Page 48 of Lyric

Jinn

My belly stood out, round and firm beneath my lightweight linen shirt. Our baby moved often. And kicked.

Pregnancy had sent me into a half-shadow of constant euphoria.

I sat warm and content in a softly pillowed chair on the patio as I oversaw the decorators doing their jobs. Our wedding would be tomorrow. We’d picked out a theme of white and purple. There was the traditional white arch decorated with lavender and dark purple flowers. The chairs were already out with white pads and purple bows. Now the team was setting up the feasting tables with half purple, half white tablecloths.

The weather looked good for an outdoor celebration. Silver was set out, but the glassware would stay inside until the last minute. The centerpieces were huge white flowers made of spun sugar carefully laid out on lace.

Since I had gotten pregnant, I never thought about going back to work.

Lyric didn’t, either.

We talked about that, about how Lyrican was tired, how it hurt him more than the usual expected “athlete’s pain” to be forced to sprint-fly such far distances, and how he wanted to retire. I thought it would’ve been hard for Lyric to accept, but he seemed happy about it. He mostly complained about how hard it was to convince his agent and publicist he was serious about retiring. They argued he was still young and had a lot more racing years left. They tempted him with offers for months before finally getting the message. Lyric was retired for good and ready to raise a family.

“I want to be a full-time father,” he’d said.

“But I’m sad. You’re the fastest. The best,” I said. “It’s such a huge part of your life.”

“You’re my life,” he replied.

“Now you’re making me feel guilty.”

“My love, I was ready to retire before I ever met you. That was why I was at the roost.”

The roost. We hadn’t been there since Lyrican had rescued me. I wanted to go there again. I knew it was important to Lyrican. But I was still too scared. As far as I knew, Colt had never found the roost. But who knew if he haunted that area even now? No one had heard from him since I was rescued.

I looked down at the checklist in my lap, making sure everything was in order. I couldn’t wait to be married. Lyric and I were already bonded, but to have a wedding ceremony was extra special for us. Our baby was on the way. This would add to our happy story and make everything complete.

I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, I opened my eyes to see the light had gone all coppery and a thin mist pulsed in the deeper shadows at the back of the yard nearthe wall. I heard soft clanging noises from the house as if dishes were being put away. All the decorators had gone except for two men, one on a ladder, softly conversing over finishing touches involving garlands.

For the moment, the baby was quiet inside me. Flowers along the property line bobbed in a dew-sparkled soft breeze.

I got up and walked to the edge of the lawn, reveling at the coolness of the grass beneath my bare feet.

The late sunlight soaked through my shirt and into my skin. Drowsy from my nap and the warmth, I wandered toward a huge, thickly-furred pine leaning near the back wall.

My life couldn’t have been happier. I’d be married tomorrow. I lived in a beautiful place to raise a family. My husband-to-be was the best alpha ever. And I had my whole life ahead of me to look forward to.

I hummed to myself and absently rubbed my belly.

As I approached the tree, it rustled. I stepped into its long shadow. A single bird darted off from the top-most branches, warbling as it vanished into the blue.

I blinked and smiled, my face upturned. So beautiful...

But before I could blink again, something massive appeared overhead blotting out the sky. A loud roar deafened me, completely freezing me in place.

I knew that sound. I dreaded that sound.

Before I could think to react, a large green dragon paw closed around my legs and swept me up into the air. The claws clinked together like bars on a cage door closing. My head fell back. I opened my mouth and let out the purest, loudest shriek of my life.

The sound of massive wings pumped the air. I saw myself going up at a rapid pace. I shrieked again and was answered by another roar. The air grew hot. Cinders fell around me. The scent of burnt pine filled my mouth and throat.

Coltan had finally come for me, and he was pissed.

The shock wore off quickly and I wiggled my legs and shoved with my hands against Coltan’s massive dragon fingers. Nothing I did could budge that firm hold on me. Up and down, I bobbed in the air as he took off with me as his hostage for the second time in my life.

Far away now came the sound of distant voices. I leaned my head to the side as far as I could and looked down. Someone was running across the lawn at top speed. He was fast, agile, but he looked so small.

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