Page 23 of Dragon Untamed

Beckett shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know, man. I stumbled onto this in the middle. I don't know how it started."

Arlo blew out a puff of air at him. Beckett shot him a look to keep quiet. If there was anything that he learned from being in charge around here, it was to keep certain things close to his chest. There wasn't a reason to concern anyone about the black haze just yet. They didn't know enough about it to answer any questions, and that would result in everyone panicking. That was the last thing that any of them wanted. Hundreds of Dragons, Lycans, Witches, Fae, and Vampires are in a state of panic over something that they don't know will go away on its own or has already blown over.

Nathan rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head, "Excuse me, fellas. I need to talk to Larry. I need to apologize. I don't know what came over me. Whatever it was, he needed to know that I didn't say those things to him. Thanks for...kicking my ass?" Nathan said, chuckling, "I guess if you didn't step in, I would have hurt my friend. Thanks for that."

"I'd say any time, but I don't really want this to repeat. So... You’re welcome? Don't let it happen again?" Beckett laughed nervously due to the awkwardness of it all. He had no idea what to say about any of this.

Nathan nodded his head and held out his hand. Beckett gladly shook it, and Nathan parted ways. Arlo and Esen looked down at him and gave him a look of confusion.

Beckett threw his hands up, "I don't know. I think the shit that got into Kaida got into him. I'm beat. I can't get into another tussle with my dragon healing. I'm going back to the house to get some rest. We will talk about it soon." Beckett looked around, and a thought occurred to him. "Can you two fly around and monitor the people? I don't want more cases like this going on without us intervening."

The two dragons made grumbles in agreement and expanded their wings. Within seconds, both of them were airborne andflying around the area. Beckett turned back toward the house, replaying everything that had just happened.

If that shit infected everyone on the island, we would be in heaps of trouble.

Adragon's roar woke Kaida from her slumber and nearly made her fall off the bed. Pulling herself to a sitting position was more work than she cared to admit as her bones and joints felt like they were on fire. With a groan, she forced herself to roll off the bed toward her dresser. Chilly air brushed across her skin and reminded her that she had shifted into her dragon to fly with Beckett.

But that's all I remember. What happened?

Kaida attempted to poke her dragon to get some answers, but she could not feel her presence. Her breathing came rapidly as she tried to recall the events that led her here. When nothing came, Kaida fell to the floor with tears spilling down her face. Kaida pushed on the chord that was her bond to Beckett as she tucked her legs to her chest and rocked herself while reaching out to her dragon.

What? What is going on that you need to wake me from my sleep?

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!Kaida screamed at her dragon.

I have been trying to recover! I need rest for that!

You could have responded to me somehow just to let me know you were still there!

You should have known I am still here. You've shifted multiple times now to know you have me.

Stop being a grouch! I didn't feel you. It was like I never shifted into you at all! Like I was still dragonless.

Odd. I wonder if that mist had anything to do with it.

What mist?

You weren't present during my meltdown because of that black mist?

What?! No! What do you mean?

Hmm. Strange. I felt you awake during that time. You were trying to keep me from destroying everything. Didn't really work. I hope Beckett and his dragon are okay.

What the hell did you do to our mate?!

Well... he was trying to stop me. I wasn't having it. Our plasma can sear even dragon scales. That's probably why I shouldn't have blasted him like I did.

Kaida was horrified.What? Did you attack our mate? What is wrong with you?!

It was more like, “Whatwaswrong with me?” That mist turned off a lot of my morals. I wouldn't normally destroy buildings like that or attack someone like my mate.

Did you just say you destroyed buildings?

I feel like you are just repeating what I am saying in question form.

I have no idea how to process this. I don't know why you would go and destroy things! Don't blame some mist. It sounds like you had a tantrum!

I think we need to see your Witch friend. She may know more about this mist than I do. It felt dark and more like Witch magic than Fae.