Page 3 of Surge of Heat

“You ready?”

I nod.

Evander hesitates, then he stands in front of me, looking down at me until I meet his gaze. “We’re going to fly straight to Specter Inc. You’re going to stay close to me. Any sight of the green dragon, and you’re going to take off, and I’m going to handle him.”

“Wh-what? No way.”

He smirks. “He wants you, not me. We’ll probably piss each other off for a bit before he starts tracking you again. I’ll be fine.”

“Evander…”

Does he really expect me just to take off and leave him if he’s in trouble? Part of me remembers the female phoenixes and their shredded wings, the bastard males, and the asshole green dragon, and know it’s the smartest move. Especially when Evander and I aren’t… anything, not really. Getting away from him might even be a good idea, but it feels wrong.

“Trust me. I might not have fought a lot of dragons in my life, but I have fought a lot.” He gives a little smile that makes my heart sputter.

Then, a shadow passes over the cabin.

A scream catches in my throat as I point, but Evander has already come to the same conclusion. “Go! Run for the road! I’ll handle him!”

I barely have time to spring back when he starts shifting into a massive gray dragon. Then, I’m stumbling away from him until I’m under the covers of the trees. He roars, a sound that echoes around me, and takes off into the sky.

I don’t hesitate. I can’t. I start running toward the main road, staying close enough to the little road that leads to the cabin to know where I’m going, but far enough under the cover of the trees that the green dragon can’t just pluck me off the ground.

Shadows darken the sky above me. Roars fill the air, and then the scent of smoke. I keep glancing up, sneaking peeks of Evander and the green dragon. I wonder which of them is bigger. Which of them is stronger. Will he be okay? I feel like a coward hiding under the trees while he fights in the air.I’m a dragon. This isn’t what I’m made for. I’m made to fight.

I have to go back.My hands curl into fists. When I reach the open space of the road, I’ll shift, and I’ll help. I don’t give a fuck that it’s not smart.

Exploding out of the trees, I catch movement and leap back as a car screeches to a halt in front of me. My arms drop from my face, and a car door flies open. Aydan is there in an instant, grabbing my arm and hauling me to the car. He throws me in the back, leaps in after me, and before the door’s even shut, we’re screeching off down the highway.

Aydan manages to grab the door and swing it closed. My eyes go to the sky, and I see Evander and the green dragon tangling together in the air. The green dragon is on Evander’sback. Biting at his throat. Evander is struggling. My heart aches, and every inch we speed away from him a terrible pulling in my chest magnifies until I actually grab it, willing my heart to stop hurting.

“You’re okay!” Aydan says, and then his arms are around me, squeezing me into his chest.

I’m blinking away tears as his familiar scent washes over me. There’s blood and dirt, unexpected aromas, but alsohisscent. I’ve smelled him a million times before, but it’s like all my senses are magnified. He doesn’t just smell smoky. He smells like smoke and pine trees and nature all rolled into one. His scent is masculine and powerful, just like the man himself, and it surprises me how much I seem to understand about him just based on his scent.

He pulls back from me. “Are you okay?” His gaze searches my face.

I look back to the sky. The dragons are smaller, further away, but they’re still clashing in the air. Flames roll from Evander’s mouth as the green dragon makes it onto his back once more. Evander isn’t experienced enough in fighting, in being a dragon.Can he really take down his enemy?

“He’s going to kill him.”I need to go back. I need to help him.

“Who?” Aydan asks, and there’s concern in his voice.

I hesitate. “The green dragon. It’s going to kill Evander.”

There’s silence. Silence that’s heavy and meaningful.

“You don’t owe him anything. All you need to do is to get as far from here as you can.” Aydan’s voice is harsh, harsher than I’ve ever heard it before.

My gaze swings back to Aydan’s baby blue eyes. “And let him die?”

His mouth pulls into a thin line. “Do you think you and him together can take down the green dragon?”

“I don’t know.” The words are a whisper away from a sob.

“There’s no point in you both dying. You’re our priority. Nothing else.”

Before I know what I’m doing, I turn and grip the doorhandle, but Aydan’s hand covers mine. “Don’t.”

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