Page 95 of Red Fire

“Fuuuuck!” I groan. I can’t believe this. What the hell am I going to do? How can I fix this? I need to fix it somehow. I need to find a way. This can’t be the end. I refuse to accept it. I’ll have to find a way to get to the Mainland and speak to her.

I watch the aircraft gain altitude, and the wheels go up. I keep my eyes on the jet because a piece of my heart is inside it. The part still inside of me is breaking. I’m an idiot. Such an idiot. I let her slip through my fingers.

They’re going to go through the mist veil soon. Then she’ll be gone for good. Just before they do, I see it clear as day: a big black dragon breaks out of the ocean in a spray of water. It catapults up and up, water dropping down and down. Then it grabs the jet in its talons. The engine whines, and for a moment, it seems like it’ll break free and continue on its path.

There are a few moments where nothing seems to happen. Then the beast drags the aircraft down with it. The engines roar in protest, but the craft isn’t strong enough to compete against the powerful creature.

I’m standing there, my jaw gaping, my fists clenched. I growl low.

I would recognize that dragon anywhere. It’s Tank. He’s after Octavia. He’s after my female.

Mine!

Save! Protect!

Mine!

Even in mid-shift, I tamp back my dragon; I need to stay in control. I need to keep a clear head if I am to save Octavia.

My clothes shred from my body as I start shifting. Within half a second, I am in my dragon form and taking to the sky. I fly as fast as I can, watching in dismay as Tank deposits the jet on the beach. By now, the engines have shut down. Whether they’ve stalled or whether it is as a result of the pilot’s intervention, I do not know, and I do not care. All I know is that I need to get over there.

I roar when I see Tank break open the tail of the plane, crunching it open with his jaws. Octavia could be hurt or killed by such a move. What the fuck is he doing? He truly is an evil bastard who has no concern for anyone but himself.

I need to get to him before he can so much as breathe on her, let alone touch her. I pick up the pace, putting my claws out as I reach the craft. I slash at Tank, delivering a powerful blow thatsends him flying backward into the surf, away from the jet. The water isn’t deep. He’s up in an instant, his icy blue gaze on me with a predatory stare.

Bring it, asshole!

I’m going to kill him for this.

Tank comes at me; I almost forgot how quick he is. He dodges my claws and strikes with a swift kick to my stomach. I hiss in pain but manage to keep my footing. Only just. Despite his size, Tank is incredibly agile and skilled in combat, something I need to keep at the forefront of my mind.

“Creed!” Octavia shouts from behind me. I can’t look now. I pray that she remembers what I told her before. That she needs to get to safety and away from any fights, particularly fights between dragons.

I launch myself at Tank, my jaws wide open, ready to sink my teeth into his flesh and send him to the depths of the sea. But Tank is cunning, and he manages to dodge my attack. We spar back and forth, each blow more powerful than the last. The waves crash around us; the saltwater stings our eyes. We fight into the deeper water and then back out onto the sand and back again.

He goes for my torso more than once, using claw, fang, and tail, but I hold him off. My ribs are almost healed, but they’re not there yet. One strike, and they’ll break all over again, leaving me vulnerable.

Fuck that!

Fuck him!

I land a blow to the side of his head. Blood flows. He cuts into my right leg with his barb. It stings. I feel hot blood drip. Our fight goes on for what feels like an age.

I feel myself grow tired. My limbs start to feel heavy. My breathing starts to sound labored. Tank is also fatigued, but he’snot as bad as me. He’s holding his own and gaining the upper hand by the second.

No!

I can’t let that happen. If I lose, he’ll get Octavia. He’ll take her deep into the jungle. He’ll mate her against her will. I don’t want to think about it. I can’t, not right now.

My dragon goes nuts. He roars. For a second, it feels like I’m going to lose control of him, which I can’t allow to happen. I redouble my efforts to keep control. That’s when it hits me. That barbed fucking tail and on my torso, the right-hand side, too. There’s a crack as my ribs re-break. White hot pain hits me, and it hits me hard. I go down onto my knees.

Fuck!

I force myself back up onto shaky legs. More pain pummels me, holding me in its grip.

Tank chuffs. He’s laughing at me. He looks over at Octavia. I know he’s looking at her; I can see it from the way his eyes glint. It’s a greedy stare.

Mine!