Page 63 of Dragon Unhinged

“For now, we’re getting as far from D.C. as we can. After that, I don’t know.” He looks over at me, reaching for my hand. “Are you sure you’re ready to leave everything you’ve ever known behind?”

I nod once, more sure than I’ve ever been before. My life was never really mine before, but now, all I want is to make sure that no one can ever hurt my dragon, my family, ever again.

Declan drivesthrough the city like he’s done it a thousand times and heads south once we’re on the highway. He’s determined to go as fast as possible but tries to blend in with the flow of traffic. Eventually Ewan’s whimpers fade into the sounds of driving on the highway as he finally falls asleep in the backseat.

I can’t help but keep checking on him, afraid he might just give up and die right there.

“What happened to him?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

The muscle in Declan’s jaw ticks like he clenched it. Nothing else changes, but when he speaks the anger is clear. “The humans who bought his time last night took advantage of him in ways no one should ever suffer. They must have drugged him, but I doubt that’s saved him from feeling everything they forced him to do. I can smell it on him.” Declan’s hands grip the steering wheel so hard it whines a little with the pressure.

Tears sting my eyes. I want to comfort the poor wolf somehow, but it’s not another human forcing themselves on him that he needs, even if it is trying to comfort him. “I can’t believe anyone would do that.” I pause. “I don’t know why humans are so terrified of supernaturals. Not when they’ve done more monstrous things than I’ve ever heard from even the worst mythology.”

“It’s not exclusively a human trait. Every group has bad seeds. It’s inevitable, but humans have perfected the art of destroying someone by using their bodies until they break.” He shakes his head, his fingers stretching like he’s trying to keephimself from tearing off the steering wheel. “I doubt he’ll speak of it, at least not with us, but maybe if I can get him to other wolves, if I can find him friends, he’ll be able to reconnect with his beast and attempt to heal.”

My brow furrows, confused. “What do you mean? Did Ellie not get rid of his marks?”

“There are a lot of ways someone can lose connection to their animal. It’ll take time before he feels comfortable letting his beast out.” He frowns and lets out a deep sigh, his shoulders dropping a little. “Especially if they made him include his wolf in the torture.”

Terrible, horrifying thoughts flicker through my mind as I try to decide what sort of horrendous things could’ve been done to him too quickly to stop the onslaught. I squeeze my eyes shut and clap my hand to my mouth trying to keep the sob inside of me. I hold my breath as the panic and anger simmer down to a level where I can think straight again.

Declan’s hand on my thigh and soft, deep voice slowly brings me back to myself. “Only he can tell us what happened, and he’s in no position to do so. If we can get to my brother, to our clan witch, maybe they can help him through this. If not, we’ll call in other wolves. It’s hard to deny the call of an alpha wolf, even if it’s not his alpha, and they might be able to reach parts of him a dragon or a witch cannot.” Declan reaches over and gives my thigh a gentle squeeze. “If they can’t, he might never know the joy of finding his mate. Or he might let the wolf take over, so that he doesn’t have to dwell on what they made his human side do. Dragons aren’t the only ones who can get lost in their beast. Although I’ve never heard of a wolf losing it as much as a dragon who has succumbed to the Craze.”

There’s so much I still don’t know about shifters, about dragons, and every time I think I’m getting the hang of things, I learn something new that makes me worried for Declan, forEwan, for Kayden, and for anyone else that’s been forced into captivity by people like my father.

My father is a monster.

We drive on in the quiet for a while, and even though Declan seems to have blocked his thoughts from me, he keeps one hand touching me at all times, whether it’s holding mine, or he’s resting his hot palm over my bare thigh.

It’s like he can’t quite believe we’re free either. I’m glad for the contact, because sometimes I’m afraid I’m going to wake up in my bedroom and he’ll still be locked in the basement.

Declan seems to be the least damaged from the time in my basement, but I know he’s got scars he won’t let me see, and he’s done things that he’s not proud of, things he had to do to survive.

I just hope he knows that no matter what, he’s never going to have to face this stuff alone ever again.

Chapter

Twenty-Seven

DECLAN

It’s good that Brianna didn’t bring her cell phone because they can be tracked, but it would’ve been nice to give Ash and Finley a call so we could go directly to their house. I don’t want to drop by unannounced. They may not even be there.

Instead, I drive to the Sea Glass, a supernatural exclusive club that humans can’t find without a little supernatural help. I hope Pru and Gavin will have some ideas of what I can do with the wolf in the backseat, and whether my brother would be okay with me just dropping in. If he’s even here in Miami.

Would anyone be able to identify Ellie’s car? Would anyone be on the lookout for us?

I pull into a parking spot, and frown at Ewan’s sleeping form in the back. I don’t want to leave him here, but I can’t send Brianna into the Sea Glass alone, any more than I could leave her here alone.

And carrying an unconscious wolf into a restaurant, even one that’s only patronized by shifters and other supernatural creatures isn’t an option. If he wakes up in a bad mood, it will bedangerous. He’s not in the headspace to wake up and not know where he is or if he’s safe.

Gavin, if you’re inside, come out and meet me.I project the thought, knowing that there’s a chance I’m putting everyone I talk to into more danger, if Grey has any way of keeping tabs on me that Ellie might not have been aware of.

Declan? Is that really you?The surprise in his tone isn’t unexpected, but I’m sure he’s wary.

I’ve been missing for months.

I doubt any other dragons would trust me either.

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