Page 89 of Dragon Daddy Protector

I released my own inner beast, the surge of power rippling outward as my body transformed in an instant. Our roars filled the air, drowning out all other sounds as we lunged at each other, claws slashing, fangs bared.

“Mariah, get behind me!” I could barely hear Jax shouting through the pounding war drum in my ears, the primal urge to kill the enemy taking hold as a stream of fire burst out of my maw. Every instinct I had was screaming at me to take him out now. One good hit and my family would be safe.

Stay back. Don’t come near him. I sent Mariah the message, hoping she would get it even though she was in human form. Then I focused my attention back on Tomas, dodging his swipe and countering with my own. I spun, pushing him back with my spiked tail before I flared my wings, rising into the air as I blasted a column of fire at him.

But he wasn’t giving up, and he charged straight through the fire at me. We traded blow after blow using tails, claws, and teeth. I wasn’t giving up any ground, but neither was he, nor did he show any sign of weakening. He was strong, powerful, and he fought as viscously as I did for dominance.

But I couldn't let him win. Not this time. Not when so much was at stake.

With a primal roar, I summoned every ounce of strength I possessed and lunged at Tomas, teeth bared as I aimed for his throat. At the last minute, he batted at me with his tail, trying to knock me back, but my momentum still carried me forward even as I fell to the side. My claws at last found purchase, slicing through the scale and flesh with ease.

Tomas roared with pain, falling back, and I watched with satisfaction as he shifted back into his human form, huddled on the ground, clutching his throat, and gasping for air.

I shifted immediately and stalked toward him, victory within my reach.

“Did you really think you could take her from me?” I spat, my chest heaving with exertion as I towered over him. “Did you think you could tear apart my family and not pay the price?”

He wheezed, blood trickling down his chin.

“That was for Sebastian.” I lifted my hand, my claws extending in a partial shift as I prepared to deliver the fatal blow. “And this is for me, you motherfucker. You’ll never touch my mate again.”

I sliced my hand through the air, ready to end him, but without warning, he lunged forward, his own lethal claws extending as he swiped at me with a roar of fury. It caught me off-guard, the hit tearing into my arm with searing pain as I stumbled to the ground.

“Evan!” Mariah screamed, her terror pulsing out of her in waves.

Lucas raced forward from where he’d stood near Mariah and Jax as Tomas seized his chance.

Turning and launching himself into the air, he knocked Jax aside with a swipe of his claws, leaving Mariah exposed.

“No!” I roared, surging to my feet. Blood thrummed in my ears, drowning out Mariah's cries as Tomas caught her in up in his arms before I could reach her. He turned, holding her back to his chest as he wrapped one hand around her waist, the other sharp-clawed fingertips coming to her throat.

My vision turned red, but I stopped in my tracks when claws on the hand at her waist lowered to her abdomen. He grinned wildly. “It looks like you have another little surprise for me. I’m sure this little one’s blood will be interesting indeed. Even more so than Sofia’s.”

Rage surged through me, a torrent threatening to swallow me whole.

Chapter 28

Mariah

Tomas’s claws pressed against my throat, against my belly. The cold, sharp tips bit into my skin as I whimpered.

My baby.

My dragon instincts urged me to fight, yet fear paralyzed me. One wrong move and he could end both of our lives. But even then, deep within, a spark of defiance burned, fueled by the need to protect myself and my unborn child.

“Let her go, you bastard!” Evan roared, mere yards away. His voice reverberated with outrage.

My heart caught in my throat. Blood poured from a deep gash in his arm, staining his skin a dark crimson. His eyes locked onto mine, and it was clear he was struggling to maintain control over the beast inside him. But just like me, he realized how precarious our situation was.

“Or what?” Tomas sneered, tightening his grip on me. “Give it up, Evan. You’ve lost. Just like I told you, you’ll never defeat me.”

In that moment, I knew what I had to do. There was no other choice. I was no longer just fighting for myself. While I would do anything to keep from becoming Tomas’s experimental toy, once again, there was so much more at stake. My pulse raced as one thought dominated my mind: end him.

All I could think about was shifting and biting his fucking head off. What would he think of his little creation then? I kept my eyes locked on Evan. He slowly shook his head, as if he knew exactly what I was thinking.

It was the only option, but I didn’t know how I could do it. With his claws at my throat and my lower belly, one wrong move and he would slice me open. How could I manage to shift?

Evan’s gaze burned into mine as if he were willing me to understand something. Tomas’s grip on me was painfully unrelenting, but the fear that’d gripped before now morphed into fierce determination.

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