Page 10 of Sass Me

It was outnumbered and it knew it.

The wolves and Dax could stop it. They had to.

The demon dragon spread its wings, and while it couldn’t fly, it could leap, which is exactly what it did.

Three feet into the air, the trees lining the streets stretched their branches blocking its path. It smashed through one tree, only to be smacked down by another.

The light from the shard intensified so bright, it was matched only by another light coming from the entrance to the building.

The necklace around Fleur’s neck glowed with the same light. She had her eyes closed and her hands raised.

Each movement by the demon dragon was met by an increase in the light from her necklace and his shard, plus a literally beating from the growth of new branches on the trees.

The demon dragon screeched and dove away from the angry orchard and straight at Fleur.

“Fleur, no.” Steele yelled and found his last bit of strength. He ran and jumped, collided with the demon dragon in mid-air, rolling to the ground at Fleur’s feet. Steele lifted his legs and double barrel kicked the demon away from Fleur.

The demon dragon moved back only a little and lashed out at Steele, throwing him into the entrance where the women stood. The beast had torn his human flesh, ripping his chest open.

He slid down the door and onto his back leaving a streak of blood behind him. He’d happily give his life, his short 150 years, to have saved Fleur.

But, no, there would be no dying this day. Until the final demon dragon was defeated, he would protect Fleur.

He couldn’t feel any pain. His limbs wouldn’t work, no matter how his mind yelled at them to get up, to defend Fleur. He swallowed and blood bubbled from his lips.

The remaining women shifted and before his next ragged breath, they’d ripped the demon dragon’s throat out. It dissolved into smoke, dropping the shard.

Fleur snagged it from the ground. The night lit up like it had before, turning the dark into a bright green day. He felt its power skim over him, and a new knowledge flowed through him.

His beautiful Fleur.

All he could do was stare up at the beauty that was his true mate.

His true mate.

A gift from the First Dragon.

She knelt beside him, pushing his tattered clothing aside, assessing his wounds. “Dear Gods of Olympus. You’re bleeding everywhere.”

He tried to smile, to soothe her from the coming pain. “I’m sorry, little flower. Please forgive me.”

She ripped his shirt, pressing the bundle of cloth over the bloodiest of his wounds. “For bleeding? I don’t think you can help that.” She wiped her arm across her forehead, pushing the hair out of her eyes, but leaving a streak of his blood. “Don’t worry, help will be here soon. Barbara called her family. The Wolfe men and the enforcers will be here any minute.”

Mine. His dragon clawed from inside, needing to claim his mate, needing to be reassured she hadn’t been harmed or tainted by the demon dragons.

But, even the power of the most feral, animalistic part of his being withered. Some piece of him he hadn’t even known existed until tonight, was missing.

“No, little flower. For leaving you when we’ve only come together.”

He expected tears from her, but he got narrowed eyes glaring down at him instead. “Oh no you don’t.”

He hadn’t even properly claimed, her, hadn’t marked her as his. One final kiss from her would have to be enough, but his lips and tongue weren’t working.

No, damn it. He couldn’t leave her. She was his to love and protect. The very depths of his core screamed out, reaching for her.

His vision faded, tunneling until all he saw was her pretty face.

How could he protect her if he died? First Dragon, hear his plea. Don’t let him leave her alone and in danger.

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