Page 107 of The Secret Keeper's Daughter

The townsfolk outnumber us by at least five to one, and they have guns.

In one swift movement, I leap onto Sapphire’s back. She flaps her wings, roars, and then flies into the air. I somehow manage to stay on by gripping the dragon’s sides and using my leg muscles to stay in place. It would be easier to shift back into my human form, but then I wouldn’t have any clothes.

Harek clings to me, helping me to remain steady.

More shots ring out, bullets shoot past us. Sapphire darts to avoid them.

I whine and fight my heavy eyelids.

Harek gives me a sympathetic look and rubs one of my ears.

This night truly couldn’t get any weirder.

Chapter

Thirty-Six

When we landin Sapphire’s clearing, a black dragon is sprawled out where she was earlier. He looks up toward us, his bright emerald eyes a stark contrast to the rest of him. I want to ask if that’s the dragon boyfriend, but I have no way of communicating outside of growls, whines, and yaps.

My father pats Sapphire’s head and laughs. “Looks like your boyfriend missed you.”

Now I have my answer.

The dragon snorts before a sharp descent, which causes me to slide forward into Harek. He tightens his grip around me, holding me in place.

Sapphire lands right next to her boyfriend and nuzzles him. They both make happy noises, but the other one eyes me with suspicion. His concern pulsates out in waves I can both see and smell.

I leap onto the ground and hurry toward the entrance to the house—not that I’m even sure if my father wants a wolf in his home.

Einar pats the new dragon. “It’s fine, Vash. These are friends.”

Harek leaps down onto the ground with a thud, still holding my sword. “I don’t suppose you have any clothes Eira can change into? I think she’s hesitant to shift back because her clothes shredded. If you don’t have anything, I can return to Vivvi’s place. I’m sure she’s wondering where we are.”

My father shakes his head. “No reason to go to her. I still have some of her mother’s things, including her wardrobe.” He turns to me. “Let me take you there. Does that sound good?”

Relief washes through me, and I manage a nod.

“Perfect. Follow me.” Einar starts toward the entrance, but then opens another door instead. “The dragon food is in here, Harek. Do you mind feeding them? Sapphire is always famished after a long flight.”

“Sure, but I’ll feed them after I see where you take Eira.”

My father cocks a brow. “Still don’t trust me, even after all that?”

“Nope.”

Einar pats him on the back. “I appreciate that. I’m glad she’s had you looking after her all these years. It seems she needed it while dealing with that stepfather of hers.”

“You have no idea,” Harek mutters. “I hope her bite kills him slowly. He deserves it.”

“Unfortunately, that didn’t look like a lethal wound. But she has her sword, and that’s all the really matters.”

“We’ll see about that.”

“Yes, we shall.” My father marches into the mansion, and Harek and I hurry after him.

He leads us through even more of the home than before, taking us through so many corridors I’m not sure I’ll remember how to get back out. Not that I know how much I’ll remember once I turn back into myself. It’s possible I’ll forget all of this since transforming into a wolf.

I’m going to have a talk with Harek about the whole ‘we only shift within a day of the full moon’ nonsense. Plus, if I’m being honest, I’m rather disappointed about having destroyed that outfit. It was far and away the nicest thing I’d ever worn. Now it’s gone.

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