Page 16 of Defy Me

Yvaine grabbed her throat and took a long breath to get her heart to slow back down. "Your theory was if you scared the hiccups out of me you'd shift back into a dragon?"

Yes, and it worked. Now get back in the car. We need to leave this area before the Black Dragon figures out where we are.

He was so deadpan that Yvaine had to laugh. "What? No. It's literally a wreck if you hadn't noticed."

I did. If I touch you, that also triggers your magic and I'll turn back into a human. I can't fly us out of here if I do.He pushed the car away from the tree and then dipped his head indicating she should get in the freed car.

Huh. She wasn't convinced. "But nothing happened when I kissed you last night. Or when you were dragging me through the batstriches back there in the town. So how do you figure?"

You weren't wearing that magic necklace last night.

Yvaine put her hand over the charm hanging from her neck. It sat so comfortably in the center of her chest, she could hardly remember a time when it hadn't been there. It was so much a part of her she could feel it in her soul. So why couldn't she remember where or even when she'd gotten it? But Jett was right. She must have taken it off. Strange.

Dark clouds rolled through the smoke from the petrol station explosion and the sky darkened. Uh-oh. That did not look good. She inched slightly closer to the car with all its jagged metal edges. Crapballs, she did not want to get in there nor did she want Jett to pick her up with it and fly away. What if she fainted? What if he dropped her. What if an airplane collided with them and everyone died but the aviation disaster inspectors couldn't figure out why there was a Porsche, a dinosaur, and an extra weird girl in the wreckage along with the passengers and the black box.

Gulp. That building they'd been on top of was the highest she'd ever been off the ground. They should have started walking instead of half making out in that field. Maybe she should start running.

We need to go, now. Get in.Jett spit a tiny burst of flames near her feet, not close enough to actually burn her, but she moved away to avoid it anyway.

"Hey. Keep your fire to yourself there, mister. I'm going already. But what if we--"

Get in the god-damned car. We've got about seven seconds before demon dragons start showing up in those shadows. We escaped once, but the Black Dragon is not stupid and he will not let us evade him again.

"Jett comes now."

Yvaine heard the beast pop up behind her. His hot breath curled the hair on the back of her neck, and the claw that speared through her back that came out through the front of her chest smelled like a combination of rotting hamburger and cotton candy.

Mmm. Cotton candy.

That was the last thing that went through her mind before the world went all rainbows and sparkles.

In Which Jett Becomes a Douchepotato

Even though he was in dragon form with his tough armored scales, and nothing had touched him, a pain so intense and overwhelming hit him directly in the heart. He pitched to the side and fell onto the shattered hood of the car.

Yvaine.

His vision blurred and he had to fight for consciousness. He could not let his cursed brother take him to hell and leave Yvaine all alone here to die. Her head lolled to the side but he couldn't see any blood. A slimy silvery substance like pure mercury coated the claw of the demon dragon who'd speared her through the heart.

The demon dragon was trembling, not from fear, but almost like a seizure. Jett doubted now that she was any sort of a dragon. He hoped whatever Yvaine was, her blood was lethal. None of the cursed would die by his hand, but he wished death upon this particular brother of his. Which appeared imminent if the way his eyes were rolling back in his head and the silvery froth foamed at his mouth.

Jett struggled to his feet and kicked the demon dragon away. It's claw made a horrifying slurpy sucking sound as it pulled back out of Yvaine's chest. The silver continued to flow out of the wound and pooled on the ground. He didn't dare touch it or Yvaine. If he were to shift into his weaker human form now there would be no saving either of them. If she was even still alive.

The tiniest moan passed through her lips, so quiet he wasn't even sure he'd heard it or imagined it. But his vision cleared and some of his strength seeped back into his muscles. The necklace at her chest flickered and the black light it emitted swirled around the wound, it's red sparks crawling inside of her. Jett shook his head to make sure what he was seeing was real.

Son, get your ass up. This is no time to be lazing around.The voice of another dragon sounded in his head. It wasn't his father, this male was older, kinder in his demands. I can't risk showing myself with Jara so near. It would spoil the element of surprise. So this is all you're going to get of me.

Who are you?Jett pushed up and tested his wings to see if he could spread them, use them to get out of there.

We'll save that discussion for another day. For the time being you only need to know that we're on your side. Now hurry up.The disembodied voice put some sort of power behind his words and Jett found himself fully upright and filled with renewed strength.

He glanced around to see what he could use to lift Yvaine into the car without touching her. The convertible top that had been stowed into the back of the car had sprung free and was partially unfurled. Jett grabbed it in his talons and ripped the metal and material from its housing. He stomped on it being careful not to shred the fabric and it spread nicely into a hammock shape. Screw the car. He'd carry her out of here in this contraption. As soon as he figured out how to get her onto it.

A woman's voice, beautiful and sensual, but scared popped into his head. She was most definitely not talking to him. Kur, he's coming. I can't see him. I just can't. We must go now.

Yes, my love. I know. Give the girl a little boost and we'll be gone.

An uncomfortably long silence had Jett worried she wasn't going to help Yvaine. It was on the tip of his tongue to either promise her retribution if she didn't or anything she wanted if she would. Not like he could repay either. Hard to meet or justice or rewards when you had no idea who you were talking too.

---