Chapter 7

7

Lucas’ team flew back and forth, shuttling people over the fire line that cut across the landscape like a devastating river flowing through the Pine Barrens. Andre was a master of efficiency, descending into the depths of the angry smoke by cable and returning with victims attached to him in under fifteen minutes. In three hours, they collected six patients and delivered them to the hospital and the bulk of that time had been spent searching.

“Get ready, Andre!” Lucas shouted as the pilot guided the helicopter close to the treetops and hovered while Andre descended yet again to recover the man below.

While they waited, Simon prepped the gurney and supplies. He’d mostly adjusted to moving tethered through the cabin, but he still managed to catch his leash on at least one piece of equipment with each pass. Simon bent to reach into a bag and was yanked backward as though caught by a seatbelt. Glancing down, he found his cord snagged on the oxygen tank and looped repeatedly around several other strapped-down items.

“Damnit. I’m stuck. Can’t we hook me to something else?” he asked.

“Use the anchor point on that wall.” Lucas indicated a hook a few feet from Simon.

Simon nodded. Working quickly, he detached his carabiner and began detangling the mess of rope. His sweaty fingers slipped, and he had to wipe them on his pants, but he finally managed to free himself.

He slapped the loop into his new anchor and finished setting up. The heat sweltered inside the cramped space, turning the copter into an oven, and he wiped his brow on his sleeve.

Finally, Andre’s helmet appeared over the floor of the helicopter. “He’s unconscious. He passed out from the spinning on the way up.”

Simon reached for the unconscious man as the pilot steered the helicopter away from the fire. Mini explosions below them ignited new blazes, and the copter tilted sideways as they swerved to avoid the new bursts.

“Hang on.”

A sudden updraft jostled the copter and Simon stumbled. Metal clinked.

“Your carabiner came off your anchor!” Lucas tripped as he moved forward. “Give me your clip!”

Simon took a step forward just before the copter lurched violently to the left.

“What the hell was that ?” the pilot yelled over the radio.

Simon held out his hand with the clip but was thrown violently off balance as the copter collided with something. He tripped, sliding to his left.

And fell into open space.

Simon screamed, reaching over his head for Lucas’ hand, the line, the landing bars, anything. He flailed, stomach rushing into his throat, terror seizing him, and looked up, searching uselessly for the helicopter.

Instead, the face of a monster appeared, chasing him from above even as death raced up at him from below.

Lilis streaked through the night, wings pounding furiously to reach the person plummeting to the earth. They sailed past her trajectory, and she dove for the ground, tucking her wings against her body to exceed the speed of their freefall. They rotated in the air, midnight hair whipping aside to reveal?—

Simon! No!

Horror twisted his features as he caught sight of her, and he screamed again. Or maybe that was the wind around them, protesting their speed. She kicked, grabbed him, tucked him closely to her chest, and folded her wings around her body, twisting at the last second.

She crashed through the trees, bouncing hard on the ground, her body dragging a trench through the dirt before slamming through more trees and rolling to a stop, feet from the fire line.

Pain assaulted her from every direction and fogged her mind.

Simon… falling…

Desperate to reassure herself he was okay, she unfolded her wings and opened her arms.

Simon leapt to his feet. “What the hell is—oh shit, a dragon? Dragons aren’t real.” His voice became singsong and placative. “Oh, but you’re real. Nice dragon. Good dragon.” His eyes grew wide as Lilis got unsteadily to her feet.

Agony exploded along her nerve endings, more potent than anything she’d ever experienced. Her joints ached, one wing wouldn’t close properly, and her entire body was one giant bruise. She blinked uncertainly at Simon, wishing he’d look at her the same way he had in the hospital.

Shake it off, Lilis. You’ve survived worse.

True, but worse had never come with this much pain. The cuts along her arms where Longwei had scraped her burned hotter than her own fires, almost like…

That cowardly fucker! He poisoned his claws?

She’d deal with him later.

She turned her attention back to Simon, standing completely still in the most awkward and stiff position, leaned slightly backward and away from her, eyes as big as saucers, chin down.

Her dragon did not approve at all of Simon being so afraid, and Lilis was in total agreement. A wave of protectiveness washed over her, and she gently nuzzled him, trying to reassure him he was safe in her presence.

“Aaaaaaah! Oh god, oh god. Don’t eat me!”

He turned to flee.

Lilis slammed her tail in front of him, blocking his path as the trees ahead of him erupted in flames.