Chapter 16

Faye released a scream as her body fell through the air. She looked down at the murky water rushing up to greet her. She closed her eyes and held her breath, and she hit the water, hard. She had to beat down the panic that rose in her chest. Her arms flailed around, and her body began its ascent to the top of the water. She kicked her legs to guide her to the surface.

She gasped and broke through the surface, her lungs burning from being deprived of air. She tread water and frantically looked around. She tried to take deep breaths and avoid taking in the nasty water. The dragon flew overhead and released a deafening roar.

Where the hell are we?

She desperately searched for land. She wasn't the best swimmer and knew she would tire soon. She sensed a presence quietly drifting behind her so turned. She held in a scream. A large decaying animal carcass floated past her. The dragon flew overhead again. She slipped beneath the water's surface and swam away, trying to put as much distance as she could between her and the dead animal.

She couldn't tell what it was, and somehow, she knew it had met the same fate as she would. She broke the surface, unable to hold her breath any longer. The smell in the air was nauseating. The aroma of death surrounded her, and she had to force the contents of her stomach back down that were trying to escape. She glanced to her right and finally saw land.

She took off into the disgusting water, keeping her attention on the land. She didn't want to know what else was in there with her and pushed herself until she was finally able to put her feet on solid ground. Her feet carried her further until she reached the base of a tree. Her body slammed into the ground as she sat hard.

She leaned her back against the tree, her breaths coming rapidly. She glanced into the sky and found no signs of her captor. Fear gripped her, almost paralyzing her, but she knew she couldn't stay here. He would come for her.

She shoved off the ground and stood on shaky legs. Her drenched clothes made it almost impossible for her to run, but she had to try. She didn't know where she was going, but she moved as fast as her water-soaked clothes would allow. She headed toward a line of trees that were up ahead. She glanced behind her and still didn't see the dragon. Faye sent up a prayer that he would think she had drowned and wouldn't come for her.

She entered the brush of trees and hid behind a thick trunk, trying to control her breathing. She brushed the wet hair from her forehead with a shaky hand, then placed it against her chest, landing on something hard beneath her shirt.

Vander's dragon eye.

She pulled it from beneath her drenched shirt and rubbed it between her fingers. The action encouraged a calmness to spread throughout her body. It was as if Vander himself was there to calm her down. She bit back a sob, looking around at her surroundings.

She knew he would come for her. Her dragon warrior would not let her down. She just had to survive until he reached her.

"Vander," she whispered and closed her eyes. She knew it was silly, but she wished she could reach out to him. To speak to him. To hear his voice. She had heard plenty of times of paranormals being able to speak to each other, and this was one time she wished she was of the paranormal world. She prayed that his pendant would allow him to hear her plea for help.

"No use in calling on your dragon lover," a chilling voice announced.

Her eyes flew open, and there he stood. She would recognize his figure anywhere.

"He can't hear you."

Gamair.

"Just let me go," she demanded, trying to ensure that her voice didn't shake. She tried as best as she could to appear brave. "If you let me go now, Vander will let you live."

"He'll let me live? Silly human. Your boyfriend is no match for me. I warned him, that if he did not cease his pursuit of me, that he would lose something of value to him. So, you can thank him for putting revenge for that ratchet farming village over your life."

"He's only doing what is right," she goaded him. She knew that this man, this shifter, was dangerous. She was proud that Vander would hunt this being to avenge the innocent. She stood tall as she stared him in the eye.

"Your false sense of bravery is almost believable, even downright cute." He chuckled and advanced on her.

She peered around and knew she wouldn't be able to outrun a shifter.

"Too bad no one will be here to save you."

A shiver ran down her spine. He moved closer. Just one look into his eyes, and she knew he was sick in the head. Deranged .

"I'm warning you," she stammered and stepped away from the tree, trying to back up.

"You're in no position to threaten me," he growled and marched toward her.

Fuck this , she thought and took off, running deeper into the woods. His laughter filled the air behind her, and she pumped her arms and pushed herself.

A force hit her from behind, ripping a scream from her. She fell. Her body slid across the hard ground before drawing to a stop. She attempted to roll to her side and found her body unable to do the maneuver. She willed her arms to move, but it was like invisible ropes kept her arms bound to her sides.

"No," she moaned, fighting with all her might, but her body wouldn't budge.

"Tsk…tsk…" Gamair's voice drew closer behind her.

A lone tear made its way down her cheek as she lay there, vulnerable to him.

"Vander," she whispered, desperately praying he would come for her. He had to. He'd promised he would always protect her.

"I told you, your boyfriend isn't here to help you."

* * *

" Vander…"

The faint sound of Faye's voice filled Vander's head. His pendant! Excitement filled his chest; he realized she still wore the pendant he'd given her. It would allow him to track her.

"I know where she is," he informed Feno and Jodos through their mental link. His dragon let loose a huff, and he turned in the direction of the last signal the pendant had given off.

The damn Wetlands.

He should have known Gamair would go there. He just prayed they weren't too late. He knew what type of carnage was waiting in the Wetlands. Gamair's dragon loved to feast on rotten flesh that decayed in the murky waters there. His dragon pushed itself faster at the image of Faye, floating in the waters with the decaying animals, coming to mind.

"Where?" Feno's deep voice broke through his thoughts.

"The Wetlands," Vander answered.

"You really think he would take her there?" Jodos asked.

"I can sense her through my pendant."

Curses filled his head. Both Feno and Jodos knew that a dragon's pendant wouldn't lead them astray.

"Is she still alive?" Feno asked gently.

"Yes, I heard her voice," he growled, knowing it was more than just her voice he'd heard. He'd heard and sensed the fear inside her. She was frightened, panicking, and alone.

"We stick together," Feno reminded them. "No hero bullshit. We stand against him together."

Vander pushed his dragon faster, his wings slicing through the air, eating up the distance. His dragon was in battle mode, and they closed in on Faye's location. If one hair was harmed on her head, he would tear Gamair limb from limb.

The smell of stale water and rotting flesh filled his nostrils, denoting they were close to the Wetlands. Vander scanned the waters as soon as they came into sight, instantly looking for Faye.

The three dragons stayed in a triangular formation flying over the waters. Vander glanced toward the sun and saw it was making its descent. They would need to hurry. Once nighttime fell, it would make it harder for them to find her. The Wetlands stretched on for miles, and in the dark, there was no telling what creatures would be on the hunt.

"Any sign of her?" Jodos asked.

"No," Vander growled. There wasn't even a sign of Gamair. It was hard to hide a dragon that was larger than the size of a football field.

"A couple miles ahead, there's a small mountainous region. I bet he's holed up there," Feno said.

"It's worth a shot," Vander replied, falling in line behind his brother, leading the way.