Chapter 30

THIRTY

A range of emotions tore through Talon. Anger. Pain. Fear. Everything - the burning spread of iron poisoning, the sharp agony of broken bones, the terrifying moment when her consciousness flickered. His mate was dying.

The roar that tore from his throat shook the mountains, primal rage overtaking all rational thought. His massive form slammed into Revon with bone-crushing force, all finesse forgotten in his berserker fury.

Claws ripped through scales and flesh, teeth crushed bone and sinew. When Revon tried to shift, Talon’s jaws closed around his torso. The dying dragon’s screams cut off in a wet gurgle as Talon literally tore him in half, entrails spilling through the air.

“Get Dr. Bennett here now!” Levi, back in human form, roared after he and the guards eliminated the remaining mercenaries with brutal efficiency. His phone was already out, blood-streaked fingers dialing.

Talon shifted midair, hitting the ground running. “HARLYNN!” His voice was barely human. She emerged from her protected position, medical supplies ready, but even she paled at Asher’s condition.

Blood pooled beneath her crumpled form, her skin ashen where it wasn’t mottled with bruising. The wound from the cold iron had turned an ugly black with dark veins spreading outward like spider webs across her shoulder and chest. Her breathing came in short, pained gasps.

“No, no, no.” Talon dropped to his knees beside her, hands shaking as he carefully gathered her broken body. “Stay with me, love. Please.”

Her eyes fluttered open, glazed with pain. “T-Talon?” Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. “Can’t... feel my left side...”

“Don’t try to move.” His voice cracked as he cradled her closer. The dragon within him howled in helpless fury - all their power, and they couldn’t heal her. Her pain clawed at his chest. The way the iron’s toxin spreading through her system almost sent him to his knees.

Harlynn worked quickly, her usual playfulness replaced by grim focus. “This is bad, brother. Her hybrid physiology is fighting the healing process - it’s like her human DNA and dragon DNA are at war.” She pressed gauze against the worst wounds. “We need Dr. Bennett. Normal shifter healing could kill her.”

“The helicopter’s two minutes out,” Levi reported, keeping watch while Devon and Garrison secured the perimeter. “Bennett’s team is already preparing the secure medical facility.”

“Cold...” Asher mumbled, shivering violently despite the warmth of Talon’s body. “Something’s wrong... inside...” Her eyes rolled back as consciousness slipped away.

“No!” Talon’s anguished cry echoed across the valley. He pressed his forehead to hers, pushing strength into her. “Fight, my love. Just hold on.”

The sound of helicopter blades cut through the air as the medical team arrived. Dr. Bennett jumped out before they fully landed, medical kit in hand. His face was grave as he assessed Asher’s injuries.

“The cold iron is spreading fast,” he said, quickly inserting an IV. “Her unique genetic structure is both helping and hurting her. The human DNA makes her more vulnerable to the poison, but it’s also preventing a total systemic collapse.” He looked at Talon. “We need to get her to the facility now. I have specialized equipment there for hybrid physiology.”

The helicopter ride was endless torture. Talon cradled Asher against his chest while Dr. Bennett worked, monitoring vital signs that kept slipping into dangerous territory. Every labored breath she took stabbed him like knives.

“Her temperature’s climbing,” Bennett warned, injecting something into her IV. “The iron poisoning is causing her dragon DNA to attack her human cells. We need to stabilize the genetic conflict before organ failure sets in.”

Talon growled low in his throat, his dragon clawing to break free and hunt down Dimitri. Only Asher’s desperate grip on his hand when pain racked through her kept him grounded.

“Stay with me,” she whispered between harsh breaths. “Please. It hurts less when you’re close.”

His heart shattered at how weak her voice sounded. “I’m here, love. I’m not leaving you.”

The secure medical facility beneath DragonTech came into view. A team waited on the roof, led by Dr. Evadne Andrews, Asher’s mom. The moment they landed, organized chaos erupted.

“Get her to isolation room one,” Bennett ordered as they transferred Asher to a waiting gurney. “Start the genetic stabilization protocol. And someone call Nathaniel - we need his quantum theory expertise for this hybrid cellular degradation.”

Talon moved to follow, but Bennett caught his arm. “She’s going into emergency treatment. I need you to-”

“I’m not leaving her.” Talon’s eyes blazed gold, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl.

“Listen to me,” Bennett snapped with surprising authority. “Your dragon energy could interfere with the stabilization process. Give us one hour to get the poison contained. After that, she’ll need your strength more than ever.”

Levi appeared at Talon’s shoulder, still splattered with blood from the battle. “Let them work, brother. We have other matters to handle.” His voice lowered. “Like finding out how Revon got his hands on weaponized cold iron.”

The reminder of Dimitri’s treachery made Talon’s vision bleed red. Another spike of pain from Asher shot him in the chest as they rushed her into treatment. His dragon roared for vengeance.

Evadne gripped Talon’s arm. “I’ll stay with her. You know I won’t leave my daughter.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Find who did this to my baby.”