Page 20 of Surge of Heat

I glance at Dr. Abigail in confusion.

She smiles. “He means, it’s a good idea. If we can tag them, we can keep track of them.”

My phone rings, startling me. I pull my phone out of my pocket, hoping against hope that Evander is somewhere and calling me to let me know he’s safe. Except, my caller ID pops up with Dahlia’s number. I try not to be disappointed as I turn away from the group and answer.

“Hello?”

“You’re still alive!” she says, sounding relieved.

“You too,” I tell her, pacing away from the doctors and walking between lab tables. “Where are you? Still under the school?”

“Yeah, but I’m getting out of here.” She sounds frustrated. Determined.

“To where? That green dragon is still there, and he’s dangerous.”

“Fuck, he is?”

“Yeah.”

She curses again. “Some of the professors left by helicopter, so I was assuming the damn dragon was gone.”

“I don’t know how close he is to the institute, but I know he’s around there.”

She lets out an audible breath. “Well, the second it’s clear I’m leaving. I just don’t know where to go. There are reports of dragons all over. Is any place safe?”

My mind starts working. “I’m at a place called Specter Inc. It’s the company that owns the Phoenix Institute. Most of their buildings are underground, and they’re tracking the dragons,so this might be a safe place to go. It’s located in SeatFront Landing, outside of OceanView. Near the water.”

There’s silence for a minute. “You know what? When the coast is clear I think I’ll head there.”

Relief flows through me. “That would be amazing.”I’ll have to clear her with security, but it should be easy enough.

“Be safe,” she tells me.

“You too.”

She ends the call. I put my phone away and turn to the others. Everyone is watching me.

I force a smile. “Now what?”

SEVEN

Samantha

A day has passedat Specter Inc., and I don’t know how to feel. Some part of me is empty without Evander, a place inside me that makes it hard to breathe.

I use my fancy new ID card to get into the elevator and come out into fresh air. Having walked without thinking, I suddenly find myself on the edge of the cliff. Down below, a beach with white sand winds its way along the shore, and waves crash on it, leaving a band of white water. This place is beautiful, just like Evander said, but it feels wrong without him here.

Wrapping my arms around my body, I hug myself, feeling conflicted. I’m here with Granger and Aydan. My two best friends are safe, and with me, just like I wanted. And Aydan and I? We’re more than friends, which is what I’ve always wanted. Yet, there’s an awkwardness between us, probably because he’s pushing for more, and I can’t give that to him right now. But I don’t like it.

The wind shifts, and I frown, inhaling deeply. Is that… brimstone and electricity? I breathe it in deeper and deeper,every muscle in my body tensing. Spinning around, I see him in the air. My gray dragon. He’s flying too slowly and unevenly. Instantly, I know he’s not okay.

He lands, but it’s not smooth. It’s more like he just stopped flying and collapsed. I rush toward him and watch as he shifts from his dragon form to his human form.

My arms are around him in an instant, pulling him close, and tears sting my eyes. “You’re okay.”

“Just barely,” he whispers, inhaling deeply as his face rubs into my hair. “I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” I say, holding him closer.

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