Page 28 of To Hunt a Ruby Remedy

“Ready,” she called a minute later, once she and the basket were secure.

I beat my wings and took off.

Thirteen

Scarlette

I watched the dragon soar off, Grandmother Molle perched on his back, with wonder. She was so small, it seemed she should tumble off with each flap of his wings, but she didn’t even waver.

I stayed among the trees, hidden from notice until Ranulf became little more than a smudge of green against the pink and lavender sky. A dragon at sunset was an incredible sight.

I shouldn’t have followed them, but I couldn’t resist this chance to see him shift. After our impromptu swim in the river, I had looked away, and I hadn’t been aware of what was happening when he shifted into human form before that. I wanted a memory of seeing Ranulf become the dragon to carry home with me.

“Well, well, well.” Gideon’s voice slid through the trees and across the clearing. He stepped out of the forest about the same distance away from the path Ranulf and Grandmother Molle had used as me, but on the other side. “This is a surprise.”

He crossed the open space, stopping in front of me. “You failed to inform me this morning that your lover can transform into a dragon. And here I thought you had wanted that half silver.”

I took a step back. “I was never going to help you hunt him.”

“But you did. Even after lying to me, you kindly led the way to this clearing. I might never have discovered the truth if not for you. Now I know exactly where to find the dragon.”

Dread filled me. The healers and villagers had kept the secret for generations, and I had ruined it all because I wanted to watch him shift? Affenala save me. Affenala save Ranulf. I had to do what I could to stop the hunter. “The dragon you are hunting doesn’t exist. He is a man, not a beast.”

“He is still a dragon.”

My hand slipped into my pocket, tightening on the enchanted stick Ranulf had given me the day before. “You can’t still intend to hunt him! He’s a healer. A human. It wouldn’t be hunting; it would be murder.”

“Maybe, if anyone knew it was possible for a man to shift into a dragon. But he’s kept it secret so well, hasn’t he? Even if the villagers support your wild tale, they’ll sound like fools. Jealous fools who want to rob a mighty hunter of his prey.” Gideon stepped closer. “The dragon almost had me convinced. I was ready to move closer to the mountains and his lair. But now, I don’t need to go anywhere. He’ll come right to me.”

“You can’t kill him,” I said in desperation.

Gideon slid the large knife at his waist from its sheath. “I’ll think you find that I can. I even have the perfect bait for the trap.”

He moved too quickly for me to react, grabbing me and pinning me against his chest, his knife at my throat. I swallowed, afraid even that movement would cause metal to split skin, but unable to stop myself. Men had tried to overpower me before, but never with a weapon. Never in the middle of a forest where even a scream wouldn’t attract attention. My limited tricks for dealing with drunks weren’t enough.

Ranulf had been right. I had underestimated the hunter. But he hadn’t. The protective enchantment was still wrapped in my fingers. Gideon’s arm held me in place against his body, but I still had the freedom to pull the stick from my pocket. I didn’t, unsure what would happen if I used it with Gideon’s blade pressed against my skin. Ranulf had mentioned a shock before muscles paralyzed. If Gideon flinched . . . better to bide my time. He couldn’t hold me like this forever if he hoped to attack Ranulf.

“How will this help you?” I asked. I didn’t have to feign fear, though I wasn’t afraid for myself. “You can’t shoot a dragon while holding me.”

“I already told you. You are the bait. All I need now is to set the trap.”

He released me unexpectedly, but before I could pull the stick from my pocket, a starburst of pain exploded at my temple.

Blackness engulfed me.

I woke on my side in the clearing. My ankles were bound, as were my wrists. I awkwardly levered myself into a sitting position and scanned my surroundings. It was dark now, the light of the moon and stars barely enough to let me make out the hunter’s form as he built his dragon trap in the middle of the clearing. I froze, but he hadn’t noticed my movement.

Slowly, carefully, I pulled my knees up to my chin and looped my arms over my legs. The hunter’s focus stayed on his current task, and a spark of hope filled me. He had bound my wrists in front. I worked on the knot at my ankles. It only took a few minutes to loosen the rope. I unwrapped my legs, but stayed where I was. I could run, but I didn’t stand a chance against Gideon if—when—he chased me. Better to wait for a moment to take him by surprise.

The enchantment was still in my pocket. I pulled it out, wanting to be ready this time. My heart beat in my throat, and I gripped the stick with white-knuckled desperation.

Gideon finished whatever he was doing. Something with ropes and nets, I thought, but I couldn’t make out the details. He swung his crossbow off his back, cocked it, and loaded a bolt into place. Then he crossed the clearing to my side. “Oh good, you are awake. I was thinking that a well-timed scream might help as the dragon flies overhead.”

“I won’t help you kill him.” My voice came out steadier than I had expected.

“If you don’t cooperate, I’ll just have to make you scream myself when the time comes.” He swung the crossbow in my direction for a moment, a smirk on his face, then went back to scanning the sky. The crossbow was no longer trained on me, and he stood only a few feet away.

I pinched the indentations of the enchantment and lunged. Affenala, let this work. The tip of the stick pressed against his leg, and his whole body spasmed. I congratulated myself on not using the enchantment earlier and getting my throat slit in the process. The crossbow slid from his hand, but miraculously didn’t fire as it hit the ground. Gideon toppled over.

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