I threw myself aside as the dragon’s jaws opened and the inferno rushed forth like the blast of a rocket engine. The dragon swept its head around, searing the ground and catching a pair of soldiers in the flames. They cried out and reeled away, blazing like torches, before crumpling to the grass.
“Kill it!” Ward snarled, unnecessarily, as the remaining soldiers opened fire. The Adult roared, rearing up as bullets tore into its body or sparked off its armored chest plates. “Kill it now!”
With a roar and a blast of flame, the dragon lunged into the midst of the soldiers. One swipe from a huge forepaw sent several of them flying. Its jaws snaked down, grabbed another soldier and hurled him into the wall with a sickening crack. I rolled to my feet in the embers and smoking grass, sparks and burning debris drifting all around me, and raised my weapon, but gunfire rang out from behind the wall as the enemy guards pressed their advantage, and I had to duck behind a tree to avoid taking fire. Between the raging dragon and the guards, we were forced to fall back, giving way under the relentless assault of fire and lead.
“Tristan!” I hissed into the com as bullets peppered the tree I crouched behind. “Do you see this?”
“Yeah.” My partner’s voice was tight with frustration. “I do, but the thing’s staying back behind the wall. I only have a bead on its front, which might not do anything even if it does hit. I can’t get a clean shot.”
I looked back toward the battle. Ward was still shouting orders over the bark of his own rifle, standing his ground even as the dragon sliced through his unit like paper. It lashed out with a claw, knocking the last of the soldiers away, and suddenly it was just Ward, standing alone in front of an Adult dragon. The dragon lunged, and Ward leaped back to avoid the snapping fangs, but hit a chunk of broken wall and fell, sprawling to his back. Still firing his weapon, to no avail. The Adult stalked forward, ignoring the rounds that sparked off its chest plates. I could see the triumph in the dragon’s eyes as it took a breath, and I knew I was about to watch the strike team commander get incinerated.
The flames roared from the dragon’s jaws, blazing a hellish orange-red, and Ward disappeared into the blaze. I clenched my fist against the trunk, angry that I hadn’t been able to do anything. Despite my personal feelings and his blatant hatred for me and my dragon friends, his death would still be a blow to St. George, and we couldn’t take much more of them.
The inferno flickered and died away, and my eyes widened. Ward still sprawled over the ground, head turned away as if bracing himself to die, the grass around him charred to a crisp. Ember stood over him, head lowered and wings spread, glaring up at the Adult dragon with defiant green eyes. She’d used her own fireproof body to shield the lieutenant, and the Adult snorted in surprise as the flames disappeared.
“Ember Hill?” Cocking his head, the Adult regarded her, puzzled. “You…why are you here? Did you come to assault this base with St. George? But I thought you and Cobalt…”
He trailed off, yellow eyes suddenly widening with realization and alarm. “Cobalt,” he muttered, turning back toward the buildings. “He’s here. On this island. He’s come for my breeders!”
Ignoring us all and the shots still being fired in his direction, the huge Adult opened his wings, launched into the air and streaked back the way he came. Toward the facilities, Cobalt and the females.
RILEY
I heard the explosion even through the walls of Scarlett’s habitat.
The dragon jerked her head up, teeth bared, eyes dilating in alarm. “What was that?”
“Our signal to leave,” I said, striding to the front of the cell. “Let’s hope your doctor friend did what he said he would do and unlocked all the doors, otherwise this will be a really short prison break. Mist,” I said, speaking into the com as I turned. “I have the pregnant dragonells. Start the evacuation—I’ll meet you outside in two minutes. And don’t forget the minefield. Lead them through one at a time if you have to, but don’t get anyone blown up. The soldiers should be taking care of any guards that would come after us.”
“Roger that.” A moment’s pause, and then: “Good luck, Cobalt.”
“You, too.”
I looked back. The red dragon was still standing in the middle of the habitat, listening to the sounds of rising conflict, wings half-flared and trembling. “Scarlett!” I snapped, making her jump. “You can’t freeze up on me now,” I said. “I need your help to gather the rest of the dragonells. My team is out there, launching a distraction so we can get the hell out, but if everyone here panics, we’re all going to die. We need to let the others know what’s happening. Are you with me?”
She blinked, and a steely look crossed her reptilian face. “I’m with you,” she growled, and strode forward, toward the large iron doors at the front of the cell. I had to scramble out of the way as the large Adult dragon barreled past me and struck the double gates with the force of an oncoming semi. There was a crash that sounded like two vehicles colliding, and the doors flew open with a bang.
“Shit!”
A shot rang out from the room beyond, sparking off the metal frame, and Scarlett hissed with fury. Sprinting out behind her, I raised my gun and fired several shots at the guard overhead on the walkway who was aiming his very large rifle at the dragon who had come bursting out of her cell. At the same time, a gout of flame hissed through the air as Scarlett spat fire at the guard, and he tumbled from the railing like a burning torch.
I looked around. Dragons were emerging from cells around the room, confused and bewildered and much smaller than Scarlett. A yellow-green hatchling with brown stripes down her neck and back spotted me and gave a hiss of alarm, baring her fangs.
“Intruder!” she snarled, and crouched down as if unsure whether to flee or fight. “You don’t work here. Did you kill Dr. Miles? Who are you?”
Her outburst attracted the attention of the three other dragonells—two Juveniles and another hatchling—who stared at me with wary eyes. But before I could say anything, a shadow fell over us as Scarlett marched forward, raising her head to glare down at them all.
“His name is Cobalt,” she said without preamble. “We can trust him. He’s here to get us out.”
“Out?” The yellow-green hatchling blinked at the Adult in disbelief. “What do you mean, out?”
“I mean I’m here to get you off the island,” I broke in. “What you’re hearing outside…that’s my team launching a distraction so the rest of us can escape. I have a container ship waiting just off the northern beach. It’s a bit of a swim, but once we get there, you’ll be free. You can leave Talon and this hellhole and never look back.”
“All of us?” one of the Juveniles asked. “What about everyone in the building next door?”
“They’re being taken care of. I have people moving them out as we speak.” I pointed back toward the entrance. “We go out the front, meet the rest of them on the other side of the wall and leave while the guards are dealing with the other team.”
“What if we’re shot at?”
“We’ll protect you.” I gazed around at them, seeing fear, uncertainty and a very cautious hope. “It’ll be risky, but this is the best way to get you all out. If someone does try to stop us, fight back however you can. Don’t let them capture you—I’m not leaving anyone behind.”
“We could be killed!”
Above me, Scarlett snarled, her booming voice making the rest of them jump. “What would you rather do?” she demanded. “Stay here, in this prison, for the rest of your lives? Give up your choice, your free will and your bodies to Talon, so the organization can raise more dragons that think like them? Do you want your offspring to go through that? And, if they don’t meet Talon’s requirements, end up here?”
The hatchling cringed, and one of the Juveniles shook her head. “No,” she growled. “Fuck that. I’m done with this place. I’d rather die trying to escape than live here another day. Let’s get out of here.”