Page 20 of Dragon Unhinged

Scared of little old me?

I’d laugh, but if he’s about to drug me, I’ve got bigger problems.

My dragon strains under my skin, trying in vain to break free, to force himself to the surface so that we can make sure we get back to Brianna.

I want to fight too. Every bit of my mind, my heart, my body, wants to lash out against this guy, to break him, to break every last one of my captors, until I find a way out of these cuffs.

I should’ve kissed her when I had the chance.

My thoughts are a jumbled mess, so much so I half wonder if someone else’s mind has meshed with mine and half these ideas aren’t mine at all.

Before I can make a decision to fight or submit to whatever is in the syringe, my captor jabs it into my bicep and depresses the plunger.

The world starts to go hazy, and I wobble on my feet.

Fuck, whatever concoction this is, it’s strong.

Please, please let it just be my ticket back to Brianna.

“Declan?”A soft, feminine voice whispers my name as fingers skim over my neck.

Brianna.

I fight the drugged state that’s keeping my eyes shut, keeping me still. I can barely sense much, but I swear it was her.

It has to be her.

No one else would dare to be this close to me. Not in any sort of gentle capacity.

“Thank God, you have a pulse. Okay, think…I don’t see any cuts, any fresh wounds that would cause this. Why won’t you wake up?” She shakes my shoulder, gently at first, and then more forcefully.

Get up, you fucking dragon. I’ve had to listen to her for over an hour, and it’s making it harder to heal.I think that’s the bear’s voice. Or maybe it’s Ewan. The accent’s wrong for Ewan.

Of course it’s me. Your thoughts are loud, even if you can’t wake up.He punctuates his statement with a roar, ripping through my brain.

Stirring my dragon.

Like I’m fighting against the weight of the deepest oceans, I reluctantly blink my eyes open and try to focus enough to see my girl.

Nice to hear you admit it. But you’ve been in my head long enough. Focus, dragon. Fight for the one thing worth fighting for.

He can hear me? I’m better at masking my thoughts than this. I’m not a youngling. I know how to hide myself from other shifters.

Not when you’re sedated with some of the strongest stuff I’ve ever seen. No doubt they use the same dose on you when you’re a dragon, but you didn’t have the mass, the adrenaline to help counter it.

I’m going to get your name, Bear.

His mirth-filled chuckle surprises me.Focus on your girl. We can talk later.

Focus. Right.

“Declan?” She gasps, moving her hand to my cheek.

Gods, I want to feel her hands all over me. I think she could somehow save me from any pain, any suffering I might endure.

“Bri…” I gasp out the first part of her name, but I can’t get the rest of it out.

“What did they do to you?” She frowns, her brow furrowing into the most adorable wrinkles I’ve ever seen.

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