Chapter 40

FORTY

K ai spun toward the sound, pushing Quinn behind him as three figures emerged from behind a nearby ice formation. Their dark cloaks marked them as members of the Shadow Clan—rogue dragons who’d broken away from traditional rule centuries ago.

“Well, well,” the apparent leader drawled, his black eyes glinting with malice. “If it isn’t the great Dragon King himself. A bit far from your cozy palace, aren’t you?”

“Farther than you should be from your territory,” Kai growled back. He could feel Quinn tense behind him, her hand sliding toward her geological hammer. He silently prayed she wouldn’t do anything rash. “The Shadow Clan was banished from these mountains.”

“Banished by your father’s decree. But the old king is dead, isn’t he?” The leader’s smile showed too many teeth. “And his son seems to be having trouble keeping his magic stable. Shame about all these unfortunate accidents lately.”

Quinn’s sharp intake of breath told Kai she’d made the connection. “You’re the ones who’ve been destabilizing the fault lines.”

The leader’s gaze shifted to her, his expression turning predatory. “Ah, the human scientist. We’ve heard so much about you. Tell me, how does it feel to be a pawn in dragon politics?”

“Better than being a cut-rate villain in a B-movie,” she shot back. “Seriously, the whole dramatic entrance thing? Very last century.”

Kai barely held back a groan. Of course, she’d antagonize them.

The leader’s eyes narrowed. “Careful, little human. You’re far from home, and accidents happen so easily in these mountains.”

“You’d know all about that, wouldn’t you?” She stepped out from behind Kai despite his attempt to keep her shielded. “The targeted collapse patterns, the precise strikes at structural weak points—it’s all been you working with Ordan.”

“Clever girl.” The leader’s form shimmied, scales rippling beneath his human skin as his control slipped. “Too clever for your own good, perhaps. Though I suppose that’s why our friend chose you.”

“Chose me?” Quinn’s voice sharpened. “What do you mean?”

But Kai already knew. The pieces clicked into place with sickening clarity. “Ordan. He arranged for you to come here.”

The leader’s smile widened. “Did you really think it was chance that brought a human geologist to Nova Aurora? That the great Gerri Wilder just happened to send exactly the expert you needed?” He laughed, the sound like ice cracking. “Ordan has been planning this for centuries. The perfect way to finally break the Dragon King—give him his fated mate, then take her away.”

“Take her—” Kai’s vision went red around the edges, his dragon clawing to break free. “If you touch her?—”

“You’ll what? Transform? Try to fight us all?” The leader gestured, and more dark-cloaked figures emerged from the shadows. “In this narrow pass? You’d risk bringing the whole mountain down on your precious human’s head.”

He was right, damn him. In such close quarters, a full dragon battle would cause a devastating collapse. And Quinn...

“Okay, timeout.” Quinn’s voice cut through his rage like a blade. “Let me get this straight. You’re saying Ordan somehow knew I’d be Kai’s magical destiny person, so he manipulated events to get me here... just so he could kill me, and what, make Kai sad?”

Put that way, it did sound rather ridiculous.

The leader frowned. “You dare mock?—”

“Oh, I dare a lot of things. Like pointing out that your brilliant plan has more holes than PhD committee feedback.” She took another step forward, ignoring Kai’s attempt to pull her back. “First, how exactly did Ordan know about me? I didn’t even know I was coming here until two weeks ago. Second, if he’s so all-powerful, why not just kill me on Earth? Why this whole elaborate setup?”

“You understand nothing of our ways?—”

“No, I understand plenty. I understand you’re not actually here to kill me.” Her voice rang with certainty. “You’re here to test a theory. To confirm what Ordan suspects—that I’m actually Kai’s fated mate. Because if I wasn’t, he wouldn’t be so protective right now. Would he?”

The leader’s silence was answer enough.

“Thought so.” Quinn’s smile turned sharp. “Well, congratulations. Theory confirmed. Unfortunately for you, I have a theory of my own.”

Before anyone could react, she swung her geological hammer down hard against a specific point in the ice at her feet. The crack that formed shot outward, racing toward the enemy.

“Move!” Kai grabbed her around the waist just as the ice shelf beneath the Shadow Clan members splintered.

Their enemies scrambled backward, several shifting to dragon form in panic. But Quinn had chosen her strike point well—the geological structure couldn’t support the weight of multiple dragons. The entire section of mountain face collapsed, taking their attackers with it.

“Time to go!” Quinn grabbed Kai’s hand and ran, pulling him along a path that somehow remained stable despite the destruction behind them. “That won’t hold them long once they get airborne.”

She was right. Already he could hear wings beating behind them. In seconds, the Shadow Clan would be on them, and this time they wouldn’t waste time with threats.

“Quinn.” He pulled her to a stop. “Do you trust me?”

She met his eyes, and in that moment, something passed between them—understanding, acceptance, maybe even something more. “Yes.”

“Then hold on tight.”

His transformation was faster than it had ever been, driven by the need to protect her. One moment he was human, the next his massive dragon form filled the narrow pass. Quinn didn’t hesitate, scrambling onto his back with surprising agility.

“Just so we’re clear,” she said as she settled between his shoulder blades, “this doesn’t mean I’m accepting the whole magical destiny thing.”

He rumbled a laugh that shook the ice around them, then launched into the sky just as their pursuers rounded the corner. The sudden acceleration pulled a startled yelp from Quinn, but her arms wrapped securely around his neck as they climbed higher.

Behind them, angry roars split the air as the Shadow Clan gave chase. But Kai knew these mountains better than anyone, and no one could match his speed with precious cargo to protect. He banked hard around a peak, using the terrain to his advantage as they raced toward the safety of the palace.

“You know,” Quinn shouted over the wind, “when I said I wanted to study your mountains up close, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind!”

If dragons could smile, he would have. Even in danger, she kept her wit. Just one more reason his magic had chosen well.

They flew on through the air, twin suns painting the ice in shades of fire and gold. Behind them, their pursuers fell steadily further behind. And if Quinn held him a little tighter than strictly necessary for safety, well... he wasn’t going to complain about that either.

The truth was out now—about his magic, about Ordan’s schemes, about their connection. But somehow, flying through his kingdom with Quinn’s warmth pressed against his scales, Kai felt lighter than he had in centuries.

Let Ordan plot. Let the Shadow Clan scheme. They had underestimated one crucial fact: Quinn wasn’t just his fated mate. She was a force of nature in her own right, perfectly capable of bringing down mountains on anyone who threatened what she cared about.

And from the way she’d looked at him before transforming, the way she trusted him now... perhaps she was starting to care more than she wanted to admit.