“Boyd,” Emma calls out in a warning note. She freezes at my side, and her hands go in the air. “Don’t.”
I turn, and there’s a man on the roof. He’s young, with a baseball cap on his head and a scraggly beard. He’s come out behind me and Emma, and stands in the doorway of the stairwell, blocking any way back. He’s got a gun in his hands, and it’s trained not on me, not on Dakh…but on Emma.
“What the fuck are you doing, sis?” he yells out.
“Boyd, just put the gun down, okay?” she replies.
“You fucking humping on a dragon just like this slut?” He gestures at me with the gun, then trains it back on Emma.
Dakh growls. He threatens your friend. Shall I eat him?
I cling to Dakh’s nose. Don’t move. I don’t want him to shoot her. We need to wait until he’s distracted and steal his gun. I can’t let him hurt her. “Emma, come stand by me,” I tell her softly.
“No, Emma, don’t you fucking move,” Boyd calls out. “Or I’m going to fill your head full of holes.”
“Boyd, please,” Emma says desperately. “I’m your sister.”
“You’re a fucking traitor. I should have guessed.” He shakes his head. “Working against your own kind. My own sister. Who would have thought? It’s unreal. I’ll be doing the world a favor by shooting you.”
“Please don’t.” Emma doesn’t move.
Behind Boyd, a shadow rises. I stare in shock as another dragon glides through the sky, zooming in on the roof. A moment later, it swoops in, diving.
“Boyd!” Emma cries out, and then flings herself to the ground.
I turn and push against Dakh’s body, and his claws go around me protectively. I squeeze my eyes shut.
Snap. Crunch. There’s a wet sound and then the flap of draconic wings.
A moment later, there’s an exasperated feminine sigh. “Dammit, Kael, I am not kissing you if you’re gonna go around eating everyone. What the fuck, baby.”
That’s…Claudia.
I open my eyes in surprise. For some reason, I’d thought the dragon on the roof was the stranger Emma mentioned—Zohr—but in the darkness I can just barely make out a small female form seated between the dragon’s majestic shoulders. It’s Claudia. My friend. “Oh my God,” I whisper.
Dakh nuzzles my hair. I brought company. When I could not touch your mind because he made you sleep, I went to them. They wanted to help. I do not think this bad Salorian—this Azar—expected two dragons to show up. We have ruined all his plans. His thoughts are smug. Now climb on my back and let us get out of here.
Wait, I have to see to Emma.
I step away from my dragon and move to Emma’s side. Nearby, Kael lets out a burst of flame that might be the draconic equivalent of a belch. “Are you okay, Emma?” I crouch next to her, touching her shoulder.
“I’m okay,” she says in a dull voice.
“I’m so sorry about your brother—”
“Don’t be. He was an asshole.” She shakes her head and gets to her feet. “Boyd’s always been a shitty person. I guess I’m just shocked he would have shot me.” She rubs a hand across her forehead. “I should have expected it. And tell your friend thank you for saving our lives.” She looks over at Kael and Claudia.
“That’s what friends are for,” Claudia calls out.
I feel a surge of affection for my friend. Dakh, can you tell Kael to tell Claudia that I’m not mad at her anymore?
She knows, he assures me. There will be time to talk about it later. For now, we must get you and your friend out of here. Kael says Azar’s men are waiting and will be arriving with fire spitters soon.
“We need to get a move on, Emma,” I tell her quickly. “More guys are coming with guns. You can ride behind me, and—”
“I can’t go,” Emma says softly. “Not if Zohr’s stuck here.”
He is guarded heavily, Dakh tells me. We will risk much if we try to save him, and even so, he will attack us if we free him. His mind is nothing but chaos. I try to reach out to him and he does not understand. He is still lost.
“Dakh says our lives will be in danger if we try to free him,” I tell her. “He’ll attack me and Claudia, and the dragons don’t want to risk it.”
She nods, her eyes sad. “I know. But I can’t leave him knowing that it’s my fault he’s stuck here.”
“Emma…”
“I know. It’s okay. I want you to leave me behind.” Her smile is brave. “I just wanted to rescue you. And once Zohr is free, I’ll get away from these losers myself. Until then, I need to stay.” She gives me a quick hug and then turns her back to me and points at the back of her head. “I need you to knock me out. Give my hostage story some credibility.”
“Are you sure?” I hesitate. I don’t want to leave her here, not if it means her life is in danger.
“I’m sure.” She gestures at her head again. “Be quick.”
I grab a nearby rock the size of my fist. There’s a huge knot in my throat. “This feels wrong, Emma.”
She gives a little teary laugh and sniffs. “What about this world has been right since the Rift happened? I’ll be okay.”
Hurry, my mate, Dakh urges. I can hear humans coming with their fire spitters.
I give Emma another impulsive hug from behind. “You’re the best of friends,” I tell her quickly. “And if you need help, you tell me and I’ll come for you. I promise.”
“I know,” she says softly.
“I’m sorry in advance,” I tell her, and then slam the rock into the back of her head.
She goes down instantly, crumpling to the ground, and for a panicked moment, I worry I’ve hit her too hard.
She breathes, Dakh tells me. Quickly, now. Climb on my back.
I throw the stone down and race to my dragon’s side. Within moments, I’m yanking on straps and fastening Velcro. I have three straps left when Dakh’s muscles bunch underneath me. We are going, he tells me.
I’m not ready!
The fire spitters have arrived, he tells me, even as we launch into the air. Nearby, Kael lets out a thunderous roar and angles his body away, protecting Claudia as gunfire opens up. I cling to the handlebars and hunch low. Emma! Is she okay?