Page 78 of Dragon Unhinged

Claim her.

Mark her.

Make her mine.

But even as I try to cling to my dragon form, I feel the exhaustion settling into my scales.

This doesn’t make sense.

I should be able to hold this form for hours. Days if needed.

Why do I feel like I’m shrinking under the weight of my brothers?

Returning to my human form hurts almost as bad as shifting into a dragon did, and by the time I’m finally back in a human body, I’m shaking, sweating and freezing cold.

“I’ll call Syrena. You run down to Pru and see if Gavin leaves any spare clothes here, or if you can at least get a set of scrubs.” Ash points at Malcolm, commanding him like the king he is.

I try to get up, but my legs tremble under me and I collapse back to the gravel on the roof, looking up at my brother. Ash puts his hand on my shoulder before leaning down to help me. He takes my weight, so I’m barely standing on my own. He leads me back down into the hospital where we’re greeted by Pru and Malcolm.

Instead of going back to the safe house, or even Ash’s house, Pru insists on checking me out.

I don’t know what a hospital could do for me, for my dragon, that I can’t get from Syrena, or even just from time, but Ash demands it, and I don’t think I have the energy, the strength to stand up against multiple dragons right now.

It doesn’t matter though, as Syrena comes into the room with Pru, and they both start to run their tests. Pru’s are medical, and Syrena’s are magical, but they both feel like an unnecessary time suck.

A distraction to keep me from going after my mate.

“You need to rest. I’m going to make sure that happens, Declan. Don’t fight it.” Syrena injects me with something, and my body starts to feel heavy, like I’m sinking into the bed.

Even if I wanted to get up, I don’t think my legs would be able to support me.

I hear Ash’s voice just before I lose consciousness. “We’re looking for her, Declan. I swear, we’re doing everything we can.”

Chapter

Thirty-Three

SYRENA

Istare down at my prince. The Wystans are my own family since my parents were killed when I was young. The king and queen protected me and raised me with their children. Declan is my prince, just like Ash is my king.

Even if they can all be pains in the ass.

“This might be beyond my magic to heal, at least not quickly.” The amount of damage done to Declan is severe and it’s been going on for a long time. I can feel the magic that used to imprison him. It’s ancient and powerful. “We need to try to contact Ellie, find out exactly what spells she broke, and how. If he’s not able to heal his dragon, if he hasn’t been able to for months, we don’t know what other damages has been done.”

Pru types on her tablet as she takes more readings on his physical condition. She shakes her head. “His blood pressure is too high. His heart is racing. I’m going to examine his blood work and see if I can find anything else. He’s got a lot of scarring too. I don’t think he’s been able to heal properly probably the entire time he’s been missing. He’d been injured that night he was taken from Las Vegas.”

I sigh and sit down feeling exhausted from using my powers. “I can try to get Tabitha to talk again. Maybe she knows what’s going on with him. Or maybe she knows why Grey would possibly take Brianna.”

“Try everything. You didn’t see him, Sy.” Malcolm frowns at me, and I want to shake the young dragon.

Even if I haven’t physically seen his shifted form, I know the damage. Ash made sure of it, and my spells and tests confirmed it. He hasn’t been in connection with his dragon for so long, the beast kept completely separate, and it’s kept him from properly healing. I hope he’ll return to his full strength now, but without being able to make sure the spells broke correctly, that the fae friend didn’t do unintentional damage, there’s no way to tell but to give him time.

Time I’m afraid we don’t have.

I’ve seen my share of dragons succumbing to the craze, and those were ones who lost hope, or lost their mate after years and years together. If we can’t get Brianna back, and soon, I’m afraid we’re going to lose Declan faster than he’s losing his dragon.

“Mal, call Enzo, Arthur, any other fae we have contact with. Find out if they know Ellie and if they can give us contact info or if they can contact her for us.” I look at Declan, sleeping now, and I can see the strain pulling at the corners of his eyes and the drawn down expression of his mouth, the sunken way his chest seems to sit. He’s made a good show so far of being fine, of coming out of his captivity more or less unscathed, but sleeping, it’s obvious that he’s been hiding pain and injury. He’s been hiding things that I don’t even know for sure if he remembers.

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