Page 77 of Lahaina Noon

Vaughn put his hands on her shoulders. “I wish you luck with that.” He sauntered away, laughing, to coordinate the take-off of a large contingent of dragons in the middle of the day. It wasn’t going to be easy, but she knew he could handle it.

Bridget ambled casually over to Siobhan and leaned against the tree with her.

Siobhan sighed. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?”

“Don’t come over here and do whatever it is you were going to do. Don’t be cheerful, don’t ask my opinion about my brother and yourfriend, don’t try to set me up with anyone, and don’t try to give me any sympathy.” She crossed her arms.

Bridget continued to lean against the tree quietly. “Hmm. That’s a lot to unload. I can’t help but be cheerful, but I’ll do my best to be a downer around you. I don’t want your opinion about your brother and my friend. They’re happy, and that’s all that matters. I’m not going to set you up with anyone because you are too grumpy for me to offer up to anyone I care about, and I’m not giving you an ounce of sympathy, you ungrateful brat.” She stood in silence for a moment. “I just wanted to know if you’d read any good books lately.” Out of the corner of her eye, Bridget saw Siobhan slowly turn towards her in shock.

She heard a strange noise and realized Siobhan was giggling. She turned to face the girl, who began to belly laugh so hard that others dropped what they were doing to stare. It transformed her face, and she was stunning. Bridget mentally checked a point for herself on her internal scoreboard. “I’m waiting.”

The squads were ready to take off, and Bridget not only had a list of surprisingly interesting books to read, but Siobhan had loaned her a thriller she had just finished and recommended. She wondered if she could read while flying. Did one get carsick on the back of a dragon? Or would that be airsick? Dragon sick? She’d have to ask Vaughn. Speak of the devil, he strode over to her, his black hair gleaming in the Italian sun.

She was struck all at once; this amazing, gorgeous, and kind man was her soon-to-be husband. This man she’d lusted after, fantasized about,wanted for months; he loved her, and he was hers. He started to tell her something, but she grabbed him and kissed him soundly.

He smiled and brushed her hair from her face. “Not that I’m complaining, my love, but what was that for?”

She shrugged, “I just love you. I have a question, though. Do people get carsick on dragon back? Like, would that be air sick or?” Her questions continued until it was time to fly.

They were able to transform in groups this time as they had much more space to spread out. Since everyone knew what to expect, it went much faster than their previous group flight. Before you could say Holy Dragon Shimmer, they were off.

Vaughn’s group took the lead flight as they had the vehicles parked near the rendezvous point. They were going to secure and ward the site, then get more vehicles for the remainder of the force coming back with them. Bridget learned that Vaughn had been counting on bringing back a team, so had already made arrangements. The man was a wonder.

This time, they were one dragon short of the original squad, as Ivan was long gone. Bridget noticed that Vaughn looked towards the spot where his father should have been, then turned away, a cold look in his eyes. The strange but kind Circe had offered to fill that spot instead and carry the baggage. Bridget learned that Circe was a silver dragon, which was why she looked like Killian to an extent. The silvery hair was a common trait.

Once they landed, the men went to get the additional vehicles, while the women and Gabriel stayed to direct the remaining groups in and set up wards. The next squad to land consisted of Hilde in the lead,with Bunny’s parents, and Bunny herself. Her mother was a dragon, a brown like her daughter, her father a wielder.

There were also two red dragons from the island. Their names were Lorenzo and Tomi. They were very serious about their duties and didn’t speak much. Bridget hoped she could keep their names straight.

The first round of SUVs began to pull up, and gear was being loaded as the next few squads flew in. This continued for several waves until she spied Wu, a green dragon, and another group of reds that Bridget had met just that morning. She waved them in and counted. That should be everyone. Combined with their team in Dallas, they now had a significant fighting force. Soon, everything would be loaded, and they could go.

Bridget stood halfway down the point looking out at the ocean as a sudden cold wind whipped in and churned the waves. She heard someone calling her name and figured it must be time to leave. But she was drawn to the sea. It seemed that’s where the voice was coming from. She walked to the end of the point and leaned over the railing. She couldn’t see anything below but gray water as the waves got rougher and began to crash against the rocks, sending a chilly spray in the air.

The wind picked up, whipping into a frenzy and her hair was blown all around. It seemed time slowed down, and everything stopped. She was waiting for someone or something but couldn’t explain it. She heard Vaughn screaming her name and turned slowly as if she were stuck in syrup or glue. He looked like he was running, reaching out to her, but he was barely moving. It was strange; she felt disconnected, and she couldn’t explain it. She heard laughter behind her and turned again.

Rising from the depths was a large menacing shadow, growing quickly in size and reaching for her. A man stepped out and stood on the waves with his hand outstretched.

“Come to me, Bridget,” she heard, “Come and see what I can show you in the shadows.”

Bridget shook her head. The shadows? She didn’t want to go there. She studied the man in front of her. He was incredibly handsome, with rich brown hair hanging in waves to his collar and piercing emerald-green eyes, but they were hard and cold. Colder than the water deep below him. He had beautiful, full lips that should have been enticing, but they were instead set in a cruel sneer. His face was angular and sharp, not warm and welcoming.

She heard Vaughn behind her, still yelling her name. It was muffled as if he were far away. The man smiled again and reached towards her. A cold wind wrapped around her ankles and flowed up her body until it cleared her head. She shook away the greasy fog clouding her mind and turned, “Vaughn!” She screamed as the cold hand grabbed her left wrist and pulled her towards the looming shadow with the Angel of Death waiting within. She saw it in his eyes. Vaughn was terrified. She inhaled to scream again when the shadow wrapped itself around her throat and squeezed. She couldn’t draw a breath! The shadow squeezed harder and began to climb upward to her mouth and nose. It was going to cut off her air completely. She began to panic.

Fight.

She heard it. That same whisper she’d heard in the dark. And those quiet moments in her dreams.

Fight it!

Bridget nodded as best she could and pulled on her magic. Her hair began to lift and snap. Blue arcs sizzled between the fingers on her right hand. She reached over and clamped it down on the wrist that was gripping her own. Electricity zinged up the arm of her captor, causing him to spasm and release her. She threw herself away from him as he yelled, grabbing his arm.

“You bitch!” he roared. He retreated into the shadow, and Bridget shuddered in relief.

Gasping for air, she turned towards Vaughn and smiled. It was short-lived when she saw his eyes widen in fear. She turned back to see the shadow looming over her, ready to crash down like a wave on the shore. She closed her eyes and tried to scream, but no sound came out. The cold wind came again as it rushed over her, a second before she was snatched up by a large golden claw.

She heard a roar of frustration and looked back at the shadow. It was sinking back into the ocean. Thank goodness Vaughn had grabbed her just in time.

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