Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lindsey

"Holy shit."

I stared up and into the sky, seeing the distinctive flames of dragons. Brody! They circled around one another, diving, evading, flaming, each trying to outmaneuver the other. I had no doubt, no doubt at all, that was Brody up there, fighting Rivers. Fighting to kill, fighting to live.

Fighting for me.

I screamed, straining against my rope. I felt my flesh rip, tear, fresh agony and blood from my wrists as I fought to escape them. If I tore my hands from my arms, then I might escape. Fly. Help Brody kill Austin.

I glanced down at the bomb vest around my torso. I don't know who's winning up there. Maybe Brody, maybe Austin. Maybe they'll kill each other. I can't sit here and watch my love perish.

"I'm sorry, little one," I murmured, tears burning my eyes. "If this doesn't work, we're both gone. If there's an afterlife, perhaps we'll see each other one day. Right now, your daddy needs me. I have to take the chance that I'm faster than an explosion."

I shut my eyes. I controlled my breathing. I focused only on one thing – shifting into my dragon. To change my fragile, human body into an armor-plated creature that can withstand C-4. I sent a brief prayer up to any higher power that might look after dragons.

I shifted.

The world exploded into flame.