Panic rushes through me. I’ve brought a dragon to scare people and fake a few attacks…and now he’s really attacking. People are going to get hurt, and it’s my fault. I duck lower in my saddle, trying to keep out of sight. Can we pull him away somehow?
We circle wide around him, and as we do, I catch a glimpse of the other dragon. Dakh’s face is wild, any intelligence once there now completely gone. Dakh snarls and hisses in our direction as we get closer, then turns in a flap of leathery wing, diving at another building.
He is not listening to my call, Kael sends, utter frustration in his thoughts. I cannot attack him with you on me. I will not let my Claudia be hurt.
I tug on my handlebars uselessly, wishing I could do something other than perch on Kael’s back and be dead weight. Should you put me down somewhere and go after him?
No. Kael’s thoughts are vehement. I will not risk your safety. You are only protected when you are with me.
Then pull away. We can’t do this.
But Kael only heads in the opposite direction, farther into the city from where Dakh is attacking the outskirts. The siren continues to wail, loud even from high above the city, and far below, I can see people scurrying to safety.
We…aren’t leaving? Terror clutches at my chest. Am I losing my dragon, too? Kael?
I am here. I am sane. But I notice that his thoughts are tighter, more rigid than normal. He’s holding himself tightly in check, focusing on me.
I’m confused. Then where are we going?
We’re not leaving until you have your sister, my mate. I promised you we would get her.
Oh god. I hesitate, torn. Our plan is going all wrong. No one’s supposed to get hurt, but I can hear faint screams as Dakh flames away, roaring and attacking the north end of the city. No one would be prepared, because this dragon attack isn’t in cycle with the others. They’re helpless and vulnerable if they don’t get to a shelter quickly enough.
And yet…isn’t this exactly what I wanted? A distraction so I can rescue Amy? Why flinch back now? We might never have another chance. It’s ruthless…but what they’ve done to Amy—and to me—is ruthless, too. Might as well move forward. I swallow the knot in my throat and point at the southeast end of the compound. Go there first. I need to see if Sasha is home.
As you wish.
We fly on over huddles of buildings and reinforced roofs until the junkyard where we huddle down with the other shanties comes into view. I see the broken yellow bus, and as I do, I begin to unbuckle the straps holding me into the saddle. I need to get down and check for her. No one’s going to come out when there’s a dragon prowling about.
Be careful. Kael lands atop the bus, and I wince, imagining the terror going through poor Sasha’s mind. Then the dragon hops to the ground, tail lashing so hard it knocks over a nearby spit. I do not like this. I smell humans and their fire spitters around.
Shit. Guns. I’ll be cautious.
With the last strap undone, Kael kneels and I slide to the ground. I shove my goggles back so I can see better. “Sasha?” I call out, racing for the door of the bus. “Are you here? Sasha?” A shadow falls, and I look back at Kael. He fans his wings out, shadowing the school bus and protecting it from view.
Hurry, he tells me. I can smell the fire spitters. They come.
“I can’t leave without Sasha,” I protest, and push open the busted door to the bus, crawling inside. “Sasha? Are you here? Tell me!”
A muffled half-sob meets my ears.
Encouraged, I head farther into the bus, scrambling to the end compartment. Sure enough, Sasha is huddled deep in the recesses of the bus, hiding against the welded-shut door. A blanket is pulled over her head, and her big eyes are filled with tears.
“Sasha! Honey, it’s me. Claudia.” I move forward and kneel next to my terrified friend. “Don’t be scared. The dragon’s with me. He’s safe. I’ve come to take you away.”
“Take me away?” Sasha’s eyes widen, and as they do, I notice that one eye is swollen and dark around the edges underneath the ever-present layer of soot on her skin. Frowning, I touch my friend’s face…and gasp when the blanket falls away and I see Sasha’s arm in a sling.
“What happened?” I ask, shocked.
Sasha shrugs the blanket back over her arm, hiding it. “I needed money.”
And the soldier she sells herself to gets rougher with every visit. I press my lips together to bite back my response, angry. No, I’m more than angry. I’m bitterly furious. If I’d been here, this wouldn’t have happened. I could have kept Sasha fed with my scavenging. Amy, too. All of this is my fault. But I can’t focus on that now. One thing at a time. “Come on. We’re getting out of here. You, me, and Amy.”
“B-but…it’s not safe,” Sasha protests, even as I take her good hand and help her to her feet. She has to be pushed to even take a few steps forward, and her hesitation is clear. “We can’t leave the city—”
“That’s what I thought, once upon a time,” I tell her, projecting confidence. “But you’ll be safer with me and the dragon than here. I promise you that.” When Sasha continues to pull and struggle, I turn to her and put my hands on her shoulders. “Sasha. Do you trust me?”
They come, my mate, Kael sends. They come and they are spitting fire. Hurry.
30
CLAUDIA
The patter of rifle fire sounds in the distance, and Kael rustles his wings, drawing them tighter around the bus to protect me. “We’ve got to go,” I tell Sasha. “Please, come with me.”
My friend hesitates, then slowly nods, wide-eyed. She lets me lead her out of the bus.
The sound of the gunfire grows louder as we hold hands and race back toward Kael. I can feel Sasha’s hand trembling in mine, but she doesn’t pull away. That’s good, at least. “Come on,” I say as we reach Kael’s side. I pat his flank so he can crouch low and let us mount. “We need to get you strapped in.”
A gun fires, entirely too close, and Kael’s wings shoot upright, blocking my grasp on the hanging straps I use to climb atop him. “Kael,” I protest, even as Sasha whimpers and ducks her head. “Quit moving. I can’t—”
Forget the straps, Kael warns me. Just climb on. They are too close.
More bullets fly, and I hear the sound of them thudding into something. Something distinctly un-metallic. Are they hitting my dragon? I can’t breathe for a second. They’re not hurting you, are they? Kael—
No, but you are vulnerable, my Claudia. The possessive anger in his head blasts through my mind. I will not let you get hurt!
Okay, big guy. Calm down. I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand. We’ll just have to strap in when we’re safely in the skies. I grab at the dangling straps when he dips a shoulder low again and haul myself onto the saddle perched between his shoulder-blades. Then I lean over and offer an arm to Sasha. “Climb on, and fast. They’re shooting at us.”