Page 41 of Red Fire
The dragon drops me from a few feet off the ground. I land with a thud on the hard ground, momentarily stunned. The beast lands next to me and shifts. I am gasping for air, forcing myself to scramble to my feet.
As suspected, the guy isn’t very big. Not as far as dragon shifters go. He’s a little taller than me, at around six feet tall, and muscular, but nothing crazy. Unfortunately, he’s plenty big enough to overpower me.
“Female,” he says as soon as he shifts. I don’t like the way he says it. It gives me the creeps.
“Leave me alone.” I fold my arms over my chest because he’s leering at my breasts. Why did I have to pick this particular set? Red and flattering. It’s padded and makes my boobs look huge. “No!” I yell at him. “Go away!”
“Mine. Make you mine.”
“I said no.”
He comes at me, and I punch him in the face. His head snaps back. I note that I busted his lip. He smiles, wiping away the small trickle of blood. Scales appear all over his chest. Then they disappear, appearing again a moment later.
My hand hurts, but I ignore it. I’m tempted to run, but I hear Creed’s words playing back in my head.
Don’t run; you will bring out the hunting instinct.
“Claim you! Mate you!” He speaks in a strange, monotonous tone.
“I said no.”
“Mate…yes…mate.” He grabs for me, gripping my wrists. His eyes are slitted. His teeth are sharp. More scales pop out.
I try to pry myself away, but I can’t; he’s too strong. The scales disappear again.
“Mine.” He leers.
Oh my god, he’s drooling. It’s disgusting. I think he might be one of the shifters who is governed by his dragon. He doesn’t look like he has much control.
“No! Not yours.” I kick at him, my foot connecting with his shin. I yelp because it hurts.
He doesn’t seem to notice. He laughs. “Good female. Strong mate.” His face turns stern as he pushes a leg between mine, using his foot to put me off balance. I am on my back in the space of a heartbeat.
I grunt.
One second, he is on top of me, and the next, he is being yanked off by a big ebony dragon.
It is Tank. My blood freezes in my veins as I sit up, looking for Creed. I scan the sky but don’t see anything. There are some trees in the way in places. He could be out there. I pray that he is.
There is a roar and a crunching sound, and the smaller dragon drops to the ground. Its head is at a strange angle, and its eyes have a vacant stare.
It’s dead. He’s dead.
The huge black dragon advances on me.
“Where is Creed? What did you do to him?” I shout at the creature. He cocks his head, his eyes just as cold as before. It’s worse with the slits. They should be a beautiful vivid blue, but they’re not. “Leave me alone,” I tell it. “Go away.”
Tank shifts, first growling and then laughing. “Soon, that male will be a distant memory. You don’t need him.” He palms his giant erection, making his intentions clear.
I note that he is bleeding from a gash on his shoulder and that he is covered in more blood. Is it Creed’s?
Please no!
I look up. I look all around us. I don’t see so much as a leaf stir. The sky is clear, too; at least, what I can see of it is clear. There’s no bronze dragon anywhere. No Creed. My heart is sinking by the second.
“Don’t bother,” he says. “You’re alone. It’s just you and me, female.”
“My name is Octavia. I am a human. I have feelings. I have a mind. I don’t deserve this. I don’t want you or any of the others. I want to go home. That’s all!”