Chapter 13

Lyla

A crackle through the walkie talkie on the warden's desk made me jump. He stared at it, surprised for a moment, and then turned it on, running a hand through his grey hair.

"Warden is online. Go," he said into the machine.

"Emergency red. Emergency red. Alarm systems are down. A dragon is destroying the yard."

"All available guards to the yard."

My heart sank into my stomach. There was only one dragon here. I had to go to him. Something terrible was going on.

"I told you. Delaney and the alarms!"

The words came out of me in a flurry of anger as I jumped up out of my chair and ran for the door to the office.

"I know. I'm going there now. Get to the therapists' lounge, now."

"No, I have to go to the yard."

"What, no!"

The warden looked at me like I was mad.

"He's my mate. Falkon, the dragon. I can calm him down."

He sized me up for a moment.

"Ok, but stay behind the guards and get to safety if he won't give himself up. Mate or not, dragons are dangerous."

I nodded and ran out of the office, the warden behind me. I charged to the yard as fast as I could, shouting at every door to be let through.

This can't be happening. What is he doing? He wouldn't do this for no reason.

As I arrived, I heard gunshots firing, and a pained roar. A scream ripped out of me, and I thought I was going to be sick. Everything threatened to overwhelm me. I had to save him. I pulled myself up and pushed through the guards. They tried to grab at me. But I dodged through.

"Falkon!" I screamed as I saw his body down on the ground. His face lifted to me.

"Sunbeam, run."

"No," I sobbed as a guard finally grabbed my arm.

"Leave him alone, please."

"Ma'am, he's breaking up the prison. We have to stop him."

I looked down at Falkon and my brain suddenly pushed through the panic, and I knew what was happening. I remembered what he had said and how he had looked at me. He would only do all this if he thought I was in danger somehow. That was what all of this was about.

"No, he's doing this to save me. I promise, but I'm ok."

The guard looked confused, and I shoved him away. Falkon was trying to stand again.

"Falkon, I'm here. I'm safe. Whatever it was, you succeeded. I'm ok now."

I twirled around so he could look at me.

"Sunbeam, you are safe?"

"I'm safe. Stay down on the ground."

"I don't think I can get up again, anyway."

For the first time, I spotted the blood on his side, oozing out of him. A cry ripped from me, and I ran down the steps to him.

"Ma'am?"

"Fuck off," I screamed.

I reached him and collapsed to my knees, placing kisses all over his face.

"I'm here. We're here together. Everything is ok now."

Thuds rang out somewhere in the distance and the guards looked around, confused. A walkie talkie crackled. I moved to Falkon's wound. It was large and looked deep.

"Is this the only one?"

"Yes, my scales are tough."

He was trying to sound like he was ok, but an edge of pain roughened his voice.

"I don't know your biology properly. Are there any important organs in here?"

"No. But I'm not sure I can move."

"I can try to stop the bleeding."

"No," his voice ground out and his head fell to the ground. "I can heal, but the bullet needs to come out. They used a scale piercing bullet. It's coated in a toxin that stops me from healing. You need to dig it out."

I fought the urge to be sick. But I knew I had to do this. I gritted my teeth and stuck my fingers into the wound. Falkon roared with pain and tears fell down my face.

"I'm sorry," I sobbed as I pushed further in. His tail thrashed and hit the ground as I finally found the bullet and yanked it out. His body almost collapsed with relief and his head thudded against the dirt ground. I clambered back to his face.

"Ah my Sunbeam."

"It's ok now. Will you heal?"

"I already am. Just give me a moment."

"Ma'am!"

The voice rang out behind me.

"What?"

My voice was nearly a shriek.

"The walls inside have been breached. The prisoners are everywhere. You need to get to safety. Please?"

"I'm staying. You go and deal with it."

"Ma'am, I don't have time to argue."

"Then don't."

I turned away from him. I heard him shuffle his feet while he decided what to do. There was a muffled bang as something hit the ground behind me. I spun around and found the guard there.

"Here."

He handed me the massive gun he'd been holding. Then he left. I turned back to Falkon, whose eyes were closed now.

"Falkon? No, please don't?"

"I'm still alive."

"This is what you needed to do? Get shot?"

I was angry now. My mind was in turmoil.

"Yes, apparently. But you got here and saved me. And now I must save you."

He began pulling himself up.