Page 38 of Defy Me

Jett gathered the shadow and thrust it at the Annunaki. She would be forced to wander in a figure eight until someone broke the shadow path. Rays from the sun shot down from the sky, obeying the command of the AllWyvern.Thank you, brother. Now go.

Brother?

Jett. Go.

Don't kill her. She's your key to finding Geshtianna. The Succubus Queen and her brother are bound to Erishkigal as her servants. The Annunaki are their keepers.Jett didn't wait to see if the dragon warriors were smart enough to figure out how to get the Annunaki to give them Geshtianna or her location. He grabbed Yvaine into his talons, cupping her body gently, but securely in his claws and flew up and over the North Sea.

"Oh my gosh, holy cannolis, Bob's your uncle. Don't you dare drop me, Jett. Ahhhhh. Please don't turn back into a human either." Yvaine was freaking out. The fear in her psyche about being off the ground punched at him with the force of a jackhammer. She really did not like to fly.

She had nothing to fear from him. He would protect her.Shh, love. You're safe.

"What if I accidentally touch you and you drop me into the ocean. I can't swim very well."

Hold on to me as tight as you like. I won't shift back until we are safely on land again.

"Are you sure? I really don't want to swim with the sharks."

There aren't any sharks in the North Sea.

"Kraken?"

No, they live in the greek isles. You're safe, love. I swear it. On my life. You're safe with me.

It took them only minutes to cross the water. Cage must have sent one of his Gold's to push them along with the wind because he flew faster than he ever had. The shoreline came into view and Jett swooped down toward a beach. They should be close to where the map was directing them if he landed there. Flying over the city of Edinburg at dusk would have the humans up in arms. They came in very low over the water, his talons skimming over the water. If anyone saw them like this perhaps they'd think he was some sort of a speedboat.

"Mommy, mommy. Look at that lady with a dragon."

Or perhaps not. Jett gently set Yvaine down in the sand next to a broken down looking wooden sea wall and shifted back to his human form. Yvaine waved at the little boy who'd called them out. The mother didn't seem to take notice of them. They walked up the beach toward the street and Yvaine got out the map.

"I think we're right about here at Portobello beach. Mmm. Portobello burger sounds good. Fighting demons and flying over death defying waters makes me hungry." She scanned the street across from where they were standing and pointed to a fish and chips shop. "Ooh. Get me some fried potatoey goodness and I'll love you forever. Come on."

The fact that she wasn't even bothered that they'd encountered a demon who'd been hunting her for at least days, flown across the ocean, which seemed to be a big phobia for her, and were in yet another foreign country made Jett fall in love with her that little bit more. "If all it takes is potatoes to get you to love me I'll buy you a whole farm."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. "Thanks. Now feed me."

They crossed the street, ordered food and he watched her eat and pour over the map. He could do this for hours. This was peaceful perfection and Jett's chest filled with such a sense of longing for a life like this with her that he physically ached. What if he didn't battle the Black Dragon? What if they left the rest of the world behind and stayed far away from demons and dragons forever. Would she do that with him?

"Yvaine."

"Hmm?" She popped another bite into her mouth and traced the path she wanted them to take to Holyrood Abbey.

"I love you."

She stopped mid-chew and looked up from her map. She swallowed and licked her lips. "You do?"

"Yes."

The smile that formed from her lips spread to her eyes, across her face, and through her whole body. She took his breath away and he'd gladly give it to her.

"I thought you'd think I was super weird if I told you the same thing. I mean, it's only been like two days. But I love you a lot. Like really, really a lot."

The room around them fell quiet, into an unnatural hush. "Aww. Isn't that sweet. Jett's in love so he can't be bothered to break the curse on his brothers like he promised them he would. Adorable."

Jett's dragon shimmered to the surface and his senses reached the speaker before his eyes found him. Standing behind them in the doorway of the shop was a man who was also a dragon.

A black dragon.

A demon dragon. The one who had killed Yvaine.

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