. It will happen. I’m hoping to have a little more time. If she knows me better, she might be able to overlook the fact that I can turn myself into a fire-breathing beast.

I pick up on noises up ahead and stop, ducking behind a tree. I stand still, squeezing Octavia’s thighs to warn her to be quiet.